william kossack wrote:
I'll take that into consideration if I can ever find a shop that can
make it.

MSC has the parts I need but a solid rod will be stronger. I've also
heard from someone that has made one that a chuck does not work very well

a collet is better than a chuck, and a good chuck is better than a
cheap chuck. are you certain that the part you need isn't commercially
available? again, what is it you are making?