The pictures were very helpful. I am now on the prowl for a nice chunk of hardwood, ie. maple, oak, hickory (Broken baseball bat! :biggrin: ). After lathing the grooves, I am thinking that boring the end, insert a metal arbor and then epoxying it in place. That will solve the wood in a chuck problem.
Great Thread!
Duh! just re-looked at the pic.'s and noted that one has a metal base.