Does this eventually loosen with use?

[ironhat]

If you own self-tightening chuck you may be able to help me. I have a large (17") Craftsman machinest's drill press and I'm having issues holding on to the twist drill while I try to tighten the self-tightening (odd name for something that doesn't use a chuck key) chuck. I know that you are supposed to support the end of drills on scrap while you tighten. I'm use to holding the drill and turning the chuck to snug by hand and then using the key. So, getting to my question, do these chucks ever wear-in and loosen? That's it. I'm becoming more agile but wouldn't mind the chuck getting a bit easier to tighten!

[LCHIEN]

i think the proper parlance is "Keyless chuck"

my Sears Craftsman 19.2V C3 cordless drill has a keyless chuck, it turns and tightens easily, its not stiff or anything. I wonder if it grips hard enough though, it's easy to spin the larger bits in the chuck if the bit seizes in the workpiece - even wood... e.g. the torque the drill puts out is more than the chuck can hold. Worse, spinning the bit, the jaws put a burr on the bit shanks. The burr will rip your skin if it catches you, I have to file them off if I spin the bit, so it chucks up clean next time i use it. I don't know if this is typical. I wonder if anyone else has the same problem.

[cabinetman]

The keyless chucks I have work relatively easy. I can just hold the bit and spin the knurled part manually. Or, I can set the bit, and just hold the chuck, and start the rotation with the switch. On removal it could release by just a quick snap with the drill not running.

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[ironhat]

Hmmm, mine are definitely on the stiff side. Would you lube it and what would you guys use? Kroil, PTFE lube, spray graphite, Militec?

[cabinetman]

Hmmm, mine are definitely on the stiff side. Would you lube it and what would you guys use? Kroil, PTFE lube, spray graphite, Militec?

I'd start with graphite.

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[ironhat]

Spray or powdered graphite? I assume the former. Is the chuck mounted on tapered shaft - I can look that one up. I was thinking that gravity could be used to carry the graphite further into the parts of the chuck.

[cabinetman]

Spray or powdered graphite? I assume the former. Is the chuck mounted on tapered shaft - I can look that one up. I was thinking that gravity could be used to carry the graphite further into the parts of the chuck.

I had a keyed chuck that I removed and inverted it to treat.

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[LCHIEN]

somehow i missed that you had a key - I guess that's not a keyless chuck, then.

[ironhat]

Loring, C.man said that he once had a keyed chuck which he pulled to lubricate. I have the keyless chuck (btw,thanks for reminding me of the term. I could not retrieve it from my damaged brain. It has been like that since the surgery.) Thanks again!
Chiz

[cabinetman]

Loring, C.man said that he once had a key chuck which pulled to lubricate. I have the keyless chuck (btw,thanks for reminding me of the term. I could not retrieve it from my damaged brain. It has been like that since the surgery.) Thanks again!
Chiz

Yeah you're right. I guess Loring misread the post. I have both keyed and keyless. The one I removed just happened to be keyed. None of my keyless have needed maintenance.

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