High End Chuck

[Jammer Six]

If you were looking to buy a 3 jaw chuck, say, a four inch or a five inch, what brand names would you look at, if you wanted an accurate chuck that would always be worth repairing?

[mtraven]

you're going to need to qualify "accurate". But generally speaking, I'd be looking for something with a "run- tru" system. Its basically 4 positioning screws that allow you to center your 3 jaw on the spindle (like a 4 jaw chuck, but building into the chuck housing).

and whatcha planning on doing to it that your already anticipating repairs? 🤔

keep crap outta the scroll & pinions and a good chuck should outlast either of us.

edit: not sure what kind of work you do, but if its 1st op bar work, you might consider a collet chuck.

[Mcgyver]

New? I'd say Rolm would be the best, then Yuasa. Bison seems like its getting up there...once mid level, they seem to be highly regarded now. Once upon a time, Pratt Burnerd would have been my number 1; its the chuck Schaublin chose to ship with their lathes for example. But they've made a concerted effort to confuse and mess up a brand I'm not sure what you get anymore (PB was British, now there is PBA, PBA Atlas etc). Marketing idiocy.

Of all the workhold devices, accuracy of the 3 jaw matters the least so I don't know that if I was shopping for new I'd spend the big bucks.

[J Tiers]

............................................

Of all the workhold devices, accuracy of the 3 jaw matters the least so I don't know that if I was shopping for new I'd spend the big bucks.

True enough, although centering is only one of a number of factors involved in a top quality chuck, and not the most important one. Jaws that grip accurately parallel to the centerline, consistency/repeatability, etc seem to be pretty important as well.

The adjust-tru feature is quite handy, and makes the repeatability more important for doing a run of parts. It's a step between a 4 jaw and a high quality collet, in the balance of convenience and accurate centering on successive "identical" parts.

[ammcoman2]

Agree with the comments on the PB and Bison.

TOS and Vertex are also worth considering but difficult to find in NA. I have 3 from TOS but none from Vertex - but figure that the quality of their lathe chucks will be the same as their keyless drill chucks. I have a 1/2” sized one of the latter and it is really smooth and very accurate.




Geoff

[RB211]

What ever the CNC lathes use on industrial machines

[Black Forest]

The best would be a Schunk. Get the song in your head, "nothing compares to you". That is a Schunk.

https://schunk.com/shop/de/de/Spanntechnik/Drehmaschine/c/PUB_2632

[old mart]

Rohm or Bison if I could afford them. One of my top finds last year was a 4" Pratt Burnerd NOS British made with both sets of jaws for about £25. It is a little gem now modified for 6 mounting screws to hold it on a loose register to the backplate for a poor mans "set tru" adjustability if needed. It complements the 125mm, 5" and 160mm chucks already used on the lathe, being better for small jobs.
Properly looked after and used, cleaned regularly, a chuck should last indefinitely.

[Rich Carlstedt]

If you were looking to buy a 3 jaw chuck, say, a four inch or a five inch, what brand names would you look at, if you wanted an accurate chuck that would always be worth repairing?

Buck Chuck or Pratt Bernard

Rich

BF your link does not work

[RB211]

Schunk. No point in staying with the past

[Black Forest]

Schunk. No point in staying with the past

What are you talking about?

[Black Forest]

Try it now.

[Black Forest]

Buck Chuck or Pratt Bernard

Rich

BF your link does not work

fixed it. Danke

[RB211]

What are you talking about?

Agreeing with you!

[The Metal Butcher]

Buck; Bison.