This may not be as relevant to some in these days of keyless chucks but here goes. I have got into the habit of watching Youtube videos on my phone while having coffee, usually on lathes or machining of some sort. During one such video yesterday a guy in the US had made comfort handles for for drill chuck keys and when he explained why it struck a chord. Today while at the lathe making return crank bushes for the Princess I decided to have a go at a handle for the chuck key for the drill chuck that I use on both my lathe and mill. Really quick to make and it doesn't need a lathe to do it. A Drill and a file would suffice. I made it so the handle was a tight interference fit and I did such a good job that I had to drill a 1mm hole in the end to let the compressed air out to allow it to push into the bottom of the main hole in the handle. It got quite a bit of use while making the bushes and was so much more comfortable to use so this evening I made a second one for the much smaller chuck key for my Proxxon Mini Pillar Drill Both handles are made from offcuts of Delrin rod that I had in stock but they could be made from pretty much anything. I had eyed up wooden dowel, aluminium bar and brass rod before remembering the Delrin.
Great idea.i always have trouble with chuck keys, mainly when it comes to undoing them. Looks like something I could make. I knew I always read your posts for a reason.
My issue with chuck keys, is remembering where I last used it, I've tried the cable method, but that fails when you can't find the key for the other device and the cable won't stretch that far - not to self need to buy more chuck keys. Now if I could remember the safe place where I've put the allen keys for the Slaters wheels, I'll probably find the chuck keys as well A bit of knurled ally or brass rod would look nice, although in a cold shed the delrin / nylon handles may be a bit more comfy. Paul
you need the wera hex drivers Paul 0.05 [118074] 0.035[345285] 0.035 rs componants other suppliers available Ken 05
Ah yes, what I failed to mention was the guy's other suggestion. Which is to add a magnet to the tail stock etc. By remarkable coincidence I actually had a magnet stuck to my tailstock that I had removed from something and just stuck there out of the way. It retains the chuck key perfectly, albeit it could do with a spot of Loctite to stop me occasionally pulling both the chuck key and the magnet free.
