Anyone have an opinion on this fixture?

[JBW]

Was cruising Ebay and found this fixture. I have 3 lathes in the shop, all with 3 jaw scroll chucks. I really don't want to buy another chuck right now and don't intend to buy this either. However I can make one like it from materials I already have. Cost will be $0 out of pocket, just a few hours labor. Anyone ever use one or see any reason it wouldn't work?
And yes, I am a cheap SoB!

[LexKY_Pipe]

Okay, where's the fixture?

[JSPipes]

I had a similar set of jaws made up for a OneWay Stronghold chuck. The key is the 2 pins that come in from the side to both mark the joint of airway and chamber (or airway and mortise). They allow you to just rotate the block to do one drilling or the other. The concept is fabulous! Execution is a tremendous help as well.

Here's what I have: http://www.jspipes.com/stuff/chuck.jpg

[JBW]

Okay, where's the fixture?

Click on "this fixture" or below.


http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... %3AIT&rd=1

Thanks Joel, I had seen your jaws earlier. They are what made me think about making one of these.

[KurtHuhn]

I've always found such fixtures limiting. There are many times (like almost every pipe) where the shank and airway vectors don't match. That means I'd need to reposition the block anyway. Besides, it only takes a few seconds to do it the way I do it now anyway.

[smokepiper]

Looks like this chuck just have a nonadjusting set of jaws, just a bolt that is holding the block in place...

[ToddJohnson]

This is a fantastic chuck. The jaws are adjustable by way of an allen bolt. They have knurled faces and pins that allow the block to pivot for drilling the airhole and tobacco chamber on the same axis without any alignment whatsoever. If you drill pipes on a lathe using this method, this chuck will ensure almost certain accuracy. They're now made of very light aircraft aluminium and can be ordered to fit in your 3-jaw chuck. This cuts down on time spent changing things out. FWIW, it is possible to make something similar, but this chuck sports features you're unlikely to know you need, and certainly probably don't have the capability to create. I'm not suggesting everybody go out and buy one, but these are what the professionals use. Danish/American design, and American craftsmanship. These are created in a world class machine shop by a machinist who's been doing this for 30+ years, and has been working directly with pipemakers for the last 6.

Best,

Todd

[LexKY_Pipe]

with this type of jig, if your drilling something other than a straight pipe, you will have to reset the jig for the mortise hole. However, this jig assures a perfect junction of the tobacco chamber and the air hole. Of course you still have to decide when the length of hole is right.

[JSPipes]

True, but it's really easy to line it up for the mortise. Just make an indentation on the layout line on the block and set the pins. Can't miss!

It really does make life a lot easier. At least for me.

[smokepiper]

I have an alignment chuck 2 jaws from Ken it´s a remade wood lathe chuck. I can only drill blocks with it and shapings have to be made by hand, i have seen other 2 jaws but metallathe chucks that are used for shapings as well. Could this one be used for shapings of bowl and shank?