Looking for a Collet Chuck

[Metalistico]

Hey everyone, I'm thinking of buying a Collet Chuck for my Mini Lathe, What are your recommendations ?

 

[YYCHM]

What size are your chucks and what size is the spindle bore?

 

[Darren]

If its a mini lathe, collets in the spindle bore or adapter sleeve with a collet closer or drawbar would probably work better in terms of rigidity.

 

[DPittman]

I bought a OZ25 collet system for mine relatively cheap an really like it other than it is oddball and a bit difficult to find. I think it has the best holding capabilities of the er collets systems due to its size, but I could be mistaken.

 

[YYCHM]

I bought a OZ25 collet system for mine relatively cheap an really like it other than it is oddball and a bit difficult to find. I think it has the best holding capabilities of the er collets systems due to its size, but I could be mistaken.

But you're not running a mini-lathe are you.....

 

[DPittman]

But you're not running a mini-lathe are you.....

Mine is a 10x22 so mini by some standards but I think the 7x mini lathes also have a 3mt spindle don't they?

 

[YYCHM]

Mine is a 10x22 so mini by some standards but I think the 7x mini lathes also have a 3mt spindle don't they?

Ya, I think mine was MT3 come to think of it...

 

[Susquatch]

Hey everyone, I'm thinking of buying a Collet Chuck for my Mini Lathe, What are your recommendations ?

I don't think I can help with a specific recommendation. But I sure can vouch for the merits of a collet chuck.

My lathe is a 14x40 with a D1-5 spindle head. I bought a 5C Collet chuck for it 5 years ago or so and I LOVE IT!! It is my goto chuck now for most jobs. It lives on my lathe more often than any other chuck. It's accurate, strong, and simple to use. I highly recommend a collet chuck. If you get one you will be glad you did.

 

[whydontu]

Little Machine Shop

A bit spendy by the time you get all the collets, but direct bolt-on to most mini lathes.

as Susquatch says, once you have a collect chuck you’ll wonder how you got along without one

And LMS are very nice people to deal with.

ER-32 Collet Chuck | Lathe Collet Chuck | LittleMachineShop

This ER-32 collet chuck mounts on the lathe spindle or can be used as a fixture on the milling table. Get the lathe collet chuck for your work site today.

littlemachineshop.com

 

[YYCHM]

Little Machine Shop

A bit spendy by the time you get all the collets, but direct bolt-on to most mini lathes.

as Susquatch says, once you have a collect chuck you’ll wonder how you got along without one

And LMS are very nice people to deal with.

ER-32 Collet Chuck | Lathe Collet Chuck | LittleMachineShop

This ER-32 collet chuck mounts on the lathe spindle or can be used as a fixture on the milling table. Get the lathe collet chuck for your work site today.

littlemachineshop.com

View attachment 19377

I was just going to suggest this but ER32 might be a little over kill for his spindle bore. Maybe ER20 along with a ER20 MT2 chuck for the tail stock. ER20 is a lot less expensive with lots of chucks and collets available on AliExpress.

 

[gerritv]

ER32 would be a good size. His spindle bore is 20mm.
Get metric collets, they fit more inferial size stock. You can always buy a few inferial sized ones. AliExpress has a good selection. You can get the plain back ER32 chuck there as well and only order the back plate from LMS.

I have ER16, ER20 and ER32 collets (for d-bit grinder, CNC spindle and 10x22 lathe respectively). Overall I prefer 5C now but that chuck is oversized for a 7x12.

Gerrit

 

[YYCHM]

ER32 would be a good size. His spindle bore is 20mm.
Get metric collets, they fit more inferial size stock. You can always buy a few inferial sized ones. AliExpress has a good selection. You can get the plain back ER32 chuck there as well and only order the back plate from LMS.

I have ER16, ER20 and ER32 collets (for d-bit grinder, CNC spindle and 10x22 lathe respectively). Overall I prefer 5C now but that chuck is oversized for a 7x12.

Gerrit

20mm? That's just as big as my 9" Utilathe? ER32 would work then, but I haven't seen any ER32 MT2 chucks out there, should one want to do double duty with a chuck for the tailstock.

I agree with getting the metric collets, spans the whole range.

 

[gerritv]

You don't want to have the ER32 on an MTxxx, ask me how I know. It prevents you from doing through bore work in the collet. Hence the 'mount ER32 on a back plate' method.
I have an ER32 MT4, which is now useless to me with the 5C available. But it got me through a dry spell.

Gerrit

 

[YYCHM]

You don't want to have the ER32 on an MTxxx, ask me how I know. It prevents you from doing through bore work in the collet. Hence the 'mount ER32 on a back plate' method.
I have an ER32 MT4, which is now useless to me with the 5C available. But it got me through a dry spell.

Gerrit

Wasn't thinking a MT3 for the spindle, but rather a MT2 for the tailstock, and yes a ER32 on a back plate for the spindle.

 

[Metalistico]

What size are your chucks and what size is the spindle bore?

3MT

 

[gerritv]

Wasn't thinking a MT3 for the spindle, but rather a MT2 for the tailstock, and yes a ER32 on a back plate for the spindle.

Oops, I misread that then.

 

[eotrfish]

YYCHM

Here are some photos of the Schaublin E25 collet chucks. You could always get a MT3 - MT2 sleeve and use one in your headstock.



Top row - 1/8 3/16 1/4 5/16 3/8 7/16 1/2

Bottom row - 1/8 3/16 1/4 --- 3/8 --- 1/2