# How do I build a makeshift Chuck i.e. I lost the chuck to my drill. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 10, 2004, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-build-a-makeshift-chuck-i-e-i-lost-the-chuck-to-my-drill/228529 "2004-02-10T22:52:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2004, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-build-a-makeshift-chuck-i-e-i-lost-the-chuck-to-my-drill/228529/1 "2004-02-10T22:52:12Z")
Urgent help needed!! I have at least three of these things lying around my shed outside…probably a few more skattered about my garage…but for the life of me, I can’t find any of them… Question: How do I build a makeshift chuck so I can work with my drill tonight? Any help would be appreciated. Standard craftsman 1/3 mph drill minus a chuck to change the damn bits! Urgh!! ---
**Author:** ![TheJungOnes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cab0a1/32.png) [@TheJungOnes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheJungOnes)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2004, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-build-a-makeshift-chuck-i-e-i-lost-the-chuck-to-my-drill/228529/2 "2004-02-10T23:01:17Z")
What I do if I don’t have a key around is to grip the neck of the drill as hard as I can and hit the trigger. It tightens the bit hard enough to do work in an emergency situation… or if you are just too lazy, like me. The bit will end up getting loose again, just repeat the process. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2004, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-build-a-makeshift-chuck-i-e-i-lost-the-chuck-to-my-drill/228529/3 "2004-02-10T23:19:52Z")
Just about any good hardware store sells replacement chucks. Easier and cheaper to just buy a new one. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2004, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-build-a-makeshift-chuck-i-e-i-lost-the-chuck-to-my-drill/228529/4 "2004-02-10T23:25:23Z")
The chuck is the part that holds the bit, with three jaws that open or close when its outer housing is turned relative to its inner housing. The device that is used to loosen and tighten the chuck is called a chuck key. Chucks are available at hardware stores. It’s necessary to know the threading of the drill’s shaft that the chuck attaches to. Chuck keys are available at hardware stores. There are different sizes, so it’s helpful to have the drill (with its chuck) along when getting one. There are also “universal” chuck keys, that have several of the most popular sizes together in one piece. Sometimes the chuck can be loosened or tightened sufficiently with two appropriately sized pairs of pliers, but a key works far better. ---
**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2004, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-build-a-makeshift-chuck-i-e-i-lost-the-chuck-to-my-drill/228529/5 "2004-02-10T23:27:17Z")
Invest in a good keyless chuch and you won’t have that problem again. I can’t say they are as absolutely good as a keyed chuch but the Jacobs on my 18v DeWalt is excellent. ---
**Author:** ![FordPrefect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e99b99/32.png) [@FordPrefect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordPrefect)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2004, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-build-a-makeshift-chuck-i-e-i-lost-the-chuck-to-my-drill/228529/6 "2004-02-10T23:39:28Z")
a combo of two tools like vice-grip and monkey-wrench has done it for me in the past ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-build-a-makeshift-chuck-i-e-i-lost-the-chuck-to-my-drill/228529/7 "2004-02-11T02:19:09Z")
Another thing that works in a pinch: Select a drill bit that’s the right diameter to fit in the hole in the chuck that the key engages. Then use a straight-bladed screwdriver as a lever and the drill bit as a fulcrum and to pry on the flutes around the chuck. But Gary T’s suggestion is best: take the drill down to a hardware store and buy a replacement chuck key that fits. ---
**Author:** ![donkeyoatey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47c2d/32.png) [@donkeyoatey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/donkeyoatey)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-build-a-makeshift-chuck-i-e-i-lost-the-chuck-to-my-drill/228529/8 "2004-02-11T02:55:11Z")
How many chuck keys would a **Phlosphr** buy if a **Phlosphr** could buy chuck keys? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-build-a-makeshift-chuck-i-e-i-lost-the-chuck-to-my-drill/228529/9 "2004-02-11T03:06:22Z")
> [@Xema](#): > > Another thing that works in a pinch: Select a drill bit that’s the right diameter to fit in the hole in the chuck that the key engages. Then use a straight-bladed screwdriver as a lever and the drill bit as a fulcrum and to pry on the flutes around the chuck. > > But Gary T’s suggestion is best: take the drill down to a hardware store and buy a replacement chuck key that fits. This has worked for me in the past, only I used a small phillips head screwdriver for the chuck hole. ---
**Author:** ![beajerry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@beajerry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beajerry)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-build-a-makeshift-chuck-i-e-i-lost-the-chuck-to-my-drill/228529/10 "2004-02-11T03:24:53Z")
If you can’t make it to the hardware store, you can use a file or grinder and an old flathead screwdriver that you don’t mind ruining to make a simple chuck.