Is this independent 4 jaw chuck worth $54 from Harbor Freight.

It screws directly on lathe no mounting plate to add extra length and such

Although I don't own one yet that is the next big item on my list of things to get.

Personally I think you will be better served with a quick change tool post as part of the "Starter Kit" from LittleMachineshop" and the $20 dial gauge with magnetic stand.

The big advantage to the independent chuck is being able to turn thing that are not round or turning/drilling off center.

I have indicators and stands and good mics already and my brother works on that stuff for a living in a calibration/repair shop in a steel mill.

With a 4 jaw chuck I can make alot of them need mods

Like the compound 4 bolt mount

Did you use the cheezy riser extentions that came with it??? They look like they would warp the ways if ya bolted down to them ...what do you think

with my lathe.

my drip pan hit the feed lever when it is in the down position??? Should

I post a picture of the risers???

it doesn't bottom out. Different design? I hade a picture in a post below but it timed-out, I'll repost it tomorrow.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npJfKhkS0QE

Wait I just noticed that the chuck in your picture doesn't use chuck keys. Looks like you need a wrench to adjust the jaws. That might take you a while to set up compared to one that uses chuck keys to adjust. That could be why it doesn't cost much.

Now I can leave two keys in my chuck.

I put the spring back on my key after leaving it in a few times.

the nuts on back have to be removed to reverse the jaws to from holding ID versus OD an object.

I know it looks like alot of monkey motion to use.

Is there anybody marketing a turnkey ready to go 5 or 6 inch independent 4 jaw chuck all the ones I have seen require fabricating a backplate....


Plus wouldn't the reduced hieght of this one keep your work closer to the headstock and not mutiply any headstock bearing runout???

If you have the money get a Bison 5" diameter 4 jaw chuck and a backplate to fit. It's what I use on my 9x20. It came (it was a Jet920) with one of those 4 jaw chucks and it's just not the same as a real 4 jaw. It's also nice to get a 5" 3 jaw chuck as well, again I use a Bison.
But if you don't have the money get that and use it for a while and surf Ebay looking for a good used chuck at a price you can afford...
Does the HF 9x20 have a 1-1/2 x 8 tpi thread on the spindle or is it metric? The Jet has the 1-1/2 x 8 thread and used chucks from SB, Atlas and Logan usually fits with a little tweaking.

Nick,
From ruralburbian Philomath.
anotherairgunblog.blogspot.com

WellI have not had it apart to check it yet BUT says its

http://www.littlemachineshop.com/products/product_view.php?ProductID=1921

"This product works with lathes with a M39x4 chuck mount including:

9x20 Lathe
Grizzly G4000 9x19 Bench Lathe
Harbor Freight 45861 Central Machinery 9x20 Bench Lathe"