Product Description
About the Soft Jaws
Set of 3 or 4 soft (unhardened) jaws for the Self Centering and Independent Chucks These are blank jaws, which are used by customers who want to bore or turn them to custom shapes and sizes to fit their parts.
Back to Chuck Jaws
Important Update Regarding Sherline Products
October 20, 2026
We would like to share an encouraging development regarding the future of Sherline Products.
We are currently in discussions with an American manufacturer regarding the potential purchase of Sherline’s intellectual property and remaining inventory. The goal of this proposed acquisition is to preserve and revitalize the Sherline brand while providing continued availability of replacement parts, accessories, and machines for our valued customers.
As these discussions progress, we have agreed to temporarily suspend accepting new orders, effective October 19, 2026. This will allow us to preserve our remaining inventory while negotiations are underway.
Although no final agreement has been reached, we are hopeful that this opportunity will provide a positive path forward for the Sherline name and the customers who have trusted our products for more than five decades.
We sincerely appreciate your patience, understanding, and continued loyalty during this transition. We will share additional information as soon as it becomes available.
Our greatest hope is that the Sherline legacy of quality, precision, and American craftsmanship will continue for generations to come.
Karl Rohlin III and Charla Papp
Co-Owners, Sherline Products, Inc.
October 20, 2026
We would like to share an encouraging development regarding the future of Sherline Products.
We are currently in discussions with an American manufacturer regarding the potential purchase of Sherline’s intellectual property and remaining inventory. The goal of this proposed acquisition is to preserve and revitalize the Sherline brand while providing continued availability of replacement parts, accessories, and machines for our valued customers.
As these discussions progress, we have agreed to temporarily suspend accepting new orders, effective October 19, 2026. This will allow us to preserve our remaining inventory while negotiations are underway.
Although no final agreement has been reached, we are hopeful that this opportunity will provide a positive path forward for the Sherline name and the customers who have trusted our products for more than five decades.
We sincerely appreciate your patience, understanding, and continued loyalty during this transition. We will share additional information as soon as it becomes available.
Our greatest hope is that the Sherline legacy of quality, precision, and American craftsmanship will continue for generations to come.
Karl Rohlin III and Charla Papp
Co-Owners, Sherline Products, Inc.
Image shown is a representation only. Actual product may vary.
Soft Jaws
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 The improper use of machine tools and their accessories can result in serious injury. Before using this tool, thoroughly read the instructions and make sure you understand its proper and safe use. |
Always wear safety glasses when operating machine tools.
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| Download PDF Instructions for 3-Jaw Chucks
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Download PDF Instructions for 4-Jaw Chucks
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| Material | 12L14 Steel. |
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Related products
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If you prefer jaws with a looser fit for faster operation (where maximum accuracy isn’t critical), add a note requesting “loose jaws” below.
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Soft steel jaws (unhardened and unmachined) are also available when building your own chuck.
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If you prefer jaws with a looser fit for faster operation (where maximum accuracy isn’t critical), add a note requesting “loose jaws” below.
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Soft steel jaws (unhardened and unmachined) are also available when building your own chuck|
2.5″ 3-Jaw Chucks – Various Thread
Sherline 3-jaw chucks are designed with synchronized jaws that move together to automatically center round or hex stock to within a few thousandths of an inch. They offer the fastest and most convenient way to hold work in a lathe, making them one of Sherline’s most popular accessories.
These chucks can grip externally on bar stock or internally on tubing. The jaws are reversible to handle a wider range of part sizes.
Compatibility with Sherline and Other Lathes
Chucks are available with different spindle threads for use on Sherline lathes (3/4-16) and other machines such as older Unimat models (12mm x 1mm or 14mm x 1mm) or Sears 6" lathes (1/2-20).
Note: Thread sizes other than 3/4″ x 16 are custom made and require 5–7 business days.
Jaw Options
3.1″ 3-Jaw Chuck
This larger chuck takes up no more center-to-center space than the 2.5" chuck, but it will hold larger work. It has a clamping range of 3/32" (2 mm) up to 1-1/2" (38 mm) diameter with the jaws in the normal position. With the jaws in the reversed position, work up to 3-1/4" (82.5mm) can be gripped. The hole through the chuck is .687" (17 mm). Rotating the knurled ring closes all three jaws simultaneously to grip round or hexagonal stock quickly. Tommy bars (provided) are used in the side holes to tighten and loosen the chuck for more leverage. The chuck has a 3/4-16 thread to fit Sherline's spindle.
Jaw Options
Interchangeable Jaws
Certain delicate parts require gripping with softer jaw materials. Other operations require chuck jaws that do not transmit particles of rust to the part being held. To accommodate these special circumstances, Sherline now offers 2-piece chuck jaws with interchangeable top jaws made from special materials, and bottom master jaws*. In place of the standard hardened or optional unhardened (“soft”) steel 1-piece jaws, these new top jaws are .600” tall and come in soft materials like Delrin, Teflon, and Nylon, plus harder but non-rusting materials like brass and aluminum. The replaceable top jaws are fastened to the hardened steel bottom jaws with two countersunk socket head screws. They are not stepped so the customer can machine them for custom holding applications. Other materials are available by request.
*Please note that you must purchase the bottom master jaws before you can use the top jaws.
Tall Top JawsWe also offer taller jaws with heights of 1” and 1-1/2”. The tall jaws are made of aluminum and mild steel. These taller jaws were developed for a customer who uses our lathe for custom jewelry design and can be machined to hold custom work, as seen in the photo to the right.
About Top-Jaw Custom Orders See the Top-Jaw Custom Orders tab below to design your own chuck jaws.NOTE: To customers who are buying these jaws for an existing chuck, please measure the width of your current chuck jaws with a pair of mics so we can grind your master jaws to match. State your current jaw width in the comments box below. For first-time buyers who are buying a new chuck with these Master jaws, your jaws will be ground to match your chuck. The prices shown are for the jaws only (new chuck is not included).