Nut Starter for Lathe Chuck

kquiggle · Nov 3, 2012

This is a little gadget I put together from odds and ends in my scrap box. It solves the minor but annoying problem of starting a nut to hold a lathe chuck on, while at the same time holding the chuck with the other hand, and then with your third hand . . .

The picture should make it obvious as to how it works: Put the nut in the o-ring, "latch" the nut over the nub on the right end, and while holding the nut against the stud spin the o-ring with your thumb, which then spins the nut onto the stud. Makes it real easy to thread all of the mounting nuts onto the studs; then, a quick final tightening with a wrench and you're good to go.

Dimensions are not critical, but if you want more details see here: Fastener Starter

(I had to call it a "fastener starter" on my web site because the google site-bots say "nut starter" is verboten).

modeng2000 · Nov 3, 2012

Thanks Richard. I have been toying with this problem for a while but haven't come up with anything that does the job and is simple to make. I like it!

John

chucketn · Nov 3, 2012

I use a piece of coat hanger wire bent to a small "S" on the end. Hang the nut on the "S", insert the end of the wire in the socket head of the stud on the chuck and spin the nut onto the stud, or off as the case may be.the bend of the "S" gives the nut a place to sit while I take it on or off. I can post a picture if needed.

Chuck

kquiggle · Nov 3, 2012

Chuck -

That's a good method - cheap and easy. I've used this method, as wel as a number of others. Comes to that, I can start the nut with just my fingers with a bit of fiddling.

I'll be the first to admit that my nut starter tool is a bit of overkill, but when the idea occurred to me, I just had to try it out - I'm a gadget lover. Also, it took me only about 45 minutes to make, cost me nothing, and really does speed up the job.

chucketn said:
I use a piece of coat hanger wire bent to a small "S" on the end. Hang the nut on the "S", insert the end of the wire in the socket head of the stud on the chuck and spin the nut onto the stud, or off as the case may be.the bend of the "S" gives the nut a place to sit while I take it on or off. I can post a picture if needed.

Chuck

chucketn · Nov 3, 2012

Didn't mean to wiz on your nut starter, honnest. Just showing my way. Might be some noobs out there that aren't as advanced. My old fingers aren't as small or dexterous (real word?) as they used to be. Don't know as I could work the o-ring in your design.
My idea doesn't work so well without the socket head in the stud. I have one chuck that uses althread for the studs, that one is a little fumbly, but I can usually get it to work.
Chuck

kquiggle · Nov 3, 2012

Chuck - no offense taken; I always enjoy the discussions on this forum, especially when people talk about alternate methods. There's always more than one way to skin a cat, and learning different ways of doing things is part of what this place is all about, IMHO.