Glen2 --I'm not sure that I'm understanding the problem correctly . . . is it that you have a "scroll" chuck (all jaws move at the same time) that closes substantially off-center, or that you have an "independent" chuck (each jaw move independently) that you have trouble using? If the first, you should check to see if the jaws are in their correct slots in the chuck body. Scroll chucks usually have three jaws, and all three need to be in the right place in the body for the chuck to close at the center. The jaws themselves are usually stamped 1, 2, or 3, as are the slots in the body. If the jaws are simply in the wrong slots, you can take the jaws out of the chuck by simply opening the chuck until the jaws come out. Then, puush jaw 1 into slot 1 while closing the chuck until the spiral "thread" of the scroll engages the jaw; stop closing the chuck once jaw 1 can't be pulled out of the chuck body. Next, push jaw 2 into slot 2 while closing the chuck until the scroll engages the jaw. As before, stop closing the chuck once jaw 2 can't be pulled out. Finally, push jaw 3 into slot 3 and close the chuck fully. If the set of jaws you have just installed properly belongs to the chuck body you have installed them into, the chuck should now hold a workpiece as well centered as that chuck in its current condition is capable of. If the jaws and chuck body are not marked with the 1, 2, and 3 . . . you just have to experiment. On the other hand, if you have a 4-jaw independent chuck rather than a scroll chuck, look toward the sky and say "Thank you, God." An independent chuck is a bit trickier to use than a scroll chuck, but you should it's still pretty easy and offers two MAJOR advantages over a scroll chuck: work can be centered in a "4 jaw" much more exactly than a typical scroll chuck will center the work, and a independent chuck can grasp a solid workpiece much more firmly than a scroll chuck can. This posting is already getting long, but post back if you need instructions on the use of a 4 jaw and I or another person here will try to talk you through the process. John
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