Machining A Custom Chuck Key. And Mini Review Of My Grizzly Lathe. G0750G 

The Chuck being close to the headstock is great for barrel work through the headstock, and you get more rigidity when the Chuck is closer to the bearing

Jon, Going back though your old videos now. I love how you make things to your liking instead of spending year complaining about how bad something is. Also, love the statement on the shirt. ;-) I hope to meet you one day.

very nice. 1 suggestion. heat the squar tip to cherry red and oil quench it, then anneal to a bluish color. Can be done with a Mapp gas torch. On that alloy would bring it in the nieghborhood of 55rc. Keep the edges from rounding. not too late you can do it now.

Great little improvements. I will be following suit with my grizzly. Keep up the good work.

If you EVER make the mistake of leaving that chuck key in the chuck and power up the lathe, and if you mange to duck fast enough to avoid being hit, you'll wish the key was a lot smaller. Consider adding a spring loaded center pin so the key will not stay engaged in the chuck without downward force to compress the spring. Be safe!

nice little projects and review, well done.

Nice chuck key. If I ever get one of those lathes, that should be my first project.

On my G4003G I just welded a socket extension on my chuck key. Fit perfectly. Not elegant for sure. I keep saying I am going to make a holder which is something I need. Good project. Doug

Nice shop and equipment!

Interesting review. Cool fixes.

Excellent. I just picked up a circa 1920 or sooner W. M. Oliver lathe. It's in excellent shape and it's from an era when there were dozens in the factory being driven with flat wide belts from an overhead drive shaft that might have been steam engine driven. I don't exactly want to use flat belts to drive it so when I try to make it operational I was thinking I'd like to change the stepped flat belt assembly on the shaft that rotates on pillow bearings to step pulleys that are shaped for V belts or go all out and use a motor controller in conjunction with the drive motor. I am not a machinist at all and I bought it because I like mechanical contraptions plus if it can be used with metal then it should not be to difficult to adapt it for wood turning and since I build crossbows why not turn arrow or bolt shafts too since they run up to $10 a piece.

Thanks for sharing!

loved your work, very nice smooth..!! i am getting one for my self......

Good idea

Underrated video and interesting one. You could contact Grizzly and say "with your lathe you can add some practice exercise to improve the user experience. Exercise 1: do a better chuck key"

good work and very very good

Just ran across your video, Pretty slick, My Bolton 1440G came with the same POS handle, I just added an extension on to the shaft and a new cross handle. Later from Texas.

Good job! Stay healthy

Great video... 😎

Just subbed. Good video. Not a machinist just appreciate good work.

Asa newb I’ve learnt early not to use the machine as a shelf . Thanks for sharing

I had expected that you would use rebar to forge a new, longer chuck key...:-)

The tool holder handle has two positions on it to tighten.there was no need to drill and tap another hole. I cant believe how many of you guys didn't figure that out.

My chuck key has mild coil spring around the shank so it pops out by itself. A bit more cumbersome but safer as it's less likely to become part of my skull.

great

Page one of manual. First project, making your first chuck key!

Looks really nice. What alloy did you use? I made one for my lathe when I started out machining but the square end twisted off after a while. I guess I should have heat treated it.

chuck key just at the perfect Height to take a 👁 out 👍👏👏👏👏👍

Nice shirt

I'm wondering if there is a noticeable difference in the runout on things the accuracy that can be done between the gunsmithing version versus the regular green gearheads. I know the turning between centers is the way to go but sometimes you just need to put something in a chuck

I was expecting you to harden the square on the chuck key. How is it holding up to use? Has it started to twist or deform in any way?

Where that chuck key sits in its holder I see you loosing an eye! Wakodahatchee Chris

Had the same problem with my G4003G. Welded a 3/8 drive extension on and problem solved. Good tool steel as well. Any problems keeping the friction set right on your handwheels? Mine get out of adjustment and back off from the weight of the wheel rather quickly. Take care. Doug

Well done. Guess my only disappointment is, I hoped that this video was going to be about a recent comment I made regarding "when do we get to see you 'making' the $$ that buys all this equipment" ;) Does Grizzly sell one of those too b/c I want one if they do?

The headstock is on your way; not the gearbox. You are right. And you have plenty of room for the chuck key on top of the headstock but you are using it as a tool shelf.

Any comments on how the Grizzly Mill is holding up?

Build a shelf and call it a day. Safer too.

