There are many kinds of screw chucks. The beginner can easily do all his work with the common style, such as is shown in Fig. 268. This chuck is made by attaching a piece of wood to the ordinary face-plate and securing a common wood screw at the center, as shown in Fig. 274. Hard wood is better for the facing.

It should be securely fastened with at least four screws to the iron faceplate, and turned smooth at the circumference, so that the hands will not be liable to be injured by it. Do not use any sandpaper on it. Figs. 269 and 270 show how the gouge is held in turning the edge. Figs. 125 and 126 show the gouge in use for similar work. The character of the piece will usually determine whether the gouge should first cut from the right or from the left.

Fig. 268. Screw Chuck.

Turn the face of the piece exactly true, testing it with a straight edge. The roughing gouge should be used at first, and held as shown in Fig. 271.

The final smoothing should be done with a scraping chisel, as shown in Fig. 127. If no scraping chisel is at hand, a skew chisel may be used for the scraping. Unless the face is exactly straight, the blocks when screwed against it may not remain in place.

Find the center, as shown in Fig. 272. By placing the point of the skew chisel near the center, a small circle will be made; and by gradually moving the point towards the center of the circle, a place

Fig. 269. Turning an Edge with Gouge.

Fig. 270. Turning an Edge with Gouge.

will be found where no circle is made. This will be the center, and the point of the chisel should make a small hole in which to place the spur of the bit.

Bore a hole just large enough to fit the shank of the screw. Use the method shown in Fig. 273. Place the bit, and then carefully start the lathe. Mark the piece so that you can put it back in the same place, and then remove it from the iron face-plate.

Countersink a place just deep enough to bring the surface of the screw head flush with the wood.

Drive a finishing nail into the wood at the end of the slot in the screw head and bend it over, as shown in Fig. 274. If the nail is too large to go into the slot, hammer it flat near the center before attempting to drive it.

Return the wood to its place on the iron plate, and you have

Fig. 271. Turning the Face with Roughing Gouge.

Fig. 272. Finding the Center.

the best kind of a screw chuck for general work. Be careful to turn each screw until it is just tight; for, as they may be several times removed and again

Fig. 273. Boring with Bit.

inserted, any overstraining will spoil the holes in the wood. If you are careful to put grease in the holes each time the screws are to be inserted, the wood will not wear out so quickly, and the screws will hold stronger.

Fig. 274. Back Side of Wooden Facing.