- Joined
- Apr 21, 2015
- Messages
- 894
I searched but there are A LOT of threads that mention these terms without being about the same question.
My father's old Logan 850 lathe came to me with a good 4-jaw independent chuck and a reportedly junk 3-jaw scroll chuck. I haven't bothered to see if the 3-jaw is junk, because he said that in exchange for letting him come and use the lathe at my place he would buy a new one. I figure the old 3-jaw might be useful on the drill press and/or surface grinder for holding small parts or something. Or maybe decoration for my desk at work.
But now we're both stuck because we can't decide between a 3- or 4-jaw 6" scroll chuck from Shars. The price difference is less than $5 (including shipping). The clamping and jamming range is identical.
Square stock can't be handled as easily in a 3-jaw. Hex stock can't be handled as easily in a 4-jaw. (Though there are workarounds either way.) Round stock is easy either way.
What am I not considering to help me decide? I figure a 3-jaw is more likely to show up for cheap on the local classifieds at some point, so the 4-jaw might make the most sense now. But then again I have a 4-jaw already, it's just slower.
I know a 6-jaw is better suited for thin-wall material. Does it stand to reason that a 4-jaw is more appropriate than a 3-jaw for the same? Is there any meaningful difference in clamping force between the 3 and 4? Or just the shapes it conveniently holds?
Final question: How many more ways can I overthink this??
My father's old Logan 850 lathe came to me with a good 4-jaw independent chuck and a reportedly junk 3-jaw scroll chuck. I haven't bothered to see if the 3-jaw is junk, because he said that in exchange for letting him come and use the lathe at my place he would buy a new one. I figure the old 3-jaw might be useful on the drill press and/or surface grinder for holding small parts or something. Or maybe decoration for my desk at work.
But now we're both stuck because we can't decide between a 3- or 4-jaw 6" scroll chuck from Shars. The price difference is less than $5 (including shipping). The clamping and jamming range is identical.
Square stock can't be handled as easily in a 3-jaw. Hex stock can't be handled as easily in a 4-jaw. (Though there are workarounds either way.) Round stock is easy either way.
What am I not considering to help me decide? I figure a 3-jaw is more likely to show up for cheap on the local classifieds at some point, so the 4-jaw might make the most sense now. But then again I have a 4-jaw already, it's just slower.
I know a 6-jaw is better suited for thin-wall material. Does it stand to reason that a 4-jaw is more appropriate than a 3-jaw for the same? Is there any meaningful difference in clamping force between the 3 and 4? Or just the shapes it conveniently holds?
Final question: How many more ways can I overthink this??
