New Egg-Chuck

**OGYT** · 3rd December 2006, 10:36 AM

After my Sassafrass egg chuck broke a leg, I decided to make a new one.
Sorry for the lack of piccies, but I get started turning and forget to grab the camera.

I bought a PVC dresser/compression coupling to fit 1/2" PVC pipe. Turned a shaft to the proper size from Bois d'Arc, and epoxied the coupling onto that. Its too long for just one, so I'll make two at the same time.

Pic One: The epoxy is set, so I'm beginning to turn away the plastic in the center. The plastic turns away in long strings, and they get into the way. Where I'm turning will be the part that mounts into the chuck jaws. When I get to bare wood, I'll stop, leaving the plastic shoulder to seat against the top of the jaws.

Pic Two: Got them separated, and ready to turn the inserts. I drilled a 3/8" hole through the center of each soon-to-be-chuck, for a plunger to knock the egg loose, if necessary.
Next, I turned 3/8" thick inserts with shoulders to fit the shoulders inside the screw-on caps. I used super glue to stick 'em in.
I had already measured eggs from the fridge, and they averaged 1 3/4" Dia X 2 1/2" Long, so I chucked up th' chucks and turned the inside to fit the large end of the egg, and stuck in a little layer of foam rubber for padding.

Then I screwed on the cap, and turned the inside of it, undercutting it, so it will fit snug onto the pointy end of the egg. Last thing was to stick a little bit of foam into that.
Pic Three: The plunger, the Chuck, and the Cap. I turned a depression inside the bottom center, to fit the plunger. Turns out the plunger is an unneeded part. The egg sticks to the cap, not the chuck.
Pic Four: Gotta try it out, so... turning an egg from a piece of Apricot.
Pic Five: Chuck with the finished egg. It works!

Like I say, I apologize for the lack of pics. (I'd rather turn than take pictures, anyway.)

GC · 3rd December 2006, 11:50 PM

hmmm,

great work, can see myself turning eggs instead of pens now

GC

**TTIT** · 4th December 2006, 12:30 AM

Good job Al. How do you find the rubber for centreing the egg??? I used antislip matting to start with but found it too difficult to fine tune the egg for centre. I ended up just lining the two contact surfaces with masking tape which stops any marring of the finish but allows a little slippage for centreing.

**La truciolara** · 4th December 2006, 12:40 AM

That is certainly ingenious! Congratulation!
But why do you need such a chuck to turn an egg? You just need to put your wood in an ordinary chuck and turn the egg without the live centre, don’t you? At least taht is the way I teach how to turn them (which of course does not mean that is the only way to do it

)<O

</O

**TTIT** · 4th December 2006, 12:53 AM

Originally Posted by La truciolara

That is certainly ingenious! Congratulation!
But why do you need such a chuck to turn an egg? You just need to put your wood in an ordinary chuck and turn the egg without the live centre, don’t you? At least taht is the way I teach how to turn them (which of course does not mean that is the only way to do it

)<o ="">

</o>

Just to remove the stub from parting the egg off and to sand and finish the end. Leaves it looking much better than hand finishing.

**Hickory** · 4th December 2006, 02:57 AM

To repeat a phrase..."That is certainly ingenious!"

I most hardidly agree, I have made several gismos and jigs turning PVC on the lathe. The Chuck idea is quite amazing and could be adapted to make several inexpensive chucks for different projects. I am storing this in my minds filing cabinet for future consumption and copying.

Here's a greenie

**OGYT** · 4th December 2006, 03:09 AM

Hey, GC, the kids love 'em. And I've sold quite a few to ladies who want more what-nots to set around in the house.

)
TTIT - When I put the egg in there, I don't tighten it all the way, until I've spun the spindle by hand to make sure it's true. The I tighten it. It works. But I may try the masking tape, too. It may be faster. Thanks for the tip.
Claude - TTIT gave the answer to your question for me. I mount the wood for the original turning just as in photo # 4, but use the chuck for finishing the nose. How do you keep from marring the egg when it's in a regular chuck?
Thanks, Hickory, greenie appreciated. Let me know when you come up with other uses for this type gizmo.

)

**La truciolara** · 4th December 2006, 07:54 AM

Originally Posted by OGYT

...
Claude - TTIT gave the answer to your question for me. I mount the wood for the original turning just as in photo # 4, but use the chuck for finishing the nose. How do you keep from marring the egg when it's in a regular chuck?

I turn my eggs with an oval skew chisel. As you know such an instrument leaves you a finish comparable to grit 320 if not better.<O

</O

The piece of wood is held by a conventional chuck, I turn the egg entirely, first of course on the right part then on the left till to to point whereby the egg is cut off living a piece of course in the chuck. It usually takes 3 to 4 minutes (my Master, Jean François Escoulen does it in 28 seconds)<O

</O

**TTIT** · 4th December 2006, 08:45 AM

Originally Posted by La truciolara

I turn my eggs with an oval skew chisel. As you know such an instrument leaves you a finish comparable to grit 320 if not better.<o ="">

</o>

The piece of wood is held by a conventional chuck, I turn the egg entirely, first of course on the right part then on the left till to to point whereby the egg is cut off living a piece of course in the chuck.

Thats cool if you're good enough not to leave any toolmarks (which I'm not

) but it doesn't allow for finishing with a friction polish. I use my eggs as samples of my timbers (62 at last count) and finish EVERY one of them with 2 coats of Shellawax so comparisons are accurate. If I'm just slapping a couple out for the grandkids to play with I go much the way you prescribe but they're not as fussy as I am.

**hughie** · 4th December 2006, 08:53 AM

Al,

Some good ole Texas know how

nice one! I 'd say well priced at that too

dontcha just love the KISS princple

**OGYT** · 4th December 2006, 02:21 PM

I appreciate all the comments. From each of you! Wish I could use a skew so that it didn't require sanding. Must require a truly steady hand.
Texas know how is just good enough to copy someone else's idea and make a few mods to it.

KISS is good!

GC · 4th December 2006, 08:55 PM

Hey, GC, the kids love 'em. And I've sold quite a few to ladies who want more what-nots to set around in the house. )

My wife actually collects eggs of all types from all over the world.
They sit in a massive platter on the dinning table.
She has wooden, glass, stone, jade, crystal, hand painted birds egg.......

But as is often pointed out, I've never made her one

GC

**OGYT** · 5th December 2006, 02:25 PM

Well, then, GC, surprise her this Christmas, throw a couple off in her Christmas Stocking.

You know she'll like yours better than the rest.

**BernieP** · 5th December 2006, 06:31 PM

G'Day Al

One to file away thanks for your input

Cheers
Bernie

**ticklingmedusa** · 6th December 2006, 08:41 PM

Very clever Al. Hey...
I think I'm finally seeing a little dust on your ways!

tm

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