L00 Chuck 8" 4 or 6 jaw

[danm323]

Just picked up a South Bend 13 that came without a chuck and looking to get something for it. I also have a Clausing 5914 with a 3-jaw that will fit, so I'd like to get something different that I can swap between machines. I was thinking a 4 Jaw independent, but would also be interested in a 6-jaw self centering.

It also did not come with a backing plate, so I would either need a chuck with an integrated L00 mount, or one with a backing plat.e


(Current chuck which I'm not sure of make. It says Made in England and is model N131 but haven't been able to cross that to anything. )

 

[Illinoyance]

You need a 4 jaw if you want to be able to get work running dead nuts true and also for irregular shaped work. A 6 jaw is needed if you want to work with thin wall tubing.

 

[wa5cab]

Although a 6-jaw chuck is better than a 3-jaw or a 4-jaw for thin-wall tubing., if that is your only reason for getting one, in my opinion collets are better still. Either a closer and a full set of collets or a closer and only the sizes that you need. However, keep in mind that buying a full set one or two sizes at a time will cost much more in the long run than buying a full set to begin with. Also, keep in mind that although a set of MT collets will be cheaper than a set of any other types, MT collets do not ever give full coverage from smallest to largest. AFAIK, they are only available in 1/16" increments and will only close on about +/- 0.005" from that. However, if say 1/4" tubing were the only size that you ever needed to make parts from, then a 1/4" MT collet and draw-bar would be your cheapest solution.