Suggestions on how to open a frozen chuck on a hand drill

[bus...@gmail.com]

Hello,

I have just been given a bunch of old hand tools from a friend whose
father recently passed away. One of them is an old Miller Falls
eggbeater-type drill. It runs a bit stiff but I think if I clean up
the three gears, it should run smoothly enough.

My problem is the chuck. It seems to be frozen shut. I cannot loosen
it at all. When I try, the entire chuck begins to unscrew but the
mouth (is that what it is called?) doesn't budge.

Is there a way I can resolve this problem? The chuck is shut entirely
and there is no space whatsoever where I can even put a drill bit or
something in to help open it up.

I would really like to get the drill working and start using it!

Thanks!

[The3rd Earl Of Derby]

Put it in a vice and tap the jaws, with a piece of wood on the jaws and tap
the wood with an hammer.

--
Sir Benjamin Middlethwaite

[shooter]

Try submerging the chuck in a small bowl of thin oil for a day or so.
I have done this several times with good results.

[Nova]

bus...@gmail.com wrote:

>>
>>My problem is the chuck. It seems to be frozen shut. I cannot loosen
>>it at all. When I try, the entire chuck begins to unscrew but the
>>mouth (is that what it is called?) doesn't budge.
>>
>>Is there a way I can resolve this problem? The chuck is shut entirely
>>and there is no space whatsoever where I can even put a drill bit or
>>something in to help open it up.

I'd start by spraying the chuck with "PB Blaster".

http://www.blasterchemical.com/store/moreinfo.cfm?Product_ID=1

It should be available at you local auto parts store.

--
Jack Novak
Buffalo, NY - USA
nov...@verizon.net

[bridg...@yahoo.com]

sounds like this stash of tools is just right for setting up an
electrolysis derusting rig. it's cheap, works REALLY well, and is easy
and non-toxic.

<http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/rust/electrolytic_derusting.htm>

[Doug Miller]

In article <1155914740.8...@75g2000cwc.googlegroups.com>, bus...@gmail.com wrote:
>Hello,
>
>I have just been given a bunch of old hand tools from a friend whose
>father recently passed away. One of them is an old Miller Falls
>eggbeater-type drill. It runs a bit stiff but I think if I clean up
>the three gears, it should run smoothly enough.
>
>My problem is the chuck. It seems to be frozen shut. I cannot loosen
>it at all. When I try, the entire chuck begins to unscrew but the
>mouth (is that what it is called?) doesn't budge.
>
>Is there a way I can resolve this problem?

The first thing I'd try is to clamp it in a vise with the chuck up, then
squirt some penetrating oil (e.g. Liquid Wrench or CRC 5-56, *not* WD-40) onto
the jaws of the chuck and allow it to run down inside. Repeat a couple of
times, a few hours apart, then allow it to sit there overnight, and try again
in the morning.

--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

It's time to throw all their damned tea in the harbor again.

[bus...@gmail.com]

Wow--these are a bunch of good suggestions (and probably ones I should
have thunk of on my own!). I am sure one or a combination of these
will do the trick.

Thanks a lot!!

[dadiOH]

bus...@gmail.com wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I have just been given a bunch of old hand tools from a friend whose
> father recently passed away. One of them is an old Miller Falls
> eggbeater-type drill. It runs a bit stiff but I think if I clean up
> the three gears, it should run smoothly enough.
>
> My problem is the chuck. It seems to be frozen shut. I cannot
> loosen it at all. When I try, the entire chuck begins to unscrew
> but the mouth (is that what it is called?) doesn't budge.
>
> Is there a way I can resolve this problem? The chuck is shut
> entirely and there is no space whatsoever where I can even put a
> drill bit or something in to help open it up.

Try freezing it. If no go, try heating it. Alternate the two.

--

dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
...a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico

[Joe AutoDrill]

> Try freezing it. If no go, try heating it. Alternate the two.

