On 3/31/2026 at 7:08 PM, Rusty S said:

This is a fwiw, what if you fabed a rubber washer to go between your chuck and spindle nose to help seal it

I did get to try that this morning in the few minutes I had to spend in the shop. I was able to find a 2" diameter, 1.*" thick rubber washer at the hardware. I had to cut out an opening to fit over the spindle. Sorry to say it didn't make any difference, but for $1.79 it was worth a shot. The chuck really holds tight as is, so I'll fiddle around with it like it is and see how much use I have for it. Thanks for the idea.

This will be my last comment on the vacuum chuck leakage. I did figure out that it was my shop built chuck bodies that were leaking. I tightly wrapped them with stretch wrap and turned the pump on. To my surprise the vacuum came right up to 24", which is where my vac bags usually top out. So for now my solution is to leave the stretch wrap on them, I may make new ones or redo these. I'll just wait and see how things go. I don't understand why they leak since I really tried to seal them up good, but it is what it is. I'll say this, at full vacuum I cannot pull the piece off the chucks, they really hold well (but I still won't skip all the safety advice when I'm using them). One other thing, I did finally get some vacuum QD fittings so I can switch the pump between the bags and the lathe. Lew had sent me a link on where to buy them, many thanks to him for his help with that.

10 minutes ago, Fred W. Hargis Jr said:

I tightly wrapped them with stretch wrap and turned the pump on. To my surprise the vacuum came right up to 24"

I wonder if you use a thin sanding sealer, or maybe thin CA, cover the opening, turn on the vacuum and then apply the sealer. Maybe the vacuum would suck the sealer into the pores making a better seal???

It's an idea that may be worth trying.

Go ahead, laugh at me, it's been done before. But I had a few minutes of time between doctor visits and starting dinner so this is what i did. I use a lot of 3 and 5 gallon buckets around the property for all sorts of things. But the plastic handles are not only uncomfortable when the buckets are filled with something heavy, they also fracture and break off easily. So I made some wooden ones on the lathe to replace them. Being an untalented turning guy, this gives me a chance to practice using some tools I find difficult (like a skew) and still produce something that's practical (for me) as well. So all I do is turn the handle (always white oak) and then drill a 5/16" hole through it. I then saw in 1/2 lengthwise on the scroll saw (thinnest kerf I have) and glue it back together on the bucket. So that's what's on my lathe at the moment......

That's OK, @Fred W. Hargis Jr, I have been known to turn a dowel instead of going to Lowe's.

I like that tool rest!

Cool way to spend a few minutes of spare time. I like it.

Great idea and if you carve some finger grips in it even better, plus larger size means less fatigue.👍

7 hours ago, Gerald said:

Great idea and if you carve some finger grips in it even better, plus larger size means less fatigue.👍

I wish I had thought of that, finger grips would have given me some practice on coves and beads. I have a few more to make, I'll try that.

Hey Fred......come on man GET A GRIP !!!!!!🙃

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