Shop Tips 101

[woody 73]

They don't teach shop anymore in school, I think they now teach computers which is also a good thing. So this shop tip is for the younger crowd because every once in a blue moon when this question comes up after a time,( well several years on the GJ) I stop giving my same answer because I don't like sounding like a broken record.

The question that comes up is the following: I lost my drill chuck key/ or The tool was missing a chuck key what size key do I need? As a matter of fact this very same question came up this week and one of the GJ members gave to right answer.

So pull up a chair and sit down for the following shop tip; (Thank you Mr. Ermin my 7th grade shop Teacher).

Pick up a good new/used plastic fishing box or any box that has dividers that separate items, in this case chuck keys.

Buy a used/new 29pc drill bit box full of drill bits.

Do not use any method like a chain/string to tie the key to the drill instead try some kind of magnet; it has come to my attention that turning on any drill with a chain/string can harm you, something I missed in doing this story.

Special update note: you do not have to buy keys if you don't want too, the reason I buy extra chuck keys is because I like buying air drills or power hand drills and 99% of the time they are missing the keys. I find it cheaper then going to the store and paying full retail for something that you can find used for pennies on the dollar; plus when I find the right key I put it with the drill.

Every time I hear a GJ member say "Gee I went to the garage sale and it was a bummer nothing to buy" I say you missed something...Buy or pick up used drill chuck keys at those sales from .10 cents up to 1.00 dollar and start your collection.

Ok the drill bits what are they for Woody? Simple you take the end of the drill and keep shoving the drill bits in the hole of the chuck till you find the exact size; then you use the following chart to find your key.


Ok in the following pictures (because I know you guys like pictures) in this example my drill press chuck took a 5/16" drill bit so looking at the charts (see links) I needed a 5/16" pilot shank key CK-TK3 which was a Jacobs K3 Key.

http://www.icscuttingtools.com/catalog/page_132.pdf

https://d2pbmlo3fglvvr.cloudfront.net/img/zoro_tips/drill_chuck_key_eZtip.pdf

http://www.jacobschuck.com/MagentoShare/media/documents/jacobs-catalog.pdf

http://www.harryepstein.com/index.php/norseman-29-pc-drill-bit-set.html

 

[freudianfloyd]

Good tips, but preventing the loss in the first place would be a good idea. Not that it will help you if you already lost the chuck key, but I always chuck my key up hand tight in the chuck it goes with when I am finished. That way it is always there when you need it and makes it difficult to lose.

 

[CoogarXR]

In shop class they taught us the redneck method of chucking with no key- put a philips screwdriver in the keyhole, then stick a slotted screwdriver in the chuck gear and pry against the shaft of the philips.

 

[McLean]

I'd be surprised if kids these days even know what a keyed chuck is! (let alone a drill...j/k)

Thanks for sharing!

 

[sberry]

Its a rare day I use one.

 

[fatfillup]

Good ideas. I have a large collection of chuck keys. you often find several in a tool box when you buy a complete collection. Its rare I don't have a key for a drill I get that doesn't have one.

Oh, they still teach shop in school, though I doubt its as popular as it used to be. I know 2 shop teachers in local high schools.

 

[22george]

l don't like keyless chucks. The drill bits always seem to slip.

 

[Spareparts]

I always stick a speaker magnet on my drill press,( JB weld if necessary) that is where the key goes. Putting a chuck key on a chain is not to safe, seen a kid wrap his hand into the chuck, it was a ****** mess, I know, stupid move, but with inexperienced people it happens.

 

[rlitman]

... Putting a chuck key on a chain is not to safe...

My drillpress key is on a key-bak self retracting keychain chain that hangs from the belt cover. The key itself is one of those safety keys with a spring pin in the pilot, so it is impossible to leave it in the chuck.

 

[gdocktor3]

A kid in my shop class put a drill bit in the press and forgot to remove the key. He turned it on and realized the key was still in the chuck and tried to remove it. Unfortunately, that key was chained to the drill press (one of your tips) and wrapped around his finger, ripping, not cutting, the "tip" of his finger right off his hand. I would not recommend that tip. Then another kid couldn't tell if the jointer was on or off in woodshop. He decided touch it to see if it was on. Needless to say, he lost a tip also....

 

[str8axle55]

Mr. Kane, my middle school shop teacher always told us...."leave key in chuck you`d better duck". I guess it must of worked, never saw an accident in school, & I still remember it 30 plus years later.

 

[woody 73]

Thank you for bringing the safety concern I fixed the post story, the story was more about how to find the right key but safety is always a #1 concern again thank you for your post replies.

 

[justme-]

For hand drills I tape the key to the cord near the plug, in line so the cord must be unplugged to use the key.... got that from my father who still has the key on his only remaining corded drill after 50plus years.

As to a press, ball chain like shop light pull chains used to be works great to chain the key down because it breaks very easily. Our press has been that way 20+ years, if the key doesn't throw before the ball chain gets tight the chain snaps. Easy to repair...always pulls out the joiner link.

 

[Jim C.]

Hey Woody,

Nice post and good tips on ultimately determining the correct key size should one need to find a replacement. The links to the charts are a great resource! I just learned something. Thanks!!! I'm not so sure about starting a key collection..... I think the charts are the answer. Use the charts, figure out what you need, buy/obtain the right key, don't loose it going forward. I have two drill presses. The two keys go in the drawer with the drill bits. When I need to use a drill press, the same drawer has the drill bits and the chuck keys. When I'm done, the drill bits and the keys go back in the drawer......every time. I think rooting through a collection of keys could be a hassle.

Jim C.

