Trent Rudat Custom Chuck Jaws (http://briarpipetooling.com)

[Mike Messer]

I just got my Custom Chuck Jaws made by Trent Rudat...http://briarpipetooling.com/. He's a really good guy to work with if you do or if you don't know what you need... He also has made pipes, so that gives him a lot of insight into pipemaker tooling. Prices aren't bad, either.

This is my 4" (101.6 mm) diameter, 4-jaw independent chuck with the 2 modified jaws, and also note the excellent welding and alignment pins.
I have only made one pipe, so far (I just got it) and it was made from a very irregular shaped briar block. The chuck performed perfectly, first time, very easy to set up, center, rotate, etc., and I'm sure I will get better using it with practice.

Jaws Specs:
material: 1/2" thick (12.7 mm) 4140 alloy steel (annealed)
min. block thick: 1-3/8" thick (35 mm) (could be 1-1/8" (28.6 mm), if I grind off the points of the orig jaws)
easy max. block thick: 2-1/2" (63.5 mm)
absolute max. block thick: 3-1/4+" (82.6 mm)
Jaw Dimensions: 1-1/2" x 1-7/8" long (2-5/8" above chuck face)
(38.1 mm x 47.6 mm long) (66.7 mm above chuck face)
Alignment Pins: 1/4" dia. (6.4 mm) pointed hex socket (allen) machine screws with locking nuts
Overall Length: Base Plate + Chuck + Jaws = 5-1/2" (139.7 mm)

A Picture is worth a 1000 words...

2 pictures = 2000 words...

[Boekweg]

Wow, thats pretty cool Mike. Im in the process of getting a 4 way chuck right now.

I just purchased this buffing mandrel kit today for my lathe.

[ToddJohnson]

I have seen several of these chucks forty or fifty pipes down the road. Caveat emptor.

TJ

P.S. +2 from current shop residents.

[RadDavis]

I have seen several of these chucks forty or fifty pipes down the road. Caveat emptor.

TJ

P.S. +2 from current shop residents.

I dunno. I've been using mine for about three years with no problems.

That's over 600 pipes.

Rad

[Boekweg]

@ Todd,

"Caveat emptor"
or
"Buyer Beware!"

Dude, i had to look that up. I had no idea what you were talking about, lol.

[Mike Messer]

I have seen several of these chucks forty or fifty pipes down the road. Caveat emptor.

TJ

P.S. +2 from current shop residents.

I'm wondering what kind of problems you had with it, specifically, so I might know what to watch out for, and maybe even, Trent might use the info to improve his design.

[Pharaohfitz]

Mike, your tooling will be just fine. Rad actually has purchased and is using his chuck as you can see from his thoughtful and useful comment. In the interest of full disclosure, I own and use Trent's chuck. Tooling requires proper installation, alignment and, most importantly, use. If someone screws up tooling, they are not likely to relate that to their friends, let alone the online community.

Comments about those who try to support our hobby should be a bit more thoughtful. Unless someone has actually bought, properly installed and used the tooling effectively, I would take comments from "shop residents" with a grain of salt. I am not certain that any of the residents are actually in the business of tool making at a professinonal level. And yes, opinions are what they are. My point is that the best information is to be gleaned from someone who actually has working experience with the tooling, like Rad and other, who, due to similar comments and nonsense, no longer participate in the forum.

Unlike the caveat emptor silliness, I do not plan to sell tooling to hobbyists, nor do I plan to sell them used equipment that may or may not work. Caveat emptor, indeed.

[Mike Messer]

I have seen several of these chucks forty or fifty pipes down the road. Caveat emptor.

TJ

P.S. +2 from current shop residents.

I dunno. I've been using mine for about three years with no problems.

That's over 600 pipes.

Rad

Mike, your tooling will be just fine. Rad actually has purchased and is using his chuck as you can see from his thoughtful and useful comment. In the interest of full disclosure, I own and use Trent's chuck. Tooling requires proper installation, alignment and, most importantly, use. If someone screws up tooling, they are not likely to relate that to their friends, let alone the online community.

Comments about those who try to support our hobby should be a bit more thoughtful. Unless someone has actually bought, properly installed and used the tooling effectively, I would take comments from "shop residents" with a grain of salt. I am not certain that any of the residents are actually in the business of tool making at a professinonal level. And yes, opinions are what they are. My point is that the best information is to be gleaned from someone who actually has working experience with the tooling, like Rad and other, who, due to similar comments and nonsense, no longer participate in the forum.

