How to turn down gear hubs?

[kiracofe8]

Originally Posted by sanddrag

How can I turn down and/or take off gear and sprocket hubs. I don't want to clamp on the teeth (at least not too hard) for risk of damaging them. How should I go about this?

Here is how I saw an experienced machinist hold a sprocket in a vise last year: take some small pins (like maybe small dowel pins) and put them in between two teeth. Then you can clamp down on the pins, which transfers the force to the root of the tooth (which is much stronger than the tip of the tooth). Now that you have your sprocket clamped in your vise, just mill whatever you want.