Tired Of Chasing The Chuck Key

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OK, My old Craftsman drill press has a hole in the table to keep the chuck key in.  It's handy as a pocket on a shirt except, I am forever just laying the key down on the table and then knocking it off.  You know, "The old I heard it bounce and then it went under the bench" After chasing it down AGAIN, I decided to put it on a self retracting chain so I could do something more productive than fishing around in the dirt kangaroos (dust bunnies on steroids) under my bench.A piece of "pump chain" left over from a light fixture and an end cut from a lathe project for a bob weight.  I cross drilled the chuck handle and made the attaching link from a stub of SS rod.The chain is light enough it should tear free in the event that some idiot turns the DP on with the key still in the chuck.  The pump chain is smooth so it self retracts as soon as you let go of the key.Just a small project on a snowy day.RogerOld, Tired, and GRUMPYSalesman will call, Batteries not included, Assembly is required, and FREE ADVICE IS WORTH EXACTLY WHAT YOU PAY FOR IT!Dial Arc 250HFThunderbolt 225 AC/DCAssorted A/O torches
Reply:One other thought would be a decent sized magnet attached to the housing and simply stick the chuck key to it when not in use. Dangly things around spinning machinery makes me nervous..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWOne other thought would be a decent sized magnet attached to the housing and simply stick the chuck key to it when not in use. Dangly things around spinning machinery makes me nervous.
Reply:I do the same thing ... have the chuck hang from a lightweight string underneath the worktable.
Reply:Yeah, I hung mine on the same chain and anchored the chain off the back of the belt guard housing so it's out of the way when not in use.                                    MikeOl' Stonebreaker  "Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes"Hobart G-213 portableMiller 175 migMiller thunderbolt ac/dc stick Victor O/A setupMakita chop saw
Reply:Good idea... seems like you could locate the string (or chain) in such a way that it couldn't reach the "spinning machinery".. other than the key reaching the chuck.. of course.
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWOne other thought would be a decent sized magnet attached to the housing and simply stick the chuck key to it when not in use. Dangly things around spinning machinery makes me nervous.
Reply:Originally Posted by herbet99Good idea... seems like you could locate the string (or chain) in such a way that it couldn't reach the "spinning machinery".. other than the key reaching the chuck.. of course.
Reply:Yeah, the retractable key chain thing has worked really well for me for years. Before that, well, it was just ridiculous. lol!
Reply:Originally Posted by rlitmanI did something similar, but used a spring loaded retracting keychain.  If you let the key go, it snaps back, so there's no way it can get left in the chuck.
Reply:Hi, for years I've been wanting to find a method to keep the chuck key where I'll always find it next time.One method I used years ago was to drill a hole in the table the drill was on and have a cord with a weight on the end attached to the key, just long enough to reach the chuck.......it'll always be in the hole held there by the weighted cord.No matter where you put the key down, the weight on the cord always pulls the key down to the hole in table.But then I wanted to use it in the drill chuck in the lathe and removed it......lost the thing somewhere on the lathe cupboard.......should have had a second key....LOL.I solved the problem by getting a keyless chuck....best thing since sliced bread.Ian.
Reply:A couple feet of flexible tubing works well too. Get the right size and slip it over 1 end of the handle.If you don't want to stand behind our Troops, feel free to stand in front of them.
Reply:Looks good!Here is the one I made...an all-metal ID badge holder, attached with a 10-32 socket head cap screw, in a hole I drilled and tapped in the head of the drill press (after making doubly sure there wasn't anything important on the other side of that metal casting...kevKevin / Machine_Punk from The Aerodrome Studio - Lincoln PowerMIG 210 MP - Meco N Midget w/custom welding station - Vintage Victor 100Current Projects: The Aerodrome Studio