3c to 5c

[jaxinbc]

What is the least exspensive way to go to use 5c collets on a 9" Southbend that has a 3/4" I.D. headstock ? I use 3c but it would be handy now and again to use 5c as i have both. Thanks

[Neil Butterfield]

I also have a 9" South Bend Lathe and I use 3C collets. As you know they only go up to 1/2". I too had 5C collets for my mill so I made the Collet adapter described in "The Shop Wisdom of Philip Duclos" p. 44, available from Home Shop Machinist. It is very easy to make and I have found it very useful. Of course, you are limited in the length of stock as you can not put the work through the spindle but that is a small price to pay for the versatility it offers. The article may have appeared in an older issue of HSM, check the index's if you do not have access to Duclos' book.
Neil Butterfield

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Neil

[SGW]

Bison makes a 5C collet adapter for small lathes; I'm pretty sure MSC sells it.

Of coure, the proper "hsm" way is to build your own, as Neil says. :-)