Good evening gents.. I have a jet midi at the house and I am in need of a chuck for holding my mandrels.. what do you all recommend? I do have a Jacobs for the tailstock and have no plans for turning anything other than cork, eva or composite core sections... (don't even have much time to do this let alone anything else). Thanks and look forward to hearing what you have to say. I have looked at the collett chucks as well as the 3 and 4 jaw versions as well.

thanks,
Tom

I just put another Jacobs on my head stock. 1/2 inch works great....

Use your Jacobs chuck in the head and live center in the tail. I'm assuming you have acone inlet on one end of the mandrel to fit the live center. If not I would get another Jacobs chuck. Ideally a collet chuck would be great but the Jacobs will do the job

Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!

Collets are more appropriate for holding mandrels, but the more popular scroll and jaw chucks offer greater versatility.

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One note I will add here since it's come up recently is, Golden Witch is now selleing hexagonal mandrels. This help in keeping the cork from spinning while turning. To use those, you have to have either a 3 jaw or Jacobs drill chuck to drive them. Gunny, if your mandrels aren't drilled for the 60 degree cone to accept the live center, you can always purchase a live Jacobs chuck for your tail stock. I have one and they work great.

Bill in WV

I appreciate the advice guys. Mike, Bill the manrels do have the ends drilled to accept the live center and I will go the Jacobs route for now and possible the collets later on should I need it! REALLY looking forward to getting some stuff turned up on the lathe!!

thanks
Tom

You MAY say cork, but I bet wood, bark, acrylic, etc isn't far down the road LOL!!!

Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!