I've got an old (but not US made) Delta drill press with a bad chuck. I removed the chuck and checked the spindle (quill?) and it has very low run out so I want to replace the 1/2" JT33 chuck. Looking on ebay I find they range from a keyless for less than $30 to $500+ for a Jacobs or Albrecht.
Does anyone have a suggestion for a decent quality chuck for less than $100. I'm a hobbyist so I don't need the absolute highest quality.
Is a keyless chuck a good option on a drill press?

In my somewhat vast experience with chucks, for a drill press I would go with a keyed chuck. I have drills with keyless chucks and expecting a drill press to do a bit heavier work I would want a keyed chuck. Haven't priced them but would think an acceptable one could be found much cheaper than $500.00 JMHO

Many of the better presses and drills use Jacobs chucks. I'm not a fan of the keyless chuck unless you keep your drill bits to 1/4" or less. Other than the net, you should be able to find reasonably priced replacement chucks at stores specializing in power tools. There's such a store in Wantagh, NY named Ace Tools (not Ace Hardware)

No keyless for your drill press. Send me the shaft size. I have a Jacobs I'll give you if it's correct. Info like 1/2 x 16 thread.

It's a female JT33 taper.

Sorry the one I have is not like that.

Thanks for checking.

Here is one for $108.

JT33, 0.0394 to 1/2 Inch Capacity, Tapered 08590119 - MSC

__________________
Bill

That one looks good. Thanks!

I don't skimp on a chuck. Jacobs is good, hit the flea markets.

There used to be a used tool place in town, had literally tons of used tools of all kinds and nearly everything you could imagine, but it's now closed. I think the owner died. I know they had bins full of chucks of all sizes. I suspect most towns of any size may have similar used tool establishments. I saw a similar store in Dallas several years ago.

I've had good luck with Grizzly machines (they are made in Taiwan but haven't run into quality on the machines that I have). 1/32"-1/2" x MT #2 Keyless Drill Chuck with Integral Shank | Grizzly Industrial

Thanks, there was one here too. I'm sure it didn't make much money because it kept moving into different dilapidated buildings. However it think it closed because there is no trace of it now. I liked it because I could buy decent used American made tools - Nicholson files, Stanley planes etc. very inexpensively. I got a complete Bailey/Stanley #4 for $10.00

I finally bought a Grizzly chuck. It turns out the Jacobs mentioned above was Chinese and did not include a key. So the Grizzly looked like a better deal, since I had to get an import chuck anyway.

The place I mentioned was pretty good for things like measuring instruments, lots of calipers, various types of micrometers, etc., even some that I had no idea what they were used for. And sockets, an unbelievable assortment of sockets and socket wrenches.from tiny to gigantic. Bushel baskets full of them. They had a pile of hand wrenches on the floor probably five feet in diameter, you had to dig through the heap to find the size you needed. But it was probably there. I bought a lot of stuff over the years. I always wondered where it all came from. I wouldn't be surprised if much of it was military surplus.

Go online and check out the enco catalog. Same for MSC or Travers tools. Should be able to find a decent drill press chuck for decent money. Frank

Maybe McMaster-Carr? Excellent service. Online.

I have nothing to contribute to this discussion, but I do think Drill Press Chuck would make a cool Forum name.

__________________
What, me worry?

In terms of my search please see #14 above.

I agree "Drill Press Chuck" would be a cool forum name.

I've had my Sears Craftsman floor drill press since 1975. Never go keyless on one is MHO.

__________________
Mike
S&WCA #3065

The Best Chucks I know of are the VINTAGE (USA MADE) Jacobs Chucks. They are still available in superb condition on fleabay if you are persistent. I would not buy one of the new Chinese versions however. You can usually tell how much a Chuck has been used or abused by looking at really good close up pictures. Any Chuck that looks abused - stay away from!!
For my Drill Press I actually have three that I use. For daily and general use I use a Jacobs 14N Super Chuck (0.040" - 1/2"). I also have an 18N Super Chuck (1/8" - 3/4") and a Jacobs #1 for really small drill bits (0" - 0.025"). The large 18N comes in handy when using larger drill bits without reduced shanks, and the #1 is great for bits less than 0.040' in diameter.

I don't know their exact ages but I can tell you they were not made anytime in the last 40 years! ALL ARE SUPERB and their run out is less than .0015" measured with both Starrett and Federal (not the Ammo Co.) run out gauges.

I am not a fan of Keyless Chucks, personally speaking but I do know some guys like them......... YMMV

There is also a proper way to mount a Chuck with a Morse Taper. There are many Youtube videos available to watch so I will not go into much detail, but before mounting ANY chuck or Morse Taper, Clean all parts with Acetone to remove all grease, dirt and oil. Make sure Morse Taper is not badly scored and mount with one decently hard smack from a wooden, hard plastic or similar mallet AFTER retracting the Jaws FULLY into the Chuck. If you do not have a soft face mallet, then use a Ball Peen Hammer with a 2 X 4 piece of wood against the Chuck as a buffer so it does not get damaged. One good smack is the way to go - not multiple taps. Check run out with a Dial gauge. Sometimes un-mounting, rotating the MT and remounting can reduce RO slightly.

** For most users the Vintage Heavy Duty Jacobs Chucks are more than adequate. For really heavy and frequent usage the Vintage Jacobs Super Chucks are the top of the line.

** Do your research and find YOUR proper Morse Taper and Jacobs Taper for YOUR Drill Press and Chuck so you get the correct size!! They are available in many many variations!

Sorry for the pic in the wrong direction (14N shown).

Attached Images

IMG_0891.jpg (68.1 KB, 12 views)