 

[woody 73]

Hey Woody,

Nice post and good tips on ultimately determining the correct key size should one need to find a replacement. The links to the charts are a great resource! I just learned something. Thanks!!! I'm not so sure about starting a key collection..... I think the charts are the answer. Use the charts, figure out what you need, buy/obtain the right key, don't loose it going forward. I have two drill presses. The two keys go in the drawer with the drill bits. When I need to use a drill press, the same drawer has the drill bits and the chuck keys. When I'm done, the drill bits and the keys go back in the drawer......every time. I think rooting through a collection of keys could be a hassle.

Jim C.

Grumble, grumble, sigh Ok I fixed the post again you guys are a tough crowd, Jim you don't have to buy any extra keys, the reason I do it is to save money rather then buying the keys at full retail price. Please note that I keep each key with each drill not in the plastic box.

 

[KnurledNut]

Nice write up and pics.

Occasionally, ive come across metric chucks that "common" keys wont fit just right.
My makita right angle drill (10mm chuck) takes a key that only works on a handful of models.
I ran into a similar situation with a Hilti drill.

Also, some of the early Supreme chuck keys are hard to match up.

Id like to add, for general shop tips, the (no longer printed) book Shop Savvy by Roy Moungovan is an excellent read.

Oh and BTW, they make self-ejecting safety chuck keys.

 

[Jim C.]

Grumble, grumble, sigh Ok I fixed the post again you guys are a tough crowd, Jim you don't have to buy any extra keys, the reason I do it is to save money rather then buying the keys at full retail price. Please note that I keep each key with each drill not in the plastic box.

Sorry Woody,

Maybe I didn't get it the first time. It was early and I didn't have my coffee yet.
I still got something out of the links you posted. I learned something new. It was a good post.

Jim C.

 

[Jim_No_Garage]

Oh and BTW, they make self-ejecting safety chuck keys.

My Delta drill press has a self-ejecting check key. I didn't understand it at first but it makes sense - taking chuck-y in the face after turning on the drill press would ruin your day.

Jim

 

[sberry]

What is this key and cord you speak of?

 

[gdocktor3]

What is this key and cord you speak of?

The key for a drill press is usually hanging off the side by some type of chain. This helps keeps it from getting up and walking away. Is that what you are asking about?

 

[sberry]

I was being a smart azz, cant even remember last time I used one or a corded drill or a drill press for that matter.

 

[humber2]

I've deduced that there are only 3 sizes of keys....

Too big

Too small

and the size you need.

 

[CoogarXR]

Where I used to work, the drill press key was hung with a rubber band. You stretched it down to use it, and it popped back up out of the way. If you were to leave it in, I imagine it would snap off pretty easy. Just another idea for drill press key storage.

 

[Teenager with old tools]

Good ideas. I have a large collection of chuck keys. you often find several in a tool box when you buy a complete collection. Its rare I don't have a key for a drill I get that doesn't have one.

Oh, they still teach shop in school, though I doubt its as popular as it used to be. I know 2 shop teachers in local high schools.

My school is only one in 20 mile radius with auto shop. I don't know a lot but I know more than the teacher. Tomorrow is the last day it's open though which Is sad. The teacher is stupid as hell but I already know all the machines so it's been convenient for me.
Teacher told us we will never need a chuck key. Or a vise or clamps.
As for chuck keys dissapearing I find that my 14 year old brother or his friends are responsible. Saw them using one as a throwing star. Promptly told them if they lose the one to the chuck in the tailstock of my lathe then my brother and whoever he has over will split the cost of a new 3/4 mt3 Jacobs chuck. Ain't seen a flying chuck key since. I just keep it a bin with Rest of wrenches for lathe


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[BDT/NWMN]

My school is only one in 20 mile radius with auto shop. I don't know a lot but I know more than the teacher. Tomorrow is the last day it's open though which Is sad. The teacher is stupid as hell but I already know all the machines so it's been convenient for me.
Teacher told us we will never need a chuck key. Or a vise or clamps.
As for chuck keys dissapearing I find that my 14 year old brother or his friends are responsible. Saw them using one as a throwing star. Promptly told them if they lose the one to the chuck in the tailstock of my lathe then my brother and whoever he has over will split the cost of a new 3/4 mt3 Jacobs chuck. Ain't seen a flying chuck key since. I just keep it a bin with Rest of wrenches for lathe


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I may have met Your Shop Teacher some years back.. If He is the same person; I agree about being stupid as hell.. Well, this one claimed to be a Shop Teacher..

 

[leg17]

I've deduced that there are only 3 sizes of keys....

Too big.....Too small.....and the size you need.

I always have two of the three.

 

[cheechi]

here's a shop tip for you at the drill press. Keep a bucket (or 'big cup' type of thing for bench mount) sitting below the table to catch dust & shavings. Keep some scrap nearby to make clamping easier; for example I clamp a 1x2 on top of small or awkward pieces, like guitar bodies rather than the piece itself.

 

[drivesitfar]

ALL: i've seen many members with a drawer in their toolbox full of DP chuck keys. the old guy that restored my old Walker Turner put a nice chain on my chuck key to keep it out of the way when not in use.

anybody not put ear and eye protection on or close to their grinders or table saw and tools? i started a thread on Safety a while back that has a lot of SAFETY 101 tips for your shop.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=6258506#post6258506

 

[CoogarXR]

I hang my face shield on the grinder wheel, that way I can't turn it on without picking up the shield (and putting it on!)

 

[mbshop]

It truly is scary that folks are not on the job mentally when working with machinery. Yes, I have made mistakes, but for most instances I think through what I'm doing and this truly cuts down on injuries. So thd best thing to do is engage brain.