Quote Originally Posted by HankMcSpank View Post
No I don't go through the lathe bed! (I've emailed David Blaine asking if this is possible though)

If you look at the type of lathe I've got...

http://www.axminster.co.uk/product-A...the-564883.htm

that control box on the front adjacent to the chuck, inhibits the use of the chuck key in any position except insertion at the top. If I had a long nose key I could adjust the chuck a lot more freely/speedily (eg just rotate the bottom jaw up a bit, bosh in the key adjust - back down...then adjust the top up etc)
Oh I see now, its not the getting the key in, its being able to turn it, thats the issue. Looking at the pictures it would need to be very long to clear the bed, the leadscrew and the control box and be able to turn it.

I'd get a long 3/8" socket extension and tommy bar and grind the end to suit...