Brian Lawson wrote:

I would bow to Bob Swinney and Pete Stanaitis on the issue of which
method is easier/best, but it has been my understanding that while
12L14 is wonderful to machine (especially to "turn"), it will always
be a "soft" metal due to it's metallurgic composition.

Now I am a bit confused. I looked up the properties of 12L14 and 4140

http://kmac-distribution.com/technic...-stainless.htm
11600 ksi shear modulus

http://kmac-distribution.com/technical/4140-Steel.htm
11600 ksi shear modulus

IIRC from my junior college days mild steel has about 60,000 psi shear so
this modulus number must mean something else. I googled a bit but didn't
really understand the explainations.

Given the typical length of a chuck key handle, I don't think I'm going to
twist the end off.

Wes