Salvaged chuck safely stabilizes small objects

Holding small parts to a grinding wheel makes me nervous because the force of the wheel can yank the part right out of my hands. And those pieces get hot! Pliers help but can muck up the threads on bolts and threaded rod. A 1/2″ chuck from a dead drill offers the perfect part-holding solution.

I threaded the old chuck onto an 8″ carriage bolt, then wrapped the bolt with electrical tape to make it more comfortable to hold. To prevent damage to threaded parts to be ground, I wrap the bottom section of threads with electrical tape, and then tighten the part in the chuck.

The chuck holder works well for sharpening standard drill bits or for sanding
dowels. You also can use it to chamfer brass pins.
—Willy Young, Smithville, Tenn.