How to Change the Chuck on a WEN Drill Press, Step by Step

Swapping the chuck on a WEN press is one of the first upgrades many owners make, usually to move from the factory keyed chuck to a keyless one or to cure a chuck that no longer grips small bits. The job is quick, and the value of a clear step by step is that it keeps the order right: remove in one sequence, seat in another, and check at the end. Following how to change the chuck on a WEN drill press, step by step, means the new chuck goes on true the first time.

Changing the chuck means removing the old chuck from its arbor and seating a new one. On a WEN the chuck sits on a Jacobs taper arbor, and that arbor seats in the spindle on a Morse taper. Both joints hold by dry friction, and many chucks add an internal retaining screw.

The direct answer: unplug the press, remove any internal retaining screw, pull the old chuck off with wedges, then seat the new chuck on clean, dry tapers with one firm square push and check runout. Follow the sequence and keep the tapers dry, and it seats true the first time.

Step by step: removing the old chuck

1. Unplug the press and open the jaws fully.
2. Check for a retaining screw. Look down the bore. A screw at the bottom is a retaining set screw, often reverse threaded, so it may loosen clockwise. Remove it first.
3. Fit the wedges. Slide drill chuck removal wedges between the chuck top and the arbor collar, one each side.
4. Tap evenly, alternating sides, until the chuck releases square. Catch it as it drops.
5. Drop the arbor if needed. Feed the quill down and drive a taper drift through the access slot with a soft dead blow mallet.

Step by step: seating the new chuck

1. Clean both tapers. Wipe the arbor’s Jacobs taper and the spindle’s Morse taper bone dry.
2. Seat the arbor into the spindle with one firm push.
3. Rest the chuck nose on a wood block with the jaws retracted.
4. Press the chuck on by feeding the quill down and pushing straight down with one firm axial push. The taper grips instantly.
5. Check runout. Chuck a straight pin and turn the spindle by hand against a dial indicator.

A matched keyless drill chuck or a replacement chuck with JT33 arbor sized to your taper makes the upgrade straightforward.

Where people go wrong

The first mistake is skipping the retaining screw check and hammering a chuck still bolted on. The second is oiling the taper for a smoother fit, which lets the chuck creep off under load. The third is seating the chuck by twisting or a sideways tap, cocking it on the taper.

The verdict

Changing a WEN chuck is a quick job when you follow the sequence. Unplug the press, remove any retaining screw, and pull the old chuck with wedges. Clean both tapers, seat the arbor and then the new chuck with single firm square pushes, and confirm the runout with an indicator. Keep the order right and the tapers dry, and the new chuck seats true the first time, turning a common upgrade into a clean accuracy gain.

Three takeaways:

1. Check for and remove the retaining screw before tapping.
2. Remove with wedges, seat with a firm square push.
3. Keep tapers dry and confirm runout at the end.

FAQ

How do I change the chuck on a WEN drill press? Unplug it, remove any internal retaining screw, pull the old chuck off with wedges, then seat the new chuck on clean, dry tapers with one firm square push and check runout.

Does a WEN chuck have a retaining screw? Many do. Open the jaws fully and look down the bore. A screw at the bottom is a retaining set screw, often reverse threaded, and must come out first.

Do I seat the arbor or chuck first? Seat the arbor into the spindle first, then the chuck onto the arbor. Both are clean, dry, single push seatings.

Should I oil the taper? No. Tapers hold by dry friction. Oil makes the chuck creep off under load. Wipe both tapers bone dry before seating.

Can I fit a keyless chuck? Yes. A keyless chuck is a common WEN upgrade. Match its taper to your spindle and seat it square, the same as any chuck.

Why does the new chuck wobble? Usually an oily or burred taper or a sideways seating. Clean the taper dry and reseat with one straight push, then indicate.

What taper does a WEN use? Commonly a JT33 Jacobs taper at the chuck and an MT2 Morse taper at the spindle on benchtop models, but confirm yours before buying.

References

1. Zoro Resource Hub, Morse vs. Jacobs Tapers. https://www.zoro.com/resourcehub/what-are-the-dimensions-and-angles-of-morse-tapers-and-jacobs-tapers/
2. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Woodworking eTool: Drill Presses. https://www.osha.gov/etools/woodworking/production/machines-tools/drill-press