Lathe spindle converter

pennview · Post by **pennview** » Tue Mar 27, 2012 7:52 am

I did a google search on something like "vicmarc lathe chuck" and came up with these two sitea selling Vicmarc items --

http://www.woodturnerscatalog.com/store ... marc?Args=

http://www.packardwoodworks.com/Merchan ... rjaw-vm120

I haven't look all that closely for the availability of the three Vicmarc parts necessary to build the vacuum chuck, but you can get the part numbers from the Vicmarc site and see what is available. Vicmarc makes two adapter/inserts for their chucks that fit the Shopsmith, so you want to make sure you get the one with the correct male threads that fit their Rotating Union.

If you had a lathe with a through hole in the spindle, you could get a vacuum chuck from Harrison for $70.

rpd · Post by **rpd** » Tue Mar 27, 2012 11:12 am

paulmcohen wrote:That is exactly what I was looking for, where do you see prices?

For now I am just curious, since I have found other ways to do what I needed to do mostly using cole jaws (with multiple kinds of bumpers) and jam chucks.

Paul

Here is the link to the page for Vicmarc USA distriburers

http://www.vicmarc.com/default.asp?contentID=602

This seems to be the only one that stocks the rotating unions.

http://www.woodworkersemporium.com/browse.cfm/miscellaneous/2,125.html

paulmcohen · Post by **paulmcohen** » Wed Mar 28, 2012 12:32 am

rpd wrote:Paul

Here is the link to the page for Vicmarc USA distriburers

http://www.vicmarc.com/default.asp?contentID=602

This seems to be the only one that stocks the rotating unions.

http://www.woodworkersemporium.com/browse.cfm/miscellaneous/2,125.html

$29 for the adapter is reasonable, but ~$200 for the chuck and ~$125 rotating union makes the whole thing too expensive.

woodburner · Post by **woodburner** » Wed Mar 28, 2012 1:29 am

Vicmarc sells the Shopsmith insert for $29.95 and a rotating union with attached vacuum plate for $176.95. The parts are available through Woodworkers Emporium in Las Vegas.

ldlinford · Post by **ldlinford** » Wed Mar 28, 2012 9:11 am

My question was prompted by my receiving as a gift a "Woodchucker Mandrel." It is from the Woodturners Catalog 2011/12 (item #995-6000). This tool mounts to the headstock and protrudes deep inside a hollow vessel being turned. It holds the vessel securely against the tail stock. Unfortunately, the shaft that mounts to the headstock is solid and tapers. There is no way to secure it to the ShopSmith headstock. I have seen lathes with hollow shafts that would hold this tool securely. I believe the interior of the hollow headstock also tapers. I don't think any of the adapters mentioned above are deep enough to hold this mandrel. So I guess I'll have to return it. Drat!

pennview · Post by **pennview** » Wed Mar 28, 2012 11:04 am

This did get off track regarding what you're interested in, ldlinford.

The taper on the end of your Woodchucker Mandrel is a Morse Taper #2 and that fits into a hollow, #2 morse taper spindle. If you really want to use that mandrel, you would need the components mentioned in message #3 of this thread -- a chuck and a #2 morse taper socket.

greitz · Post by **greitz** » Wed Mar 28, 2012 12:12 pm

Before you return it, Idlinford, you may want to check if the shaft that extends into the turned vessel is welded or otherwise permanently attached to the #2 morse taper. If it just screws into the morse taper instead, then you could just unscrew the shaft and use a Shopsmith drill chuck to hold the shaft.

Gary