Recommended Collet Sizes

[bbodnyk]

I bought a 8mm lathe last year but need some collets for it. I mostly work on pocket watches. What collet sizes would be suitable? I understand there is a list of recommended collet sizes somewhere but haven't come across it.

Thanks!
Bruce

[Jerry Kieffer]

I bought a 8mm lathe last year but need some collets for it. I mostly work on pocket watches. What collet sizes would be suitable? I understand there is a list of recommended collet sizes somewhere but haven't come across it.

Thanks!
Bruce

Bruce
Anything less than a full set from 1-80 will probably be an issue sooner or later.
For pocket watch repair, I would suggest that you start with #3 through #48. These will probably be your most commonly used depending on how you do things.

If you plan to make parts from readily available standard fraction size bar stock, you should then have a few common fraction sizes. For pocket watches, I would suggest 1/16", 1/8" and 3/16" bar stock along with matching collets. This will cover items like screws, Arbors, Pinions etc.

Larger diameters like rachet wheels, crown wheels, barrel covers etc., are best held in machinable pot collets and or self centering chucks.

Jerry Kieffer

[le arsi]

Hi, if I need another collet size I'll just make my own like this brass collet I made when I fabricated a push button of a Tag Heuer Chronograph. It's good to have another lathe like my mini lathe from Sieg.

[ben_hutcherson]

For cutting off balance staffs from balance wheels, I've found that a #6 and #8 will cover a good proportion of the 16 and 18 size watches out there.

I own a number of accessories-such as balloon chucks and jewel chucks-that fit in a #50.

While I agree that you will eventually want a full set, for 16 and 18 size watches, I use primarily use in the range of 6-20. This covers me well for balance staff replacement, pivot polishing, and very occasional repivoting.