THE SUPER-GLUE CHUCK

摘要

Sometimes, when making clock and other small parts, I forget to do a second operation before breaking down the setup. On other occasions, a part has to be machined with reference to a centre that is no longer there because I have replaced it, unthinkingly, with a hole. At other times, it seems impossible to hold a thin part for machining or handwork. Many times, the ideal holding device is a step or bell chuck, see photo 1. Like other collets, they have a limited holding range and, in any case, for most amateurs they are prohibitively expensive. I have a few that I bought in a secondhand-tool shop but rather like policemen, the size I need is never there when I want it. Over the years I have resorted to various stratagems including using a type of glassworker's cement to glue work pieces to face plates and spigots. The easiest to use is a mixture of equal parts of rosin and beeswax cast into sticks a few millimetres in diameter. The surfaces to be joined have to be heated first, touched with a stick of cement and then held together until they cool down. The hold is not especially tenacious so heavy cuts cannot be made. Also the cement melts at 50 degrees C.