Tool for holding a tungsten electrode during sharpening

An apparatus, comprising:

• a rigid handle having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the rigid handle includes a first cylindrical cavity extending into the rigid handle from an opening in the distal end and having a first cylindrical wall, wherein the first cylindrical cavity includes an inwardly extending cylindrical shoulder at a predetermined distance from the opening in the distal end to register the position of a proximal end of the outer race;
• a radial bearing assembly including a plurality of radial bearings, each radial bearing having an inner race, an outer race, and rolling elements disposed between the inner and outer races, wherein the outer race of each of the radial bearings is secured to the first cylindrical wall of the first cylindrical cavity;
• a central shaft having a proximal section and a distal section, wherein the proximal section is secured to the inner race, and wherein the distal section extends from the first cylindrical cavity and includes external screw threads, wherein the central shaft includes an outwardly extending cylindrical shoulder at a predetermined distance from a proximal end of the central shaft to register the position of a distal end of the inner race of a most distal radial bearing in the plurality of radial bearings, wherein positioning the outer race of the most distal radial bearing against the inwardly extending cylindrical shoulder and the inner race of the most distal radial bearing against the outwardly extending cylindrical shoulder prevents the central shaft from contacting any portion of the rigid handle, and wherein a proximal end of the central shaft is externally threaded to threadably receive a threaded nut, wherein the threaded nut is tightened against a proximal end of the inner race of a most proximal radial bearing in the plurality of radial bearings and secures the distal end of the inner race of the most distal radial bearing against the outwardly extending cylindrical shoulder;
• and
• a chuck threadably coupled to the screw threads of the central shaft, wherein the chuck includes self-centering jaws for selectively gripping a tungsten electrode along an axis of rotation established by the radial bearing assembly.