A new find

[tinkerer]

Diggin in the bottom drawer, I found this thing. Disassembled it and found a collet inside. So I sez, "cool, the collets come back out." I swapped my cans for an opportunity to search the recycler and found a 5/8" by 5' aluminum bar. I cut off a chunk and faced both ends and turned one end to 1/2". Put everything back together and the 1/2" end in the collet and tightened it down. Holds very snuggly. Then I looked at the taper and realized, this is much bigger than my spindle. Back to wondering, now what do I do. No threads inside for a draw bar. What I am thinking is I need a 1/2" steel bar to go in the bottom section of the collet and long enough to chuck, but unless verified that is correct, I keep looking for what maybe the previous owner used. I am getting closer to having something usefull though. (edit) Looking at the picture, the nut looks like an ax was used on it. I have the spanner wrench for it though.
A new find

[tinkerer]

OK, through the power of deductive reasoning, I figured if I had all of these collets, there had to be a way to use them, especially after finding the taper with a collet in it. So, I measured the dia. of the tail of the collet and found it to be .50. I then turned a piece of the 5/8" aluminum bar I found to .49 for about 3" in length.
A new find
I then stuck it into the tail of the collet and found there is a stop ring for it to rest on. I did a little measuring and cut the bar off so the larger diameter would go up into the opening on the taper
A new find
I then measured the hole in the back of the taper and found it to be .52 I turned the aluminum bar to .515 and assembled everything.
A new find
Everything fit tight and locked up as expected. Chucked it in the lathe and spun it up. It runs true. Eeehaaa
Now all I have to do is get a steel bar and turn to the same dimensions and I will have saved a chunk of money.

[tinkerer]

I just had an epiphany I can turn a MT on the steel bar and eliminate the chuck. I think I saw a thread where Bogs turned a MT, so I will have some idea of where to start.

[dsquire]

I just had an epiphany I can turn a MT on the steel bar and eliminate the chuck. I think I saw a thread where Bogs turned a MT, so I will have some idea of where to start.

See what happens when you keep on thinking!  Good things happen.

Cheers 

Don

[sbwhart]

Good that you can make use of your finds and breath new life into them.  look forward to seeing the work progress

Thanks and Cheers 

Stew