Thread: Longworth chuck safety

Round head carriage bolts (screws) come to mind, but even so just be mindful that it's a lot of mass spinning by, so best thing is to keep reminding yourself that it's a longworth chuck on there...not a faceplate.

Alternative is better habit to never grab anything on the working end of the spindle, regardless of how smooth and round it might be. Grab the handwheel, or just wait.

Been there done that. My suggestion, don't do that.

Originally Posted by Texian

Alternative is better habit to never grab anything on the working end of the spindle, regardless of how smooth and round it might be. Grab the handwheel, or just wait.

I was using the lathe outboard and the handwheel was at the back and a little difficult to reach. Old habits die hard and I was stopping the lathe often to check whether I had removed the tear-out. Although I'd like to think that I won't ever grab the chuck, I know I probably will so I need to find a safer option, pity about the wingnuts because the Longworth chuck works well.

Maybe the wing nuts need to be recessed a little bit? Or maybe rubber something or others over them? Cut off all the fingers of the rubber gloves and put them on. At least the PINK flying around might be more visible too.

Rule no 1 Don't grab the chuck
Rule no 2 Colour the outside edge Orange/Red or pink so you can see it at all times.
Rule no 3 Don't grab the chuck.

Shouldnt be able to put the fingers there in the first place... make a removable guard, it'll work better than a forgetful memory

Originally Posted by Harry72

Shouldnt be able to put the fingers there in the first place... make a removable guard, it'll work better than a forgetful memory

The guard sounds like a good idea, Harry, anyone have a design for one?

Originally Posted by Tiger

I was using the lathe outboard and the handwheel was at the back and a little difficult to reach. Old habits die hard and I was stopping the lathe often to check whether I had removed the tear-out. Although I'd like to think that I won't ever grab the chuck, I know I probably will so I need to find a safer option, pity about the wingnuts because the Longworth chuck works well.

Maybe an "auxiliary handwheel" threaded onto the inboard end of the spindle when turning outboard? Maybe better just to remember "if it hurts when you do that, don't do that".

One other safety alert for the Longworth.

If you have an electronic variable speed drive, particularly one that spools up from start, it is possible to find onesself in a hot situation, if one has accidentally set the speed too high,

Saw this happen to George Hatfield during my TAFE course. Wasn't a Longworth, but an MDF jig about 500mm in diam. instead. He fitted it to the lathe, and switched on, not realising that a passing idiot had turned the speed controller to max.

As the lathe spooled up from a hum to a howl, he tried to get to the control to slow it down, but before he could, the jig exploded into fragments, taking out the window behind, the o/h fluoro, and nearly George.............

regards

If you're concerned that the chuck may unscrew itself from the spindle, and thus feel compelled to brake manually, add a grubscrew for better purchase and let it coast to a stop. Failing that, wrap wide bright-colored duct tap around the rim (clockwise, BTW), extending past both disks fore and aft. Apply braking only to the center of the tape.

Cheers,
Joe

Originally Posted by joe greiner

Failing that, wrap wide bright-colored duct tap around the rim (clockwise, BTW), extending past both disks fore and aft. Apply braking only to the center of the tape.

Cheers,
Joe

Good idea Joe, thanks.