3 jaw 3" or 4" chuck prices

[rockrat]

Ok, Im being real cheap. My uncle who is getting up there in age, has a small lathe that he would like a 3 jaw chuck for. I thought that I had one not being used at work but that was a nogo. I have looked around and thought that I could find such a chuck cheap. But the prices seem high at $69.00 for a foregin made unit (littlemachineshop.com).

Other than ebay (which I'm scanning now) does anyone know of an alternate source for such a critter? Or am I just too cheap!

[sidneyt]

Wholesaletool has a 4" 3 jaw like this:
http://www.wttool.com/p/1902-0003
for $49.

Harbor Freight has what is probably the same chucK
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=47458
for $5 more.

And one more chuck, a 5" which I think is an ideal sized chuck for a small lathe:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=3853683615

I might add that I purchased the above Wholesale tool chuck when it was on sale a year or so ago for ~$35. It has served me well.

[This message has been edited by sidneyt (edited 11-20-2004).]

[This message has been edited by sidneyt (edited 11-20-2004).]

[BillH]

49, 69, 59$ for a chinese chuck, why not just spend the little extra and get a Bison 4" chuck for around 109$? 119? On sale at Enco. What I have on my South bend right now.

[rockrat]

BillH, If the chuck was for me I would. That way I trust the chuck. This is a chuck for an uncle that is letting me hunt on his property. Uncle will let me hunt either way. Also, I know that he doesnt make anything precision. So if I can just find him one at a low cost, we all will become very happy.

BTW, I saw a chuck sitting all by its lonesome at HF today. No back plate, no key and no od jaws. So I inquired about it. The manager was very nice about it. Sold it to me cheap. And he even went into the back and found one of those little tool boxes that come with the lathes. Went through it and gave me the od jaws and a chuck key. He told me that the tool box was sitting around for spare parts, in other words, it fell out of a lathe box at some point. Since the stuff was sitting around, he made me a good deal on it.

HF may not have the best quality, but I have never had any hassle with the workers. Unlike some of the other stores in our area. (Applebee's, BP, AMC theatres, the list goes on) Sorry, just realized that I'm getting carried away!

[This message has been edited by rockrat (edited 11-20-2004).]

[sidneyt]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by BillH:
49, 69, 59$ for a chinese chuck, why not just spend the little extra and get a Bison 4" chuck for around 109$? 119? On sale at Enco. What I have on my South bend right now.</font>

So what is wrong with a a Chinese made chuck? The five that I have seem to do what a chuck is suppose to do. They hold things very tightly while I machine the piece. Do Bison chucks do that twice as good?

[BillH]

Chinese chucks are fine, about .003 runout, Bisons are supposed to have better run out, and much nicer fit and finish.
Bisons are really nice chucks for the money.