Don't heat it too much - i.e. not so much that you temper the metal.

Personally, I'd throw LOTS of thin oil on it and let it sit overnight...
Maybe even penetrating oil like Kroil. BUT when it was finally moving, I'd
lube the heck out of it.
--

Regards,
Joe Agro, Jr.
(800) 871-5022
01.908.542.0244
Automatic / Pneumatic Drills: http://www.AutoDrill.com
Multiple Spindle Drills: http://www.Multi-Drill.com

V8013-R

[wik...@wkfinetools.com]

bus...@gmail.com wrote:

> My problem is the chuck. It seems to be frozen shut. I cannot loosen
> it at all. When I try, the entire chuck begins to unscrew but the
> mouth (is that what it is called?) doesn't budge.
>
> Is there a way I can resolve this problem? The chuck is shut entirely
> and there is no space whatsoever where I can even put a drill bit or
> something in to help open it up.

Hi,

I publish a website where you can find resolution to your question.
www.wkFineTools.com

And here is specific article:

http://www.wkfinetools.com/restore/tuningEggbeater/index.asp

There is a section dedicated to tool restoration:

http://www.wkfinetools.com/restore/index.asp

where you can find all kind of info.

Wiktor

[Lobby Dosser]

wik...@wkFineTools.com wrote:

Great Site!! Thanks!

[Lew Hodgett]

bus...@gmail.com wrote:

>
> I have just been given a bunch of old hand tools from a friend whose
> father recently passed away. One of them is an old Miller Falls
> eggbeater-type drill. It runs a bit stiff but I think if I clean up
> the three gears, it should run smoothly enough.
>
> My problem is the chuck. It seems to be frozen shut. I cannot loosen
> it at all. When I try, the entire chuck begins to unscrew but the
> mouth (is that what it is called?) doesn't budge.

Soak it for a couple of days in Kroil from Kano Labs.

Lew

[Torge]

"Doug Miller" <spam...@milmac.com> wrote in message
news:NLmFg.10183$9T3....@newssvr25.news.prodigy.net...

> In article <1155914740.8...@75g2000cwc.googlegroups.com>,
> bus...@gmail.com wrote:
>>Hello,
>>
>>I have just been given a bunch of old hand tools from a friend whose
>>father recently passed away. One of them is an old Miller Falls
>>eggbeater-type drill. It runs a bit stiff but I think if I clean up
>>the three gears, it should run smoothly enough.
>>
>>My problem is the chuck. It seems to be frozen shut. I cannot loosen
>>it at all. When I try, the entire chuck begins to unscrew but the
>>mouth (is that what it is called?) doesn't budge.
>>
>>Is there a way I can resolve this problem?
>
> The first thing I'd try is to clamp it in a vise with the chuck up, then
> squirt some penetrating oil (e.g. Liquid Wrench or CRC 5-56, *not* WD-40)
> onto
> the jaws of the chuck and allow it to run down inside. Repeat a couple of
> times, a few hours apart, then allow it to sit there overnight, and try
> again
> in the morning.

Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

i have often seen WD-40 recommended for freeing up stuff. would be grateful
to hear why you think its not so good please.

[Lew Hodgett]

Torge wrote:

> i have often seen WD-40 recommended for freeing up stuff. would be
grateful
> to hear why you think its not so good please.

I use a lot of WD40 for many things, but much prefer Kroil from Kano
Labs to get corroded (rusted) items apart.

Lew

[bus...@gmail.com]

Just for the record, the jaws weren't rusted shut. I sprayed a ton of
WD-40 all over the chuck and let it sit for about 15 minutes. There
was one heck of a lot of black gunk that I assume was old oil and dirt
that came out. Once I scrubbed it with an old toothbrush and wiped it
clean, I still needed to push the jaws open the first 3 or 4 times I
loosened the chuck but thereafter, the jaws opened and closed very
nicely.

So in this case, WD-40 seemed to do the trick!