These four quarter segments of high-quality soft nylon can be cut and customized to your specific workholding requirements. Simply turn them with a scraper to the required dimensions to create non-marring jaws for holding uniquely shaped projects. They also allow nearly full-diameter contact with the workpiece, since you can turn them out to the exact diameter required.
Rikon Plastic Soft Jaw Set Details:
- Nylon can be turned to shape using standard tools, as well as sawn, drilled or tapped
- Soft composition holds most woods without leaving indents
- Vibrant blue color makes it easy to see profiles
- By machining the profile after mounting the jaws to your chuck, you can eliminate any runout errors that may have occurred when mounting the jaws to the chuck and then to the spindle
- Broad jaw faces are capable of providing maximum contact with workpiece—near full diameter contact is achievable
- Thick jaw body enables you to shape any profile you wish, limited only by the fastener heads
- Fits Rikon Z3 and Z4 chucks, sold separately
Tips for Customizing the Soft Jaws:
- Use a scraper that is about 1/2” wide, with an end that is 90° to the side of the scraper—it will cut on both sides and the end
- Recommended bevel angle for the scraper is about 70°
- When scraping nylon, the tool rest must be as close to the work as possible; be sure to always use a light touch
- Run your lathe at a speed between 1,700 and 2,000 rpm for best cutting
- Take extra precautions when machining the jaws so as not to hit to hit the screw heads
