What is the correct way to attach a 4 way chuck?

Well, I WAS going to do a project on my lathe. But for saftey reasons I decided not to continue until I know some answers. I wanted to try the icicles but my 4 way chuck is fighting me all the way! LOL I have the piece on the machine and when I go to put the wood on I can’t seem to get the chucks up against the wood properly. hmmm I had turned them to have the longer part hold the piece and maybe my problem is the pieces isn’t big enough but it is SO close to being there! But saftey first. One of the ? I have is how tight is the nuts on the other side suppose to be..hand or wrench tightened? It would be nice to have a video on the proper way to attach. From A-Z. On the other side of the chucks (maybe wrong wording) there is 3 steps for differant sizes of wood. But man I am leary about that on holding the wood. Maybe I am being to cautious but power tools can hurt! So any information I’ll be watching for and then I can do some fun stuff. I didn’t know where to ask so I just added it here. If there is a folder to ask..let me know and I’ll put things in there which I’m sure will be used alot by me. (yup a real novice here!)
Thanks!
Krum

-- Cathy Krumrei