Chris Gunsolley wrote on May 17
th, 2016 at 4:13pm:
How tight should I make it?
Just tight enough
Chris Gunsolley wrote on May 17
th, 2016 at 4:13pm:
If you're familiar with this chuck, you know that it has two different places to tighten the jaws.
It actually has ONE method of tightening and TWO access ports which turn the same part, the scroll ring. There is no need to tighten from both spots.
Chris Gunsolley wrote on May 17
th, 2016 at 4:13pm:
My current technique is to basically tighten it in the first hole until it's almost impossible to for me to get it any tighter, then, switch to the other hole and do the same, then go back to the first, tighten it a little more, switch back to the other hole and do the same, etc., until it is almost impossible for me to tighten either.
When you are going back and forth trying to get it a bit more snug, you may feel a bit more movement. Many times this is a small amount of slack withing the scroll ring and jaw slides, you may not actually be tightening the jaws at all.
Chris Gunsolley wrote on May 17
th, 2016 at 4:13pm:
So, how do you determine what that point is at which it is tight enough, but not too tight?
Experience.
The Jaws only need to be snug, it's a dovetail connection, so even if it were to come loose a small amount it would stay on the chuck.
How tight varies with things like, how well you cut the recess, species and how wet or dry the wood is
If you're concerned, stop and check every once in a while until you get a feel for it.
If you need to use two hands to tighten it, it's probably too tight.