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- Dec 25, 2011
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Also get a 3/4 thick piece of plywood to put on top of the lathe bed and under the chuck to protect the bed when changing out. Most folks are surprised at first at just how heavy and awkward chucks and face plates can be when you get into industrial size machines.
Years ago, I addressed this problem a little differently. I had some 4x4 fence posts left over from repairs after Hurricane Ike. And a Pratt-Bernerd Buck clone that seems to weigh more than it did when I was 35. I cut a piece of 4x4 to length equal to bed width (on a V-bed you'd have to notch the bottom to clear the "V"). Then lay the 4x4 across the bed and slide it up against the front of the chuck. With a pencil, trace the OD of the chuck onto the side of the block. Cut out the arc and you have a stand for the chuck while connecting or disconnecting it to/from the spindle. If the OD of the chuck isn't smooth, you may have to further notch the arc for clearance. My 4-jaw was that way.