longworth chuck

[Cameron Johnson]

I purchased a longworth chuck (I know, I could have built one but it was well worth it). It came with a packet containing four quarter inch bolts and four short flat head screws. It is obvious what the bolts are for, but not the screws. I guess I could screw the bottom plate to a bench on top of my "stomper". But I imagine that glue will get into the slots during use so it will need to be rinsed off between uses to keep the slots clean....so why the screws? Also.... the bolts by themselves leave a lot of slop. So I'll probably need to add some knobs on top of them. One possibility would be a 3/4 dowel with a hole in the middle and a 1/4 nylock nut epoxied in place (so that it leaves clearance for the plates to turn). Some other chuck videos talk about using a #4 rubber stopper. But those are typically for thru bolt systems with wingnuts on the backside. I could just use longer bolts and the nylock nuts on top but the nuts are hex and it wouldn't center as well (the knobs need to be round). Knobs for drawers tend to be #10 not 1/4 but I guess I could drill them out and retap. Any suggestions for some threaded post that I can lock and still leave clearance for the plates to turn? I'm sure others have probably found some commercially available solution.

 

[Lloyd Johnson]

If you got just the Longworth Centering Attachment, it should not have included the screws which are for attaching the Stomper to the bottom of the work surface. I'll watch here for suggestions as I'd like to include something for this purpose as well.

I don't attach the bottom plate to the work surface as I like to be able to turn the unit with the bowl on to so that I can look at it from different angles while sitting ar eye level.

 

[stuart johnson]

I have Lloyd's Longworth Centering Attachment and don't find an issue with the slop and the thru bolts. When tightened against the ring they center and tighten up. You are right about the glue getting in the slots. I usually need to clean them after 3 or 4 rings. It would make adjusting easier if the the bottom plate was screwed down but that would be a pain when trying to clean.

 

[Cameron Johnson]

When you lift the centering attachment (to clean) the bolts fall out. It would be nice to have something to hold the bolts in place. I had been thinking of something on the front....like threaded knobs, etc. , but I guess I could put a thin layer behind the bolt heads and that would work as well.....maybe I could even use those 4 loose screws to hold the "new" bottom layer in place.

 

[Art Bodwell]

I did put 1/2" dowels over the bolts to bear against the ring. I don't have any issue with glue getting in the slots however, so I never remove the slotted top. I did leave the protective paper on and wipe glue off it occasionally. I did not screw the base down. As Lloyd said I like to rotate the chuck to see all sides and I have the stomper in my press which I use for other things occasionally. Picture attached.

 

[Brent Dalrymple]

I have Lloyd's Longworth Centering Attachment and don't find an issue with the slop and the thru bolts. When tightened against the ring they center and tighten up. You are right about the glue getting in the slots. I usually need to clean them after 3 or 4 rings. It would make adjusting easier if the the bottom plate was screwed down but that would be a pain when trying to clean.

I never have to clean mine. I take a piece of waxed paper and cut a hole in the center just large enough to fit over the stomper shaft. The paper should come up over and cover the bolts. The waxed paper does not interfere with centering, and any glue will be caught by the paper. For the next ring, use a new piece of paper if there is glue on it.

 

[mfisher]

I will have to remember to take a camera to the Club's shop someday. For a stomper workstation we built a the stomper stand and then mounted to a lazy susans base. That way we rotate the bowl and see that the alignment is still going well.

 

[Cameron Johnson]

Some people have mentioned putting dowels over the bolts and others just leave the bolts as is. "If" you want to cover the bolts or hold them in place then here is a suggestion that works for me. Rockler sells a one inch diameter threaded round hard rubber knob called a "Easy to grip" round knob (1/4-20 female). The part number is 58088 and it works fine with a flat washer under it.

 

[cnsranch]

I'd like to make my own chuck......I've got a cnc machine that would cut the arcs with no problem. I've also got a lot of 1/2" corian that would work well with the chuck.

What escapes me is how the bolts ride in the lower piece. Are the arcs cut into the lower piece wider than the top so as to accomodate the bolt heads?

Are the two pieces attached to one another somehow?

Couple pics would sure be nice.

 

[Clifford Lemons]

Just got my chuck in the mail today. Didn't come with any bolts though. No big deal I need to grab some pvc glue for my stomper anyway. Should have it together this weekend!

 

[Lloyd Johnson]

Clifford, the bolts are in a separate Aggie and that baggies is put inside the sealed bubble-wrap package holding the Longworth Centering Attachment. I would be very surprised if it isn't there because I have a double check process to make sure this doesn't happen. Please check again. It it isn't there, I surely apologize. Fortunately, the are off-the-shelf 1/4" 10-24 bolts tha are 1" long. I use 1" because the protrude above the disks but allow you to center progressively smaller rings. Longer bolts will not allow you to do that.

If the bolts are missing, I'd send you new ones. But I'm currently at the Great Barrier Reef and the only have metric bolts here.

Lloyd

 

[Clifford Lemons]

Thanks for the quick reply Lloyd but I have double and triple checked the package. I'll pick some bolts up at the hardware store. I'm excited to get started using this process. Don't worry about sending replacements. I'm also going to start gathering parts for your saw sled!