You and I have identical lathes. I like your mill, as well. Mine is an older knee mill, also from Grizzly: G3619. My tractor is a Mahindra 5545, also with a backhoe and other implements). Mine may be a later model than yours. I know my backhoe is marked differently than yours. I just found your channel and wonder in what part of the country your farm is located. I am in SW Missouri.

Just a personal thought, but why not make a chuck key socket? It would seem that using it with a ratchet would likely solve both problems. Though it still wouldn't have a holster

I am about to pull the trigger and purchase the same lathe. My concern is getting the lathe in my shop. I will have to bring the lathe in my shop through a standard 36 inch door. Any suggestions to make this easier would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Just found this, and Im looking to buy a grizzly lathe, do you still use it, and did it hold up, do you still like it? Thanks, stay safe, and God bless

3:28, what is that machining fluid?

The chuck looks to be a 160mm, most likely should have a a 200mm at the least to be of any real use. That would have fixed your chuck key problem most likely. A 200mm chuck has better clamping force in any case.

I'm a vintage lathe guy myself even the 50 year old all cast iorn are 10 times better than the new lathes I've used, they wasn't thinking make it the cheapest just the best.

Don’t need some kind of hardening your tool???

I knew a guy named Chuck one time

Is it a cnc lathe or manual lathe

What happened to gun craft?

Dang grizzly, are you listening???

I have this same Grizzly G0750G Lathe and really enjoy using it. Purchased the taper attachment when I purchase the lathe several years ago but never set it up and now have a project whereby a taper attachment would be helpful. Curious if you have the T26300 Taper Attachment for your G0750G Lathe? ... and if so how it worked for you and any setup suggestions? Thank You for taking the time to make this video. I can see the value in taking the time to make the longer custom Chuck Key. Lathe Workshop Area: ctmprojectsblog.wordpress.com/2014/09/29/new-metalworking-workshop-lathe/ 3D-Printed MT-3 ABS Inserts: ctmprojectsblog.wordpress.com/2014/12/10/3d-printed-mt-3-abs-inserts/

No safety switch in the bottom of the chuck key holder so the lathe won't start up unless the key is in the holder?...

Many Industrial and large cnc lathes are the same way!! What are you talking about? And your 1045 is not a good choice either 4350 would be better if you don't HT it.

me in metric land. i better take 1 inch cut it up into 1000 pieces (some how) i have to get 900 of those pieces (some how) or something bizarre like that to get my OD

I've been a machinist for 45 years and, for me, Grizzly lathes are substandard. To say it's a gunsmith lathe is a marketing gimmick to make YOU believe it is one. I had one of these lathes for five years and the motor burned out. Cost? $300 and 1 month downtime because they had to get the motor from China. By contrast, I have a Clausing lathe made in the 1960's and the motor still runs, the lathe still keeps its accuracy, and it's very robust. In my mind, it is an utter disgrace that ANY manufacturer would spend the time, energy, and material to INTENTIONALLY build substandard machines only for buyers to curse later about how bad they are. I've lost count how many times I've seen hobbyists complaining about Chinese made machines yet that's all they can afford. It's hard to believe that, with the ever increasing hi-tech advancements in CNC machining technology, the Chinese seem to be clueless about it. You would think that, by having it, they would make machines as good as or better than those of the past while still making them affordable. It is as if the Chinese machine makers hire trainees with no CNC machines that would make parts better and faster. Interestingly, the car industry, despite its own problems, nevertheless strives to improve their cars with all manner of technology. Yet here we are, with substandard Chinese machines that are far worse that those made in the 60's in the US. I find it a tragedy that the US lost its way in making exceptional machines. Anyway, I got rid of my Chinese lathe and bought a vintage Clausing bench lathe. I'll restore it and rejoice that I'll never buy a Chinese machine ever again. These lame ass machines have become normalized in the US and those buying them have no idea that the US made them far better than today

Grizzly owners take note: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-o4IGdG-lycE.html

After seeing many "Grizzly" reviews, I've come to negative conclusions on all Chinese machine tools, lathes, mills, drill presses etc. Note: plastic gears are a feature in many Grizzly products. I don't know about this lathe but I wouldn't be surprised. With an abundance of great used machines by manufactures like Rockwell, Bridgeport, South Bend and others, wouldn't it have been better to spend a few dollars more on one of these machines? You have to consider diminishing returns. Also, your personal safety. I certainly wouldn't want a machine that would require alterations, new out of the box.

2 Allen keys, 2 chuck key handles... Just saying!

you need to get a 3D printer.