How to Use a Wood Lathe Drill Chuck
- 1). Lock the lathe spindle into a set position before attempting to remove or install a lathe chuck. A lathe chuck uses a reverse thread as its securing point to the lathe's spindle. You will have to turn the lathe chuck in a loosening movement in order to remove the chuck from the spindle.
- 2). Grip the lathe chuck. Use a strap wrench that is able to loop around the chuck and be tightened as it is turns the chuck in a loosening movement. When the chuck becomes free, it will spin freely on the spindle which can create a jerking motion. If you're not careful, this may cause you to injure yourself in the process. Do not try to loosen the lathe's chuck without first being sure that you will be prepared to manage the chuck once it becomes loose on the spindle.
- 3). Install a new chuck, and the lathe is ready to be used to turn blank wood pieces into manufactured pieces of woodwork. Find the center of a blank piece of wood at the point you want to attach it to the lathe chuck.
- 4). Use the center mark of the blank. Insert the wood blank so that the grips center the wood piece. The blank can spin in a natural way without becoming thrown off center or out of balance.
- 5). Finish the piece of lathe turned wood by finishing the necessary cuttings until the piece fits the desired shape and size. Loosen the wood lathe chuck with the allen wrench or tool provided and move on to the next wood working project that the lathe makes easy once you know how to use a wood lathe drill chuck.
- 6). A strap wrench can help the most stubborn lathe drill chuck from being removed from th lathe's spindle. While not necessary in all cases, this tool is underused in this case, even though it prevents damage from chuck damage from hitting and banging that comes from trying to remove a lathe chuck without one.