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How to Remove a Stuck Metal Lathe Chuck

Metal lathes are essential for the turning operations necessary to transform various types of metal stock into decorative and functional pieces. The lathe uses a chuck to hold the metal stock in place while the operator uses various cutting tools to create the final part. You may need to remove this chuck to use a different size of chuck but find that you are unable to release it from the tool. By using one of a few common methods you can remove a stuck metal lathe chuck.

Things You'll Need

Rubber strap wrench
Monkey wrench
Hexagonal-shaped steel stock
Long pieces of steel stock of varying lengths

Instructions

- 1
  Attempt a strap wrench assist. Wrap the rubber strap of the wrench around the outer circumference of the chuck and secure it into the wrench handle. After you have clenched the strap wrench as tightly as you can around the chuck, turn in a counterclockwise direction. If after several attempts you are not able to remove the chuck, try a different method.
- 2
  Lever the chuck jaws. If the first method didn't work and you don't care about damaging the jaws of the chuck, you can use a long piece of steel stock. It needs to be at least an inch in thickness and at least 6 inches in length. Depending upon your chuck's design, you need to tighten the steel stock in place and pull on the end opposite the chuck in a counterclockwise direction. This method has the risk of damaging the jaws of the chuck, which is the only drawback.
- 3
  Try scrap hexagonal steel stock and a monkey wrench. In accordance with the design of your chuck, tighten a piece of hexagonal steel stock that is long enough to fit through the depth of the chuck and accommodate the monkey wrench. Tighten the monkey wrench around the free end of the steel stock and turn the wrench handle in a counterclockwise direction. This should remove the stuck metal lathe chuck without damaging the jaws.

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