DIY Lathe Chuck Keys - Without a Mill!
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- Опубліковано 6 вер 2024
- Learn how to make your own custom lathe chuck key without a mill! Stick around till the end for a bonus tip!
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In this video I'll cover how to make a lathe chuck key (or any other square drive key) without a milling machine! Though stick around till the end for a surprising shortcut to this method!
All the videos I found online pretty much require you to already have a mill to make chuck keys. However, with the handy tips and tricks I demonstrate, it's relatively easy and accurate to make a chuck key as your first machining project with only the tools you're likely to already have.
This is going to be one of the first of my machining videos, with many more planned to come. I aim to keep these videos both informative and entertaining.So let me know what you think with your positive comments and consider adding me to your list of UA-cam subscriptions as a way to let me know to keep these coming!
I made my first one before I got a mill and I used endmills in the lathe collet chuck. Key held in a boring bar toolpost holder (designed it to have the same OD as the boring bar holder for that reason) and once it was centered up went to town on it with the end mill. Kinda tricky to square up the different sides without a flat reference but a construction level and machinist square did the trick well enough. I find that in machining there's many ways to skin the same theoretical cat, some easier than others but you gotta wee with the willy you got. Keep up the good work and cheers from Cleveland Ohio
Nice lil project
Nice vid! I might've milled the flats on the lathe while the chuck key was mounted in the tool post or something. Same with drill that through hole for the handle. This is coming from a guy who's only machine tool has been a mini lathe for a couple of years though... Necessity is the mother of invention. Thank you for sharing your process!
When I went to auto tech school, the first thing we had to learn was files and how to use files. I still find doing some file work to be relaxing. And yes, I have more files than I'll ever need. As I need a better chuck key, you have given me the kick to go ahead and do it. Thanks !
I'm glad to hear, I hope it turns out really well. These ones are still holding up perfectly under frequent use and just as you were taught, I definitely found this a good project to cut my teeth on and earn the right to run the lathe after I got it
I filed the first one that I made for my machine similar to what you did here out of 1018 CR. The second time I learned I could turn the shaft to 12mm (1/2") in my case and place it in a boring bar holder then chuck up the milling bit and cut using the lathe like a horizontal milling machine, You still have take time and square it up every 90 degrees but this allows you to use the lathe bed ways to square from. The second one was made out of 4140 (no heat treating) and it has held up very well.
I like to take a torch and heat the metal until I get a blue oxide finish on it if it doesn't require heat treating and just leave it at that for rust protection, once it has the color I like I let it air cool for about 10-15 minutes and quench with water, I know this is making it more brittle but for a chuck key it hasn't been an issue.