chuck key for craftsman four jaw chuck

[fuzzy]

I have an Atlas lathe with an 8" Craftsman four jaw chuck. The chuck key is 7/16 hex. where can I find a key for it? I do not have milling capability so cannot mill the flats. What should I do?

[Black_Moons]

Use a standard 1/2" rachet + extention? Fits my lathe fine... Its how I torque the camlocks after... I learned the hard way why you need a big wrench to tighten camlocks.. Half way through parting.

Should it not fit, a file + a few minutes with a $5 extention should do the job since its only 1/16" off

need a nice T handle? weld some metal stock onto the extention.

[tylernt]

I made a chuck key out of some slightly oversize square stock and an angle grinder to bring the end down to size. A little touchup with a file, cross-drill the opposite end in the drill press, solder a piece of round in the hole, done.

[Mcgyver]

File



.

[12teethperinch]

Am I the only one who noticed it said hex? Go buy an Allen key.
Darrell

[OKChipmaker]

Ifin I member right,thare are a lot of bolts with a 7/16 head.Use a grade 8 and fab a ext.and handle on the thread end.

[tdkkart]

Am I the only one who noticed it said hex? Go buy an Allen key. Darrell

Drill/tap a 6" piece of 1/2" shaft for a 1/4-20 bolt in the end, cross drill the other end for a T-handle and you shoudl be all set. The head of the 1/4" bolt is your /16 hex. Maybe a bit of locktite to hold the bolt in if you can't get it tight enough.

[tylernt]

Am I the only one who noticed it said hex? Go buy an Allen key.

Ooops! ...apparently you are.

Onlinemetals sells 7/16th hex stock in 12L14 steel. $1.38 worth should make at least one key, maybe two. And you can still cross-drill for a roundstock handle.

[Lew Hartswick]

Am I the only one who noticed it said hex? Go buy an Allen key.
Darrell

I'm convinced that half or more of the people that respond to a post
seem to be more interested in seeing their names on the board than
reading the original posters question. :-(
...lew...

[Duffy]

Now Lew, some of us have to move our lips when we read. If we forget, then we make MISTRAKES! Be kind