AMT Three-jaw Chuck
Leif O. Thorvaldson
ago, I bought the above referenced chuck from an outfit called AMT
(located in PA, I believe). I believe it is also referred to as a
scroll chuck. Anyhow, I haven't been turning for a number of years
and have just started up again. I am now turning some salad bowls
from green ash and my intention was to turn the outside first leaving
a small 1/4" x 2" spindle on the bottom so I could clamp it in the
chuck to do the hollowing out. Since the spindle was so small, I
decided to reverse the jaws on the chuck. I recall from the old
instructions that this was possible. I have since lost the
instructions. Now I can't get them to remount and move in
proportionally to center the workpiece. First question: Anybody have
knowledge of this type of chuck and how to remount the jaws? Failing
that, does anyone know of the whereabouts of AMT? I have searched on
the internet and can't find them, so believe they are either out of
business or have been absorbed by another company.
Leif
Don
It sounds like you have a 3 jaw proportional machinist chuck.
You have to put the jaws back in to the slots in order of their numbers.
Each jaw is number 1 through 3 and the slots that they go in are also number 1
through 3.
I believe on that chuck you have to put them in by number in reverse order.
Take a look at the threads in the chuck body and looking at slot 3 scroll it
around until you can see the start of the thread, back up slightly and take jaw
number 3 and put in into the slot and scroll just enough for the threads to
catch the jaw and stop turning. Take number 2 and put it in it's slot and
scroll until it just barely grabs the threads then insert number 1 and scroll
until they are all the way in and see if they are lined up correctly.
Now this is the correct way to do it however your chuck may require you to
reverse the number order I gave you. If that didn't work, do it again and start
with number 1 and go through 3. The important thing is that you must catch the
first thread on each jaw on the first revolution.
Don
Leif O. Thorvaldson
as you stated, catching the start of the thread with each one. That
didn't work after I don't know how many tries!! I guess it makes
sense to try them in reverse order and I'll give it a go in the ayem.
I will report back to the group! LOL
Many thanks.
Leif
"Don" <do...@nc.rr.com> wrote in message
news:3A7A4700...@nc.rr.com...
Arch
short tenons & did not substitute for a 4 jaw woodturning chuck-Nova.
etc. At least in my hands, the jaws crushed the tenon or did not grip
and were a constant threat to my fingers. Also seemed large and heavy
for lathes of 3/4" spindles. No intent to demean your chuck. Just my
experience, but should yours be better, I'll sell or trade you mine very
cheaply. Also an AMT lathe. (If I spam, forgive)
AMT was in Royersford, Pa. for many years, I bet Gaydos knows them, but
as a Oneway user won't admit it! <G> Many of us grew up with their ads
in 'Popular Mechanics'. They made ugly but cheap machines using cast
iron during the aluminum-plastic era, and had good backup and customer
relations. I suspect they couldn't compete in these 'affluent' years of
fine gear and cheap but better looking imports. No flames please, I know
that imports are as good or bad as the importer is willing to pay for.
As an aside, when AMT stopped, I bought several HS, TS and tool rest
castings, and made up some lathes for teaching at retirement centers.
They were uglier than the retirees, but worked ok. Arch, Fla. USA
Fortiter,
James Gaydos
there 4 jaw chucks many years ago, it was a very poor design ,and never
ran close to being true. I exchanged it 4 times,and had the same problem
each time. I did buy a 10 inch table saw from them,that was 15 years
ago,and have never had a problem with it. AMT is in another form of
business ,there was a post on this wayyyyyy back.
James Gaydos
Ephrata,Pennsylvania ( Lancaster,Co. )
AAW --
The South Central Pa Turners
Jim Pugh
You already have your chuck jaw problem resolved and some info on AMT
so I will add just a bit more. Their last announcement was that they
were going to continue in business but not make/sell items for mail
order. It appeared they were using their manufacturing skill and
equipment for primarily industrial products.
--
Jim Pugh, Elyria, OH (west of Cleveland)
Northcoast Woodturner member
Stubby 750 owner/operator
Leif O. Thorvaldson
progress on this matter by answering to Arch's post. I installed the
jaws just like Don instructed and that seemed to do it. However
as noted by Jim in his post it doesn't run true and I can see one of
the jaws didn't close up to the other two. So, I guess I am in the
market for a good quality four jaw chuck. Guess I'll check out Nova
and see what they have to offer. Any suggestions gratefully accepted.
Many thanks for all the great inputs.
Leif
"Arch" <al...@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:6689-3A...@storefull-131.iap.bryant.webtv.net...
Don
If it is not running true, here is something you can try.
Because the chuck was really designed for metal lathes, it's possible that it
is bottoming out on your wood lathe. On metal chucks, they have a shoulder on
the back plate that must touch the shoulder on the spindle of the metal lathe
and this is how they true.
If you wood lathe is so designed that it has a shoulder nut, like the older
Delta's had, then you can put a spacer on your spindle so the chuck doesn't
bottom out. You can make this from a piece of pipe that snugly slides over the
spindle.
Biggest problem is the spacer MUST be true, perfect 90 deg. and if you don't
have a metal lathe to make it then you would have to get machine shop to do it.
Even then, odds are against you have a spindle in your wood lathe that will
allow this adaptation but thought it was worth a mention just in case.
Don