Chuck pointers for JET mini...

Silvan wrote: I think I'm going to need a chuck before I need anything else, and there's still time to get it added to Santa's list (clip)Money is not abundant, and I'd prefer to avoid buying anything regretable this early on ^^^^^^^^^^ You are going to get lots of good advice on what is the best chuck, but my advice is to wait. You can turn chessmen without a chuck, with a faceplate and a bottle of CA glue. After the lathe is bought, and the money is spent, you will probably discover that you need additonal tools, and supplies, and who-knows-what-else. And, if it really turns out that a chuck is important, by then you will have more experience, and your decisions will be better made. And even a chuck calls in additional expenses--they have various sizes and styles of jaws, so there is no end to it.

Check the Grizzly catalog. They have great prices on Jacobs chucks. STAY AWAY FROM "EXPANDABLE COLLET CHUCK"!!! It SUCKS BIG TIME!!!

You might want to take a look at a Nova Compac chuck. At a price of $80 at Woodcraft, its not such a huge investment and it should do the type of work you describe quite well. There is even a set of 20 mm (pin) jaws for it. I have one and it works fine. Its the most chuck you can get for the money.

Barry