TBAS owners - A few questions

[tac284]

With the new lathe (new to me) in and my true bore alignment system in route and being delivered tomorrow I am ready to order my 6 jaw chuck. I chose to order it without because I thought I would buy a Bison from Grizzly ind. However I am starting to wonder about the Gator chucks that where offered with the TBAS, for those of you who have a Gator chuck I would like to know your thoughts? I already know there import so what I am really interested in is are they finished nicely? Are all the edges broke and deburred? I am already familiar with Bison chucks and know what I will be getting if I order one.

Another question? My headstock is 27-3/4" from outboard to spindle nose and im not sure how tall the TBAS is with chuck, are you guys still having to use an outboard spider to control whip? Maybe just when crowning? And speaking of crowning, what are you guys using to hold the taper? I can see this being an obstacle not having a rear spider.

I'm sure there will be another question or two but let's start with the ones at hand and see where we go. I have called and emailed Nate the last two question, with no response yet. I know he is a busy guy and really I will figure these things out as I go, just wanted to get a head start on it. Thanks in advance!

 

[ab_bentley]

If the HS is too long then thread an extension for the barrel tennon.

Adam

 

[Dusty Stevens]

The gator is comparable maybe nicer than the bison. Not sure where you got your info but bisons are not top of the line by any means nor are they made in the usa. Most chuck connoisseurs prefer a buck or german made rohm. Bison makes alot of chucks for other companies tho so most cheaper than bison chucks are bisons with maybe a lesser finish. Look around on ebay for a rohm I see them quite often for way less than new.

 

[ab_bentley]

If I were going for a chuck of that grade I would roll with Gator over the Bison. Also a 6 jaw is a nice piece of work but it's not a necessity if that was your goal. A good jaw is a capable of .0001" indication as a 6 jaw.

Adam

 

[tac284]

Thanks Guys, I didn't mean to imply that Bison chucks are the number 1, I know there not. I would like to know fom the folks that have or have used a Gator what they think of them. Would you buy a gator for $550.00 or a Bison for 850.00. Is the price differance in the Bison really there?

 

[dalewoolumjr.]

Take a look at Cushman industries. I use there 6 jaw on 2 of my lathes.

Dale

 

[tac284]

Thanks Dale, I've been on ebay every night for the last 3 weeks looking at chucks. I saw some Cushman's but have never seen or used one so i didn't now, I will take another look.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

For that price id go gator. 6 jaw doesnt distort as much as 3 but i dont think youll see it on a 6 or 8" chuck

 

[tac284]

That is where i am at right now Dusty, I think i will order the Gator, save some money and put it toward more tooling, 4 jaw chuck, etc.....

 

[tac284]

Well the TBAS was setting at my door when I got home tonight. In didn't have much time to look it over good before I took off for dinner. The first thing I did notice was how ruff the USPS shipping box looked. I opened it up and found the cam lock pins where almost coming out of there bags and where stuffed up inside the spindle nose taper part of the back plate. Of course you know what that did! Couple of nice small dings in the taper . Also some gouges and scratches on the O.D of the ball socket plate. Guess I got some work to do before i use it.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

chucks should be shipped in wood boxes. sorry that happened to such a nice piece

 

[shortgrass]

About a year and half ago Enco was running a 20% off sale, good on anything. I'd been wanting to change out my 3 jaw and decided I'd spring for a 6" Buck Set-Tru (Tru-Set?). A cardboard box that probably measured 20"x 20"x 18" arrived by UPS with a big hole in the bottom/side. The UPS man and I checked it out,,,,, nothing in the box but packing 'pillows". I called Enco and they were good about it and I had my new, flat back chuck in a few days. I did inquire why a 6" lathe chuck would be packed is such a big box. Not much of an answer. The box the Buck packed the chuck in would have been OK , all it'd have needed was a shipping label on it. Instead, the first one got thrown into a big box by someone who didn't care.