[How-To] Hold a knurled part in a lathe chuck?

[Cadillac STS]

I have had parts that I need to knurl first in the order of operations then need to hold them in the chuck to do more work on it and not damage the knurling.

I have been using layers of paper towel wrapped with a thin brass piece and it works fairly well, sometimes need to adjust if it is not centered well,

Is there something else to wrap with or a different method?

 

[darkzero]

I make "collets" or split sleeves out of delrin to hold knurled pieces in the lathe chuck. I suppose other less expensive plastics would work just the same but delrin is what I have on hand.

 

[gjmontll]

If I need to securely hold something that needs some protection, like your knurled part, then I cut an appropriate sized piece of aluminum can.

 

[Aukai]

I have done light turning using 3 wraps of plumbers black 20mil x 2"direct bury tape. WD-40 gets the glue out afterwards.

 

[Doug Gray]

Collets are you friend.

 

[Ulma Doctor]

I have made bushings of different sizes from aluminum .
bored them to size and split them in half
They work great!

 

[ChazzC]

Collets are you friend.

View attachment 444405

I just had a thought: I wonder if I could 3D print ER32 collets? They wouldn’t be super accurate, but maybe as good as a 3-jaw with Aluminum can shim. Alternatively, machined from Acetal/Delrin could be a good crowdfunding opportunity, with maybe a 6mm through hole that could be machined to suit.

 

[benmychree]

I use soft copper, like flashing copper.

 

[Doug Gray]

^^^ That reminds me, in my tool makers clamp kits I provide a short piece of 1/2" copper water pipe. The pipe is to be split and used to protect the knurled portion of the screws while the threads are cut.

 

[Ulma Doctor]

I just had a thought: I wonder if I could 3D print ER32 collets? They wouldn’t be super accurate, but maybe as good as a 3-jaw with Aluminum can shim. Alternatively, machined from Acetal/Delrin could be a good crowdfunding opportunity, with maybe a 6mm through hole that could be machined to suit.

Yes, you can print 3d ER32 collets
For goofs, i printed 1 hexagonal collet, 5/16” and 1 square 3/8” collet
Both were found on thingyverse