Thread: Hare and Forbes 5C Collet Chuck for Lathe

Personally, I'd go for an ER collet system as they are a bit more flexible - for example, the 5C collets typically only hold "that size", where as an ER collet will hold any size material within it's range.

Michael

These 5C collets work well. I haven't used one in the same model lathe as you have but I see no reason why they wouldn't work just as well there. The advantage with 5C collets is that work holding in a lathe is what they are designed for and you can hold a longer length of bar inside the lathe headstock, where as unless you significantly alter an ER collet chuck you can only hold short lengths inside the chuck. Unless there is an ER chuck available that is designed for work holding in a lathe then I would be interested to see it.

I have a D-5 mounted chuck for my lathe. Since the collets come in 1/64" increments along with metric sizes you shouldn't have any issues with gripping your work. There are also a number of collets for square and hexagonal along with customizable ones for special work. There are also some kinds of holders made to fit specific lathes or ranges of lathe sizes that have a lever for tightening the collet instead of the hand wheel on the one you illustrated. All grip the work with the only differences a being how long it takes to change from part to part. There are also depth stops for the collets for repetitive work. Have fun if you go that route.

Originally Posted by Burner

These 5C collets work well. I haven't used one in the same model lathe as you have but I see no reason why they wouldn't work just as well there. The advantage with 5C collets is that work holding in a lathe is what they are designed for and you can hold a longer length of bar inside the lathe headstock, where as unless you significantly alter an ER collet chuck you can only hold short lengths inside the chuck. Unless there is an ER chuck available that is designed for work holding in a lathe then I would be interested to see it.

Plenty of ER chucks available that allow feeding through the spindle, I have one similar to this one

http://mikesworkshop.weebly.com/er32...m-spindle.html

Comes down to cost.... 5C collets not very common in Australia, which means importing from overseas... Sure they are far superior for lathe workholding, but you can only accurately hold the material the collet is sized for and the above mentioned hard to find locally for a reasonable price...

5C also comes in square and hex and emergency collets you bore out to size...

I don't think these prices are too bad, 65 sockets for $US199, up to 1 1/8

Originally Posted by Big Shed

Plenty of ER chucks available that allow feeding through the spindle, I have one similar to this one

http://mikesworkshop.weebly.com/er32...m-spindle.html

Thanks for that link. I used an ER32 collet chuck on a mt3 shank with adaptors to the mt6 taper and drawbolt in my lathe several times but found that it didn't seem to be as ridgid as the 5C collets. I considered making a chuck, but got a bit time poor so went for 5C as I had used the collets on the lathe before I bought it from my employer, but unfortunately the collets didn't come with the lathe! This was many years ago so I hope my memory isn't to far off!!

Originally Posted by Michael G

Personally, I'd go for an ER collet system as they are a bit more flexible - for example, the 5C collets typically only hold "that size", where as an ER collet will hold any size material within it's range.

Michael

The ER series are common, cheap and second best IMO.

If you want fast, accurate, flexible work holding on round stock, it's very, very hard to beat either the Jacobs rubberflex system or even better, the Pratt-Bernerd EC collets with a lever operated collet closer. I have my P-B chuck mounted on my lathe far more than I ever have a 3 jaw or 4 jaw chuck mounted. Once adjusted for size, it's literally a matter of pushing the lever towards the headstock, inserting the workpiece and pulling the lever back towards the tailstock. Only downsides (other than price & availability) is you can't easily set an internal stop for length but you can't do that with ER collets either.

Max capacity of 1 1/2" is pretty hard to beat too. You need to go to ER65 to get that and then you lose the low end, meaning you need at least 2 sets of ER collets to cover the size range.

PDW

My Hafpos 5C collet holder story.

I bought one of the 5C holders the OP is talking about, and from a separate source I bought a 5C collet, one of John Sevenson's 5C to ER32 adapters. Trouble was it didn't fit. Measured everything and the holder was .001"" under spec, the collet was spot on spec.

Took the adapter back to Hafpos for a refund, no problems there. But they were not the slightest bit concerned that their 5C adapter was not to spec - so long as the 5C collets they sold fitted that adapter that was good enough for them, all was well in their world.

After that I realised I didn't need an MT5 to 5C adapter coupled with a 5C to ER32 adapter, I could make my own MT5 to ER32 adapter.

I trot this photo out every now and then.

Did you have to internally thread the rear of the 5MT fitting or was it pre threaded? Or did you make it all from scratch? I have been using and ER32 with a drawbar through the headstock in a 5MT-3MT bung. Hollow spindle would be better.

Originally Posted by tbonesmith

Did you have to internally thread the rear of the 5MT fitting or was it pre threaded? Or did you make it all from scratch? I have been using and ER32 with a drawbar through the headstock in a 5MT-3MT bung. Hollow spindle would be better.

Made from scratch, except for the collet nut. Order of work was cut the draw tube thread and 5 taper, then make up draw tube etc. Last job was to assemble it all in the headstock and then cut the collet nut threads.

Just found this if it's any use to someone.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Precision...66766085&rt=nc

Matt

Hi Guys,

I have taken some advice from this thread and bought a new D1-4 backing plate and an ER32 chuck that will mount to the faceplate allowing through mounting of stock. I had been using an ER32 chuck in a 3MT with a 5MT bung in the headstock, but through mounting of stock and a stand alone chuck will do the trick well. I have a full set of collets and they are accurate enough for my purposes.

Cheers Gents, and thanks for the advice.