best chuck for a school lathe

Reyd:

I teach at a high school. We have eight+ Nova standard chucks that have held up very well. Some are over 10 years old. We also have 3 Stronghold chucks and several One-Way. The One-Ways are the best we have. However, in a school I think I'd recommend two Novas over 1 One-way. Standard jaws are fine. Glad to answer any other questions you might have.

Jack Grube

Jack Grube

I like the pin jaws, and use 'em for starting bowls, recentering, and as a sort of long-jawed chuck.

Also, I prefer the 35mm jaws (serrated), to the jumbo nonserrated in a quick outside grip.

It's all new to the kids, so they won't know which is the "best" chuck anyway.

Why not SuperNova? They're easier to use with the single wrench and sturdier.

-- Chuck *#:^) chaz3913(AT)yahoo(DOT)com Anti-spam sig: please remove "NO SPAM" from e-mail address to reply. <

September 11, 2001 - Never Forget

I'm not sure teaching beginners to work with a chuck that's designed "backwards" to the norm is a wise idea. They might end up confused for the rest of their lives. Imagine going though life trying to open doors, water taps, even driving woodscrews the wrong way. what a a pain.

choice of one chuck, not 2:P so 1 set pin jaws+35mm jaws serrated, any other jaws?

Why not SuperNova? They're easier to use with the single wrench and

alright, sounds like some good reasons(jaw suggestions appreicated too)

more questions: what exactly are the pin jaws, and what makes them special(the nova jaws) are they the same as the oneway spigot jaws? for the oneway that uses two bars to tighten, doesnt that mean that the rotation of the lathe also open, or closes the jaws? Is there any danger of the jaws sticking out past the body of the chuck? RR talked in one of his books about the old engenering chucks that could hurt your knuckles, and these look like they could certainly hurt at 1200 rpm, or if you get a tool in between them(the spaces in the jaws) with the teknatool steeped jaws, wouldn't you need a really long bit on the bottom if you want to use the narrowest diameter, as otherwise the bigger jaws are in the way. any sources for the oneway chucks nearby (Victoria, vancouver works as well, and KMS looks good if we go with the Nova chuck) does oneway give you a free adaptor like Teknatool does? more questions as I come up with them.

thanks again Reyd I just dont want to end up with the wrong chuck when asking somebody else to buy it, sorry about all the questions

Hi Reyd

First off, I am not connected to or selling or belong to any company or special interest group.

Then the best quality chuck is the Oneway chuck as far as I'm concerned. Holding power is tops and the Oneway Talon would be the size for your lathe in my opinion. It is also made in Canada. Lee Valley carries them and they have in BC a store in Coquitlam and in Vancouver For more info go to

Have fun and take care Leo Van Der Loo

Reyd Dorakeen wrote:

Hi Reyd. Just a thought... Being that Oneway is a Canadian company (and Kevin Clay follows this group), you might consider putting together a request from you, the shop teacher and principal on school stationery for a donation of a chuck. If not an outright gift, then maybe they can swing an attractive discount of some sort.

I believe everything Oneway makes is top quality and very well engineered -their chucks are no exception. (As a disclaimer, I use the small Vicmarc.)

_____ American Association of Woodturners Cascade Woodturners Assoc., Portland, Oregon Northwest Woodturners, Tigard, Oregon _____

forgive my usual ignorance, who is Kevin Clay? any suggestions on jaws we should try to buy as well? I've never seen the oneway chucks @ the lee valley store, or the catalogue, but Ill phone them this afternoon. thanks again Reyd

I'm not sure what Kevin's role or connection is with the company other than he represents it here on the newsgroup when there are product questions and comments.

For my Vicmarc chuck I use the standard jaws and "Shark" jaws the most. I also have the "long nose" jaws but don't use them as much. If you haven't seen the Oneway website on their chucks:

_____ American Association of Woodturners Cascade Woodturners Assoc., Portland, Oregon Northwest Woodturners, Tigard, Oregon _____

ok, so go for the standard jaws, serrated, and maybe the jumbo jaws for finishing the back side as well? are the spigot jaws like the long pin jaws that nova has?

I sent an email to him, thanks again

If $ is no object then Jumbo would be OK, though I don't have that set or use my chuck in that capacity. I built a simple vacuum setup with hardware store ball bearing, faceplate, Lexan and PVC pipe couplings for reversing bowls and such (probably less than $125 and more versatile than the Jumbo or Cole chuck jaws).

Lemme look in a catalog... Yes, I think the two are equivalent. I would have gotten this type of jaw set for my Vicmarc instead of the long-nose but they weren't available at that time - they've been on my list for a while now.

_____ American Association of Woodturners Cascade Woodturners Assoc., Portland, Oregon Northwest Woodturners, Tigard, Oregon _____