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Spiders Rule, 4-Jaws Drool

Just got an 8" a week or so ago and box said made in Taiwan for Buck. Wrapped in Chinese paper haha. Back plate is USA I believe.
 
I bought my Jet 13x40 new 25yrs ago, I added the Buck 2yrs later. Still Made in the USA, then. I'm the only one that's ever operated that lathe or used that chuck. Times have changed, many times not for the better, just for lower production cost and more profit.
 
shortgrass said:
I bought my Jet 13x40 new 25yrs ago, I added the Buck 2yrs later. Still Made in the USA, then. I'm the only one that's ever operated that lathe or used that chuck. Times have changed, many times not for the better, just for lower production cost and more profit.
Click to expand...

More likely, it's lower production cost to avoid loss of profit and going out of business. Margins aren't what they used to be......
 
Henryrifle said:
Has anyone tried one of these:

Precision Matthews Adjustable Chuck

I recently chambered using an inboard spider for the first time--all previous chambers on a 4-jaw. It was easier and faster to adjust but harder to to rotate than a traditional chuck. Also, I did have to make a small adjustment to the barrel after turning and threading the tenon to bring it back to zero run-out.

I have been interested in a Set-Tru for a while and since y'all have shamed me into an Interapid, I might as well double (triple) down and get a chuck optimized to the work I am doing.

Other suggestions appreciated. Goals are to produce quality barrels minimizing set-up time but not at the expense of quality work/outcomes.

Thank you,
Hank
Click to expand...
Any “set true” chuck will do, as you are not depending on the chuck to actually repeat. Especially with barrels, where what you are chucking on will not run true with what you will be indicating.
I actually have one of the 8inch Chinese knockoffs on my little lathe at my house. The bolt on jaws leave a little to be desired, but the central jaws on the scroll are very well made and ground square.
It is fine for barrel work.
We have several set true chucks at my shop, on one of our 20 inch Kingstons, we have a 16 inch 6 jaw Bison that cost about $7,000.
 
Tell me all about it! I'm the 'lead man' in a small job shop. Today, you need to be providing a unique product or service, your customers will be those with smallish quantities who need their parts in a short amount of time, not 6 or 8 months from the time of the order. Needs to be such a smallish order the overseas makers aren't interested in it. Many (most) large US manufacturers are their own worst enemy,,,,,, along with all of the regulations/compliance/red tape that might be present. And, to top it off. you may not be able to find employees, skilled or otherwise.
 
We can sell (competitively) imported high pressure flanges, that are used in the oil industry and other applications, for fewer $$$ than we can buy the steel or forgings to make them! We no longer make flanges in the shop where I work. Now, we are a "job shop", where we do machine work (make parts) for other manufacturers and do more heavy equipment repairs (line boring, pins & bushings). I'm 66, the day is coming were I just want to stay in my gunsmith shop, and not go to the machine shop. I usually have more work there than I can do in a timely manner anyway, many times turning work away.
 
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jackieschmidt said:
Any “set true” chuck will do, as you are not depending on the chuck to actually repeat. Especially with barrels, where what you are chucking on will not run true with what you will be indicating.
I actually have one of the 8inch Chinese knockoffs on my little lathe at my house. The bolt on jaws leave a little to be desired, but the central jaws on the scroll are very well made and ground square.
It is fine for barrel work.
We have several set true chucks at my shop, on one of our 20 inch Kingstons, we have a 16 inch 6 jaw Bison that cost about $7,000.
Click to expand...

I just talked to PM and asked John how they chuck compared to a Bison. He said Bison is about as good as it gets and is better than the PM, but the PM will hold the same specs and is very close to the Bison. Not as shiny though.

I think I'll order one. They are on back order. I suspect that if this was the chuck that was included with all lathes to hobby operators it would be all they need.
 
jackieschmidt said:
Any “set true” chuck will do, as you are not depending on the chuck to actually repeat. Especially with barrels, where what you are chucking on will not run true with what you will be indicating.
I actually have one of the 8inch Chinese knockoffs on my little lathe at my house. The bolt on jaws leave a little to be desired, but the central jaws on the scroll are very well made and ground square.
It is fine for barrel work.
We have several set true chucks at my shop, on one of our 20 inch Kingstons, we have a 16 inch 6 jaw Bison that cost about $7,000.
Click to expand...
Thats where the big difference is in the jaws and scroll. A bison or other high end chuck lock up like a vault with no catches or slack and the master jaws are fit like a glove. My bison jaws look like they were hand scraped
 
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