Cheap chuck

Each jaw is geared independently. You'll spent a lot of time trying to get work centered.

rr

Peter Hyde wrote:

Hello Peter B042 is an independent 4-jaw chuck. It is used to center non-round pieces or to mount round (or square ) pieces off center on the lathe. An independent 4 jaw chuck is used by machinists to precisely center an object on the lathe. One could use this chuck on a wood lathe but I think it would be a PITA. KMS tools in Coquitlam, B.C. has Nova and Super Nova chucks on sale at really good prices. BTW they have the new Super Nova II in stock now too!!!! I think you would be much happier using one of the above chucks or a Oneway chuck; unless you want or need an independent 4 jaw chuck. Good luck Edward

BTW I do not work for KMS, The way I added the KMS link makes it look as if it is my company. Ed.

A chuck like this is available from Harbor Freight for about $20. Unfortunately, the thread is 3/4 x 16 TPI. I used one of these when I first started turning, and I advise against it.

1.) As pointed out by an earlier poster, it is difficult to get the work centered.

2.) The jaws have very little "bite" so it is very easy to dislodge it while turning.

3.) The jaws are fairly narrow compared to most chucks, so they mark the wood too much.

I still keep it around in case I have to hold something that's not round, or for turning a piece offset from center. (I paid a machinist to rethread it to 1"x8TPI.)

I tried the Grizzly chuck. The scroll mechanism broke the second time I used it.

Hello Peter:

I agree with Edward. I was at Busy Bee this past Monday and looked at that chuck. It would really be a problem to get centred. I am currently using a Nova chuck from KMS and have been quite satisfied.

Richard

edward tabachek wrote:

Well thanks for all the comments! I was curious as I only use a home made chuck and was looking at getting something better. Obviously if it is not self centering it will be a pita. Oh well Xmas is coming! Thanks to all

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Sears (near me near Detroit, MI) has a similar chuck (pre-threaded for

1" x 8tpi and 3/4" x 16 tpi) at this price all the time. The 'sale' might not be much of a bargain since you still need to purchase an adapter to mount the chuck.

Four jaw independent chucks have their place, the same as three jaw scroll chucks and jam chucks and face plates and screw chucks and internal collet chucks and external collet chucks do (Did I miss any?).

I am new to turning and made the four jaw independent chuck my second chuck after an internal chuck from PSI that converts to a minimally useful (IMHO, poorly designed) screw chuck. Next up will be a three jaw scroll chuck.

Although a four jaw chuck can be a pita to set up, at least it is possible to use it with irregular shapes and also round stock. The three jaw chuck is pretty much limited to round stock or to off-center work with approximately symmetrical dimensions. A four jaw chuck lets you put the center of the work pretty much anywhere you want it to be. That said, it is a bugger to put work back in it on the same center line because the first chucking would have compressed a pattern into the stock (not as serious of a problem with metal working) which you will never ever in a zillion years hit again. Therefore, plan to use another method to hold the material after it has been rounded or learn how to use a dial indicator on a mag base. Once you learn the use of the dial indicator, resetting a piece to run on the same center (Within .005" - .010" ... wood is not as 'fixed' as metal is, although applying / sanding a CA finish before dismounting should give you a better gaging surface than the raw grain.) is not especially difficult. Until you do, I firmly believe that only blind chance will re-center a workpiece.

Bill

A cheap chuck does not exist. If you buy a low priced chuck, it will just frustrate the heck out of you and you'll wind up giving up the hobby or buying what you should have bought in the first place.........a Nova, Supernova or Oneway chuck. You get what you pay for.............if you're careful and do your homework.

Barry