Tight jaws on drill press chuck

[ez-duzit]

...I love an inexpensive solution...

That's precisely why you now need to replace the Chinese chuck.

[Aram]

My Delta DP chuck did that. I tried to repair it, and it didn't work. You should try the oil/cleaner/etc. solutions and if that doesn't work buy a new one. I'll recommend a non Asian chuck, and the one I picked was an LFA. 

Thanks, everyone. This has been very helpful.

I definitely do not want a keyless chuck. Searches on woodworking and machinist forums are turning up, besides Jacobs (which I gather have declined in quality lately), Rohm and Albrecht. Any others I should look at? (Fred, your link is taking me to Waterlox.) 


Meanwhile, I'll try cleaning it and see where that gets me.

[fredhargis]

Sorry, I edited it to correct, but just in case try here.

[Aram]

Sorry, I edited it to correct, but just in case try here.

Thanks. I meant to mention, the original chuck has 5/8" capacity. I would like to keep that.

[alanealane]

Jacobs ball bearing keyed "superchuck" you can find them on eBay for much less than new prices. They may need a good cleaning but usually are great for accurate woodworking use. I may have a 5/8 superchuck laying around my shop that could work for you. Not sure of the taper on the arbor. I'll check later today or tomorrow.

[Aram]

Jacobs ball bearing keyed "superchuck" you can find them on eBay for much less than new prices. They may need a good cleaning but usually are great for accurate woodworking use. I may have a 5/8 superchuck laying around my shop that could work for you. Not sure of the taper on the arbor. I'll check later today or tomorrow.

Thanks. My press takes #2 Morse.

[alanealane]

Thanks. My press takes #2 Morse.

Aw man I just looked and I have a really nice Röhm 1/2" ball bearing and a Jacobs Superchuck 14N but they both only go to 1/2" and are a MT4 taper I believe, which can be sleeved up to MT2. But probably won't work for ya. But see what you can come up with on eBay, where I bought all mine. There's an auction with 22 hours left for a Superchuck 16N on eBay currently at $11.50 plus $12 shipping  but it has no arbor. You can buy a decent Chinese MT2 to Jacobs taper arbor for cheeeeap! And there's a buy it now listing for one around $60 shipped with the arbor which is still a steal! Bear in mind that they usually won't grab a bit smaller than 1/8"

[Aram]

Aw man I just looked and I have a really nice Röhm 1/2" ball bearing and a Jacobs Superchuck 14N but they both only go to 1/2" and are a MT4 taper I believe, which can be sleeved up to MT2. But probably won't work for ya. But see what you can come up with on eBay, where I bought all mine. There's an auction with 22 hours left for a Superchuck 16N on eBay currently at $11.50 plus $12 shipping  but it has no arbor. You can buy a decent Chinese MT2 to Jacobs taper arbor for cheeeeap! And there's a buy it now listing for one around $60 shipped with the arbor which is still a steal! Bear in mind that they usually won't grab a bit smaller than 1/8"

Thanks for checking! And yes, I will be all over the 'Bay.

[Dennis Puskar]

I have a Steel City 17" drill press. It's a great machine, but the chuck jaws are extremely hard to open and close by hand. I don't know why I didn't call them about it when I had the chance, but here I am. Do you think there's anything I can do? Or am I stuck on the tight end of tolerances?

Thanks.

I had a chuck that was hard to open and close disassembled the chuck deburred and cleaned and the chuck worked fine.
Video on you tube that explains how to disassemble.

[fredhargis]

[attachment=13344]

Thanks. I meant to mention, the original chuck has 5/8" capacity. I would like to keep that.

The LFA comes in a 5/8" version and is the one I bought for my press. In my case it was an upsize, since the OEM was 1/2". What surprised me was the physical size difference to get the extra 1/8" capacity.