Lubricating Chucks

[MCB]

Ladies & Gentlemen

What do you use to lubricate chucks?

I've  read recommendations for

*  Colloidal Graphite in alcohol
*  PTFE spray

but wonder what others have used successfully.

With best wishes and thanks. 
 
MC

[Wood spinner]

I dont lube my chucks , Just make sure they are clean , take out the jaws and clean everything out then re assemble

[John D Smith]

 Hi MCB,
             I do the same as Wood spinner a good clean is all it needs if you lubricate to much it will encourage the dust to stick then you will need to clean more often.
                                                Regards John

[Dave Atkinson]

On the odd occasion when I have dismantled my chuck and cleaned it I have used graphite powder.  A word of warning - if you dismantle a Patriot chuck it's the very devil to get back together.  Took me a couple of days - I got so fed up with on day 1!

Cheers Dave

[MCB]

On the odd occasion when I have dismantled my chuck and cleaned it I have used graphite powder.

Graphite powder is  easily obtained (from locksmiths, certainly) whereas I  have no idea where to get Colloidal Graphite in alcoholic suspension.

It seems to me that this may be worth trying.

With best wishes and thanks. 
 
MC

[Dave Atkinson]

Hi MC

I got mine from a hardware shop - one of those that sells washers in 1s and 2s.  Don't drop it though - it goes everywhere

Cheers Dave

[MCB]

I got mine from a hardware shop - one of those that sells washers in 1s and 2s.  Don't drop it though - it goes everywhere

I  don't know any Hardware shops that see single washers but I  buy a lot of stuff in small quantities from Orbital Fasteners in Watford. They will send a FREE catalogue and the last time I  went there, they gave me a couple of dozen copies which I  distributed at our Club.

Orbital Fasteners are extremely helpful - but probably only useful to you if you are in easy reach of Watford.

Has anybody use PTFE spray for the inside of chucks?

MCB

[Lazurus]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/200g-Graphite-powder-High-grade-lubricant-/140502376217

Cheap!

[seventhdevil]

why not just use a nice big carpenters pencil?

[Bryan Milham]

Steve,

A lot of the black bit in a pencil is clay, not graphite.

However, if you want to get it for nothing, old alkali batteries (have a carbon rod running through them) or old motor brushes. I have a friend who grinds these up to make a carbon dust to case harden small mechanical parts he makes. Seem hard work to me but it keep him happy!

[John D Smith]

 Hi again MC have a look on the Axminster Power Tools web site they sell a Dry Lube aerosol £8:95

                                            Regards John

[MCB]

 Hi again MC have a look on the Axminster Power Tools web site they sell a Dry Lube aerosol £8:95

                                            Regards John

I  wonder what are the differences between that Axminster Spray and one from Toolstantion
http://www.toolstation.com/shop/p63929?table=no
which costs £3.18

MCB

[Paul Hannaby]

About £5.77 ;-)

[Duncan A]

What do you use to lubricate chucks?
MC

Depends which bit of the (scroll)  chuck you are lubricating.
The jaw slides, as others have said, are best just kept clean.
The scroll mechanism on many chucks nowadays is fully enclosed and lubricated with grease, so shouldn't need routine maintenance. A PTFE dry lub would not be ideal as it does not have the load bearing characteristics of an EP grease.
Some chucks, mostly American or older models, have an open scroll mechanism and I think the usual advice is to keep them clean - but I've never used one so stand ready to be corrected.

A word of caution regarding PTFE sprays. Some, such as Trend Trendicote, can melt paint - be careful where you spray it! There is no warning on the can.

Duncan

[MCB]

About £5.77 ;-)

Thank you for taking the time to respond.
 
I  think that rather misses the point though!

Can anybody answer my question in a qualitative rather quantitative manner, please?

MC