lathe chuck key mod

[Frank S]

I don't know why I hadn't done this to the chuck key on this lathe a long time ago.
If there is one thing around a lathe that is always in the same place when you put it down, is the chuck key.
Mine hangs in a short pipe welded to the skirt of the swarth/ coolant tray. It is always within easy reach and never misplaced, not true for say a combination wrench or an adjustable although most of mine are hanging on a wall somewhere. I've always just kept 1 laying somewhere around the lathe for changing the position of the tool post, usually cluttering up the swarth tray or on the near by parts table. Also either never within easy reach or in the way of other things.
So why not end that problem once and for all.
What I did was weld a Chineseium 1 1/8 socket to the chuck key at the cross. Now a tool to loosen and tighten the tool post top nut is right at hand because the socket to fit the nut will never wander off like a combi. wrench or an adjustable.Plus as an added bonus the socket makes it much easier to pick up the chuck key out of its dedicated spot.