Drill Press chuck

[ChargerRT]

Hey guys I have an old Delta Rockwell drill press and want to look into getting a new chuck for it... it looks like it has an oooollld jacobs chuck on it but when I was drilling last night with 1/2 bit it had a fair amount of run out... What would a good chuck be that will not break the bank... I got my first child due this month and can't justify a $400 chuck.

Let me know fellas!

 

[Davefr]

First of all, you need to make sure the root cause of the runout is the chuck and not the spindle and/or mount.

As for chucks, get an Albrecht keyless and don't look back. You can find them on Ebay and even if they need new jaws it'll come out cheaper then new.

If you really want to stick with an old fashioned keyed chuck then look for a Jacobs 14N assuming the mount is compatible. Once again, chucks tend to be pretty good deals on Ebay. Look for the older ones made in Hartford.

If you buy used, make sure you take apart the chucks to clean, lubricate and replace any worn parts.

 

[larry_g]

Hey guys I have an old Delta Rockwell drill press and want to look into getting a new chuck for it... it looks like it has an oooollld jacobs chuck on it but when I was drilling last night with 1/2 bit it had a fair amount of run out... What would a good chuck be that will not break the bank... I got my first child due this month and can't justify a $400 chuck.

Let me know fellas!

Dave above has recommended the top of the line chuck which I believe is way over kill for a garage machine.

First thing you have to do is figure out the chuck mounting method. Probably a jt33 but could be something else. Then what is the chuck number you have on there now? You might get away with rebuilding it.

You say that you had run out on a 1/2 drill bit. You really need to test and measure with a known straight and round rod as some bits aren't all that straight. If you get runout on the chuck then pop off the chuck and test the spindle. A new chuck will not fix a bad spindle. If the spindle is straight then clean the spindle and chuck mount and reseat the chuck and test again. Setting a chuck on the taper is sometimes a bit tricky and may take a couple of trys to get correct.

If the above proves fruitless then go for the new chuck.

The basic 33 or 34 series should serve your needs.
http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INPDFF?PMPAGE=480&PMCTLG=00

lg
no neat sig line

 

[pcmeiners]

To add.... new keyed Jacobs are made in China and are hardened incorrectly, they break. Best bet is to get an older Jacobs off Ebay. The new ones are laser etched , the older ones are embossed with the Jacobs info (deeply stamped). There are two types of the keyed chucks, plain sleeve and ball bearing (Super Chuck), super chucks are the premium type.

 

[JZiggy]

My Craftsman press has a JT33 taper and I use a Taiwan-made Vertex 1/2" ball bearing chuck (Amazon link). Runout is very low and it works well. I have used it a decent amount and have not had a complaint yet. I would pay more for a US-made one but I was unable to find a ball bearing chuck that would fit.