Replies

1. 
   JohnH | Sep 06, 2005 06:21pm | #1

   I didn't make knobs, but I made a dozen scale-model cannons on my mini-lathe. I started with the blank stock that people make the fancy wood pens from. I got mine from Woodcraft. It is about 7/8" square. I used a Sorby Stebcenter from Woodcraft for the shaft end and a live center for the face end. That way you support both ends of the workpiece during the heavy cutting. Cut nearly through the face end. Mount the turned shaft in any convenient chuck with the face end free. Cut off the face stub. When sanding, be sure to move the sandpaper; it will get hot otherwise.

   The advantage of the Sorby Stebcenter is that you don't have to do extra work to mount the workpiece centered on the lathe. No four jaw chuck; no extra work sawing a square cross-section into something that will fit a three jaw chuck.

2. 
   WillGeorge | Sep 07, 2005 03:17am | #2

   Knobs? Why do you need to spend money on a Chuck? Just turn them between dogs and saw off/sand the ends..

   Unless you want us to agree that you REALLY need a new chuck! If so YOU REALLY NEED the BEST one you can affords...

3. 
   301 | Sep 07, 2005 04:59am | #3

   I use a homemade chuck for turning knobs.  I have a block of wood laid up from strips of 1" think material, 3 tall and 3 " wide( about 4" long).  The middle strip has a 1" section missing so I have a big square with a square hole in the middle.  The block is then screwed into my face plate, as close to "on center" as I can get it.  I insert a 1 X 1 work piece into the hole and put a screw in the side to lock it in place.  This hillbilly chuck has turned many a knob.  Bigger ones could be made as well. 

4. 
   Steinmetz | Sep 08, 2005 06:37am | #4

   A small screw center with it's integral face plate, is all you need Just drill a small pilot hole and twist the blank onto the screw. Steinmetz.

5. 
   DennisS | Sep 08, 2005 06:54am | #5

   JPQ -

   I had to make a bunch of temporary knobs for some kitchen cabinet drawers so here's what I did.

   I already had a four jaw scroll chuck so I bought a length of 1 1/2" birch dowel. I cut it into about 1' long pieces that I put in the chuck, brought up the tail stock with a live center and turned the first knob at the tail stock end of the dowel, parted it off, moved the tail stock up, turned another knob, parted off, etc, etc, until I used up that length of dowel.

   These weren't examples of fine wood turning, rather a production process but you could use the same approach taking a bit more time for finish and consistency I should think.

   A Nova scroll chuck, while not cheap, is a good accessorie investment for your lathe. If you can afford the One Way, that's the one I prefer - it seems a bit more precise although no scroll chuck will be exact with respect to having a piece run absolutely true if it has to be removed and re-chucked.

1. 
   JPQ2 | Sep 08, 2005 04:29pm | #6

   Thanks for your input. The One-Way, while expensive, looks like a good solution. I think the Talon model looks the best for my situation. How does it mount into my #2 MT ? Do I need an adapter ?

1. 
   DennisS | Sep 08, 2005 05:37pm | #7

   JPQ -Yes, you'll need to purchase an adapter that threads onto your lathe spindle. Most common spindle threads are 1" x 8TPI. Don't recall if you mentioned your lathe model so be sure to check. The adapter fits in the back of the chuck. I'd agree that if you don't have a full size lathe, the talon is the better choice. The chuck doesn't fit into the morse taper, it threads onto the spindle.