Unlike the caveat emptor silliness, I do not plan to sell tooling to hobbyists, nor do I plan to sell them used equipment that may or may not work. Caveat emptor, indeed.

Thanks for the reassuring comments about the chuck. ..600 pipes with no problems, very reassuring. I wasn't real, real worried about the chuck, although Todd's comments created some doubt. I've used the chuck a little, and it worked fine for me, and seems to be solid as a rock and it spins true. I threaded a 1/4" x 4" bolt through the pin holes, and ran the tailpiece center up to it. It's perfectly centered and perpendicular to the center line of rotation. The sides measured in several places with calipers are equal (thus parallel), and both checked with a triangle are perpendicular to the chuck face.

[e Markle]

Mike, your tooling will be just fine. Rad actually has purchased and is using his chuck as you can see from his thoughtful and useful comment. In the interest of full disclosure, I own and use Trent's chuck. Tooling requires proper installation, alignment and, most importantly, use. If someone screws up tooling, they are not likely to relate that to their friends, let alone the online community.

Comments about those who try to support our hobby should be a bit more thoughtful. Unless someone has actually bought, properly installed and used the tooling effectively, I would take comments from "shop residents" with a grain of salt. I am not certain that any of the residents are actually in the business of tool making at a professinonal level. And yes, opinions are what they are. My point is that the best information is to be gleaned from someone who actually has working experience with the tooling, like Rad and other, who, due to similar comments and nonsense, no longer participate in the forum.

Unlike the caveat emptor silliness, I do not plan to sell tooling to hobbyists, nor do I plan to sell them used equipment that may or may not work. Caveat emptor, indeed.

Who are you? I know Todd, and I know Rad, but...

[JHowell]

Mike, your tooling will be just fine. Rad actually has purchased and is using his chuck as you can see from his thoughtful and useful comment. In the interest of full disclosure, I own and use Trent's chuck. Tooling requires proper installation, alignment and, most importantly, use. If someone screws up tooling, they are not likely to relate that to their friends, let alone the online community.

Comments about those who try to support our hobby should be a bit more thoughtful. Unless someone has actually bought, properly installed and used the tooling effectively, I would take comments from "shop residents" with a grain of salt. I am not certain that any of the residents are actually in the business of tool making at a professinonal level. And yes, opinions are what they are. My point is that the best information is to be gleaned from someone who actually has working experience with the tooling, like Rad and other, who, due to similar comments and nonsense, no longer participate in the forum.

Unlike the caveat emptor silliness, I do not plan to sell tooling to hobbyists, nor do I plan to sell them used equipment that may or may not work. Caveat emptor, indeed.

Who are you? I know Todd, and I know Rad, but...

Wondering that myself. A tool maker? From Pittsburgh, so maybe somebody I don't know and don't realize it.

Also wondering what is meant about "used equipment that may or may not work" and all the rest of it.

[Mike Messer]

Mike, your tooling will be just fine. Rad actually has purchased and is using his chuck as you can see from his thoughtful and useful comment. In the interest of full disclosure, I own and use Trent's chuck. Tooling requires proper installation, alignment and, most importantly, use. If someone screws up tooling, they are not likely to relate that to their friends, let alone the online community.

Comments about those who try to support our hobby should be a bit more thoughtful. Unless someone has actually bought, properly installed and used the tooling effectively, I would take comments from "shop residents" with a grain of salt. I am not certain that any of the residents are actually in the business of tool making at a professinonal level. And yes, opinions are what they are. My point is that the best information is to be gleaned from someone who actually has working experience with the tooling, like Rad and other, who, due to similar comments and nonsense, no longer participate in the forum.

Unlike the caveat emptor silliness, I do not plan to sell tooling to hobbyists, nor do I plan to sell them used equipment that may or may not work. Caveat emptor, indeed.

Who are you? I know Todd, and I know Rad, but...

Wondering that myself. A tool maker? From Pittsburgh, so maybe somebody I don't know and don't realize it.

Also wondering what is meant about "used equipment that may or may not work" and all the rest of it.

I searched Pharaohfitz's posts and taken at surface value, sounds like he's a friendly customer of Trent's (or maybe he's a covert Trent alias ). In either case, he, obviously, feels like Todd is out to slander Trent's work. The implication is that Todd is selling similar types of equipment and is a ruthless competitor. I'm not saying that, understand, but Todd's criticism is kind-of vague , which is why I asked him for more specific information, which he probably has.
I'm not taking a side on this, but I imagine no chuck or piece of equipment is perfect for everyone, and has plus and minus qualities.
M.M.