Thread: Keyless Chuck for Lathe & Mini Mill

Don't know about the ozmestore one, but I have 2 of the Carbatec 13mm keyless chucks and have never had one slip.

Keyless Chuck w/ No. 2 Morse Taper : CARBA-TEC

Another one worth looking at is McJing in Sydney.

McJING Tools Online

I have a Metabo keyless chuck I bought about 20 years ago, it doesn't slip when drilling but the drill will fall out if left spinning freely. I also have a Hafco locking keyless chuck, it doesn't slip but it does refuse to unlock sometimes. Personally I would never own a keyed chuck again, the keyless variety, despite their foibles, are so much easier and quicker to use.

Originally Posted by th62

I have a Metabo keyless chuck I bought about 20 years ago, it doesn't slip when drilling but the drill will fall out if left spinning freely. I also have a Hafco locking keyless chuck, it doesn't slip but it does refuse to unlock sometimes. Personally I would never own a keyed chuck again, the keyless variety, despite their foibles, are so much easier and quicker to use.

Most if not all Metabo chucks are made by Röhm. Metabo has several keyless chucks models in each size, and you get what you pay for. The top of the range models are excellent value, whilst the cheaper chucks will not last that long.

Although I use keyless chucks on drill press, lathes and mill (mostly genuine Albrecht chucks), I still have keyed chucks for each machine too. Although keyless chucks excel in speed and ease of use, there are tasks where I simply prefer the versatility of a keyed chuck. A keyed chuck holds as firm whether used forwards or in reverse. A keyed chuck can be only lightly tightened if I want it to let slip fragile tools. Think threading. Think letting a reamer slip if it binds in super-tough materials such as Aluminium Bronze. Then there is the cost factor, a keyless chuck is always more expensive than a keyed chuck of same overall quality. There is nothing that can be done with a keyless chuck, that could not as well be done with a keyed chuck. It is just a matter of convenience. And cheap keyless chucks that wear quickly and let slip and thereby ruin the shafts of good drills are at the end of the day expensive toys. Like mum used to say, only the rich can afford to buy cheap shoes.... Chris

Avoid no-name keyless chucks like the plague, they will cause you nothing but frustration.

My personal preference is that keyless chucks (as long as they are good ones) are OK for hand drills, but I like keyed chucks for the drill press, mill and lathe. YMMV

I have one of the Ozemestore ones and to be honest, so far its been really good.

I have it in the tailstock of my lathe and given the frequency that I'm switching drill bits out I love it. How will it be holding up in 10 years time?? But for the price its been more than adequate, its nice and smooth. Easy to lock up and remove bits. Never had a bit slip, my MT2 slips before the chuck has.

Which reminds me, I might have to get a MT2 reamer perhaps and have a go at cleaning up my tailstock barrel as the internal MT2 surface has suffered a little from slipping shanks in the past and shows some war wounds-which is the reason it slips every now and then.

I've bought a couple of $50-60 keyless chucks off eBay to use with my drill presses. I've never had a problem with them slipping and would not go back to keyed chucks again because of convenience they offer.

Pulled the trigger and ordered one with a two morse taper shank for the lathe to give it a go. If it's good, I'll get another for the mill.

Just make sure you get the arbor to suit your purpose. They come available as drill chuck style with a tang for removal or a female thread for a draw bar.

You probably knew that but just putting it here for future info. You just have to check the auction closely to see exactly which arbor you are after.

Originally Posted by Hornetb

Just make sure you get the arbor to suit your purpose. They come available as drill chuck style with a tang for removal or a female thread for a draw bar.

You probably knew that but just putting it here for future info. You just have to check the auction closely to see exactly which arbor you are after.

Thanks for the heads up, I was sure to make sure about this, because as you said there are a few options.

I have had a no name McJing keyless chuck for over 10 years and still no problems. Use it in the lathe and mill but must be lucky....or whatever. At the price of the ozmestore and McJing go for it
Pete