Did a silly thing today....

[Tinbasherdan]

working on the Landy with the old fella today, needed to lock the injection pump so quickly turned a locking pin on the lathe, only problem came when setting up, having half a convo with dad whilst trying to think what I was doing I spun the chuck up with the key still in. Just missed my head..... Crapped myself and goes to show how dangerous getting distracted is

 

[the snooper]

how to avoid, make a flap to cover the switch with the words chuck key on it

 

[rtbcomp]

You could make an isolator that needs the chuck key to close it. Might be marketable?

 

[the snooper]

You could make an isolator that needs the chuck key to close it. Might be marketable?

or pushing into it

 

[Tinbasherdan]

I think In this case more sleep and being in less of a rush would be the answer

 

[daleyd]

In my previous job we had some older machines that had a t bar similar to a large chuck key to tighten up expanding jaws that inserted into reel centres, behind the stowage there was a micro switch which wouldn't allow rotation of the arms until the key was stowed safely.

 

[brightspark]

sorted . once u have done it u will never do it again . learnt the hard way

 

[slim_boy_fat]

How about one of these, or am I stating the blindingly obvious......?

https://www.cromwell.co.uk/shop/33020108/lathe-chuck-keys

 

[daleyd]

sorted . once u have done it u will never do it again . learnt the hard way

I'd like to believe that, but a guy I did my apprenticeship with is proof that's not entirely true

 

[Digger6135]

working on the Landy with the old fella today, needed to lock the injection pump so quickly turned a locking pin on the lathe, only problem came when setting up, having half a convo with dad whilst trying to think what I was doing I spun the chuck up with the key still in. Just missed my head..... Crapped myself and goes to show how dangerous getting distracted is

Get a chuck key with a spring that ejects the key from the chuck, no possibility of leaving it in.

Digger6135

 

[premmington]

Get a chuck key with a spring that ejects the key from the chuck, no possibility of leaving it in.

Digger6135

I found a spring to fit my chuck key. Super safe idea!

 

[T0rnado69]

i remember a kid at school doing this, it shot through the workshop corrugated roof.
left a nice hole in the roof, the teacher wasn't very happy.
damm lucky it didn't kill anyone.
it was found a week later on the football field going slightly rusty.

then another numpty decided to turn the end of a piece of tube.
left way too much sticking out the back of the headstock.
without using the steady...
needless to say it went like a helicopter.
lucky workshops have the big E button's

 

[Wedg1e]

My Boxie has a flip-down perspex guard that's interlocked to the start switch so the motor won't start if the guard's up... and the guard won't go down with the chuck key in.
So simple, every lathe should have one...

 

[skotl]

As per Dan and Tornado (and I think I posted this previously) at school, Stuart M**** left his lathe chuck key in twice. The first was really bl**dy obvious cos it clanged off the drip tray.
Stuart got the belt (barbaric Scottish equivalent to the cane).

Couple of weeks later he did the same thing again. This time there was a thud as the key embedded itself in the ceiling.
My Donald (psychopathic metalwork teacher) gazed at the ceiling and then very quietly said (in your head, do this in a threatening Scottish accent) "Would all boys pleeeeease present their lathe chuck keys in their left hands for inspection, thank you so much..."

It was like a game of musical chairs when you realise that everyone has a chair except for you. Poor (well, it did serve him right) Stuart looked around frantically for a spare lathe chuck key. But he was found wanting and, boy, did he get Mr Donald's most enthusiastic belting...

Anyways, I know I've said this before (for the pillar drill, not a lathe); I always touch the chuck key before I hit the green button. If I can't find it then I hunt it down, touch it, then start.

 

[Kent]

Better still keep hold of the key - ie don't leave it in the resting chuck in the first place. Seeing a key in a chuck without a hand on it should result in a kick up the rear

 

[Richard.]

Springs are good if they are not removed which let's face it they often are. I have ended up tacking them to the key in the past. Not too much heat mind or the spring will lose it's spring.