Customer Reviews

Delta 46-950 6-Inch Lathe Chuck

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I just got this and haven't used it yet--I will update later. In response to the below reviewer, he's right, there's absolutely no documentation, and the method of reversing the jaws is not obvious.

It took me about 15 minutes to figure this out: The slots are numbered 1, 2 & 3, and the jaws are numbered 1, 2 & 3 one one side, and 3-3225, 2-3225 & 1-3225 on the other side. i.e. jaw number 1 says 3-3225 on it's other side, and #3 says 1-3225 on it's other side. For the standard configuration, as shown in the picture, insert 1 into 1, 2 into 2 and 3 into 3 and engage them in that order. To reverse the jaws, insert 1-3225 (i.e. #3) into 1, 2-3225 into 2 and 3-3225 into 3 and again engage them in that order (slots 1, 2 then 3).

In short, to reverse the jaws, switch jaws 1 & 3.

It really would have helped if they even printed a paragraph on the box or showed an explanatory picture, much less a page of instructions. I tend to be pretty good at these things, and could see a lot of people struggling with this for a lot longer, or never figuring it out. Besides, it wasted fifteen minutes of my life....

Other than that, my only problem so far is the cost. I guess these things cost a lot, and this would cost even more at a store, but just after this shipped I found a similar item for $45, and wish I would have bought that instead. Of course, it would probably cost $25 to ship this monster back, and I'm sure this is of higher quality so I'll just keep it.

***Update***
I have used this chuck several times and am very happy with it. It's rock solid, holds tight, never loosens, has good concentricity, and leaves minimal markings. The design of the jaws allows you to hold just about anything. Make sure you put some rust inhibitor on it after use.

This chuck has been used in my hobby shop for a year and has performed as expected. Delivered without instructions prompted a call to Delta for help and learned that,"......no instructions are provided with Delta Chucks". Therefore, no attempt was made to reverse the jaws for inboard clamping. Thanks to Jake the Snake's review, the reversal of jaws 1 and 3 should make the jaw change a safe procedure. Delta should be admonished for not providing an instruction manual. Shame on Delta for not providing better support.
A word of caution, a work piece can and will shift in the jaws with heavy chisel pressure and this shifting is more pronounced if the end stock is removed and/or the work is out of balance. It is suggested that the work piece be refined before the end stock is removed and exercise caution in bringing the chisel in contact with the work.

I received the chuck yesterday and played around with it last night.

It came covered in a rust inhibitor on it which needed to be cleaned off prior to use. It cleaned up easily with alcohol but I assume it will need a coat of paste wax to keep its shine and keep it from turning into a rust ball.

The concentricity appears good although I did not measure it. The jaws held tightly but left small marks in my wood.

The problem came when I attempted to reverse the jaws. There are no instructions for doing so and I never quite figured it out. The jaws are numbered as are the slots that they fit in. You have to start the teeth on the bottom of the jaw into the face gear in a specific order to get them in concentricly. I am a mechanical engineer and have been one for nearly twenty years. I was never able to figure out how to turn them around. Not sure if the stay in they stay in the same slot or not. Don't know which one to start first. Looking for a manual or instructions for idiots, didn't come with anything but a packing slip.

although i haven't used my new chuck ,it looks like it is just the thing i need to do the kind of work i'm starting.