Cheap drill chuck arbors vs Jacobs

[danlab]

I got a good deal on an Albrecht chuck off ebay to put in my drill press but I need a new arbor to mount it (2MT to 6JT). So now I'm torn if I should shell out the money for a Jacobs or other "high quality" arbor or just buy a couple cheap imports and use the one with the lowest run-out. I've measure the run-out on the taper of my drill press to be around 1 thou so I'd like to keep it decent but I'm not making aerospace parts or anything.

What are people's experiences with the cheap arbors? It is ~$25 for a Jacobs brand (which is also made in China) but I can get a Shars or MSC value line for $5-10, is it worth it for the more expensive arbors?

[Ohio Mike]

The Jacobs arbors are all made in China now so for me I'd rather get a good deal than pay Jacobs premium prices for the same junk. You may be able to find a NOS Jacobs from England around. Or buy an Albrecht or other quality arbor.

[danlab]

I found a couple of new old stock Jacobs arbors on ebay for about the same price as a new one. Also just found a NOS Rohm arbor in the size I need for a bit cheaper and am considering that.

I got the chuck for about $35 shipped so I was hoping to get away with a cheap arbor but I'm thinking more and more that it isn't worth it.

[jcfx]

As Ohio Mike said, go for the better deal, I recently bought two MT2 arbors, one from McMaster ( made in france ) and one from Victor Machinery ( Jacobs made in China )
both measure close to specs, another arbor purchased from Shars was about the same.

[old mart]

Using the one with the smallest run out is indeed the way to go, you won't know for sure until they are a unit.
We have a new Albrecht at the museum, but as luck would have it, the Kawasaki chuck runs truer and gets all the use.

[danlab]

Thanks for the responses, I've been planning to grab a couple things from Shars anyways so I'll probably grab a couple of arbors from them and hope for the best.

[Alan Smith]

Old Mart, I bought a couple of those Kawasaki chucks you highlighted. I gave one to my machinist friend, we are both very pleased with them. In fact I think he bought a further two. It's certainly my go to chuck for smaller sizes. I managed to find old stock Jacobs arbors and paid very little for them at Drill Services in Horley.

[MrWhoopee]

I just bought a new (judging from the wrapping) Cushman (so the ad said, no markings) 3/4 to 33JT on eBay for $9.00, free shipping. I wouldn't hesitate to buy a Chinese arbor if I hadn't found one. Given that you're using it in a drill press, go for the bargain.

[Toolguy]

I have had very good luck with the Chinese arbors. The ones I have bought had less than .001 runout.

[garyhlucas]

A part that gets ground between centers ought to be pretty easy to have a very low runout. I will also tell you that Jacobs chucks are no longer a premium quality tool. Everyone bitches about needing to go through a couple just to find a good new one. I am glad that our mill came with 4 1/4" Jacobs Super Chucks, and 3 1/2" Jacobs Super Chucks, that are all 20 years old!

[Andre3127]

A part that gets ground between centers ought to be pretty easy to have a very low runout. I will also tell you that Jacobs chucks are no longer a premium quality tool. Everyone bitches about needing to go through a couple just to find a good new one. I am glad that our mill came with 4 1/4" Jacobs Super Chucks, and 3 1/2" Jacobs Super Chucks, that are all 20 years old!

Do you have experience with the new high end Jacobs chucks?

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