Chucks-Chucks -Chucks [ UK ]

In message , brian white writes

I'm not seasoned, only been playing a little longer than yourself

I would also recommend looking at the Axminster chucks. Specifically this package

3274.htm I would have got it instead of their K10 if I had known more at the time

One thing to consider is that it takes time to change jaws, unscrewing, alignment etc. So you may want to consider the price of jaw carriers in the overall equation, as its wind them out and wind in the new ones with the alternate jaws pre fitted and aligned. ( that's what I did)

In some ways I am lucky 4 miles that way and I have Axminster, 4 miles the other I have Poolewood :)

Two very bad reasons to spend money !

I afraid I'm not much help as I only recognize the SN2, the other two must be UK brands that never make it across the pond. I like my SN2's but the Canadian Oneway and Ausy Vicmarc are great too (SN2 will take any jaw that Teknatool makes, well, except for the Titan Power jaw, something not true in most lines)

I use both the Supanova and Vicmarc chucks and find them both excellent, although to tighten the Supanova you will be turning the chuck key anti-clockwise to tighten it and that may feel odd. Another excellent chuck would be the Versachuck available from the Toolpost

. The beauty of that one is that you can buy carrier jaws for fitting jaws from other manufacturers. It is also a very solid substantial chuck that is well built. I hope these notes will be of help. Good chucks aren't cheap, but will be long lasting and accurate in their workholding.

Charlie

Hello Brian,

I own a dozen or more chucks, most of them Teknatool, and one Vicmarc. I believe the Partiot is made by Robert Sorby and is likely a very good chuck because Robert Sorby produces quality tools. I purchased two SuperNova2 chucks when they first came out, one for myself and one for my wife, they are excellent chucks and well worth the money. No chuck on the market except the Nova Chucks have the greatest interchange of jaws from one chuck to the next. Even the Titan Chuck from Teknatool uses all of the jaws manufactured for all of their other chucks. I suspect that the Fox FX4000 is a Chinese made rip-off of someone elses chuck and likely not worth what they are selling for. As someone else mentioned the Vicmarc chucks are hard to beat when it comes to quality.

Just remember, you get what you pay for, and this is especially true when it comes to turning tools and woodturning chucks.

Fred Holder

Well, it "tightens" on a mortise when turned clockwise. Of course the left end of your grinder and the nut on the arbor of your left tilt tablesaw, etc. tighten that way too.

"Lefty Lucy doesn't spread 'em for Chuck" is a useful NOVA mnemonic.

The Nova G3 is another one. I heard that Nova jaws will go on a Patriot. I have 2 Supernovas, a G3 and a Versa. The Versa I find is heavy so it only gets used when I want the jaws that are on it. Enjoy the addiction :)

Sort of like asking what brand of truck is best.. ;-]

My personal choice is Oneway.. For most lathes, the Talon, for larger projects, the Stronghold..

I've had a Talon for about 5 years and like it so much that I'd buy it again.. As a matter of fact, I DID buy it again, 2 years later when I wanted a 2nd chuck.. I've done a few hundred pieces with it and it's still working great.. It's pricey, but good things usually are..

I'd also look at the Super Nova.. no personal experience, just gleaned from comments here..

mac

Please remove splinters before emailing

I don't know what your face is worth, but for me the best holding chuck is just barely good enough, and yes last time I looked in the mirror, I think Im seasoned very well, maybe overdone ;-)) Oh that best chuck you want to know ?? or the cheapest that's going to bite you ?? I have and use Oneway Stronghold and Oneway Talon chucks, for more that 10 years at least, and yes the Patented jaws that hold the wood, are only available on a Oneway, sorry. Have fun and take care Leo Van Der Loo

There's a 1 page review of the Patriot chuck in this month's Woodturner magazine which you should be able to pick up (or just read the relevant article) in WHSmiths.

The review recommends the chuck - well built, does the job, uses design features from other chucks but adds it's own touches (like the rubber band safety feature). A typically well made Sorby product.

The Versachuck was also reviewed several months back and this was recommended as well. The big selling point of it is that with the purchase of extra jaw slides it can take jaws from other manufacturers.

I've never used or even seen either of these chucks so can't personally recommend them.

I have a SuperNova and SuperNova Deluxe chucks and have not had any problem with them. They're the only ones that I've used so can't compare to others.

As for the Fox chuck - as others have said, you usually get what you pay for. I've just done a quick search for the Fox and didn't get many relevant hits, which may suggest that they aren't well supported in this country. Try to find someone selling jaws for it and see how many are available. You may not think that you need many right now but who knows what you'll be wanting to turn in the future.

Where abouts are you in the UK? If you're anywhere near Newcastle then feel free to contact me and you can call round to check out my chucks. Wherever you are there's likely to be a local club where you'll find years worth of turning experience to draw on. The Association of Woodturners of GB

should have a list of clubs Hope that helps

Duncan

I would also highly recommend the Axminster chucks.

Um No - Im down in Southampton too cold for me in Newcastle although I was born n bred in Middlesbrough. I have joined a local woodturning club and have posed the question, some lively debate followed, and basically it comes down to a matter of personal preferance, the ease of obtaining and changing jaw sets, and Durability .

Thanks for all the splended info folks - Im going to The Woodworking Show at Alexandria Palace this coming weekend, cash in hand !! I shall probably go for the Patriot ( unless someone else has a real tempting "show offer" ! ) It Will, Be Mine !

Brian

Perhaps true, but a cheap set of t-handled allen wrenches was one of the best 11$ I ever spent. One is dedicated to my SN^2, and two more to my bandsaw.

Wow ....'spensive

Well, Brian.. the bottom line is that once you get a chuck, a whole world of turning opens up to you..

I've gotten so use to using a chuck that I bought a stub center for the chuck so I don't have to take it off the lathe when I need to work between centers..

Have fun!

mac

Please remove splinters before emailing

I have a cheap set (plastic handles) from HF, but when I bought my SuperNova chuck from kmstools, they included a T-handle allen wrench.

This has a plastic coated metal handle, and the extra mass makes it easier to remove the nuts. Give it a spin, and it keeps revolving. I recommend getting a single high-quality wrench of the proper size for your chuck. Wiha sells a 4mm for $3 to $8. (I don't have a Wiha, but wahted to check the prices).

Your chuck deserves an upgrade from a HF T-handle allen wrench set.

Same with the Oneway chucks.. they come with a nice t-wrench..

I don't change jaws much anymore, but when I did, I'd remove the screws with a drill driver, then start them by hand and tighten with the drill driver..

mac

Please remove splinters before emailing

Hmmm?!? My 'nova came from KMS. I got the nice T-handle for the the chuck itself, but I'm fairly sure that it only had a regular allen ("L") wrench for the jaw-attaching screws.

My technique is to use the 'T' to initially "break the seal" then then just spin the sharft between my thumb and forefinger for high-speed.

I> recommend getting a single high-quality wrench of the proper size for

I agree; it's a fine chuck and wothy of a decent wrench

Hi Reed Was it you that had the gears break 3 times, on your chuck, twice the pinions and once the main gear ?????

That's what I was talking about in the other post, as why won't people tell that there equipment failed on them ?? Oh well so much for it "hold up well" Have fun and take care Leo Van Der Loo

Bob Gadd is one of the few Nova dealers that sells those as something other then "accessories" (yes I have bought a bunch of stuff from Bob)