Chuck recommendations?

Prometheus wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com:

I spent $99 on a Nova Midi, new model, at Woodcraft last month. It's another reason my discretionary spending budget is way overdrawn right now.

Well, that, and the Jet lathe...

Patriarch

Now get the pin jaws. Most versatile set for the Nova series.

On the advice of a lot of folks here, I got the Oneway Talon last year.. a bit pricey at about $175, but it's turned out to be a great investment.. I used it with my shopsmith (still do for bigger things) and now on my Jet mini.. I'm sure that i'll use it on my next lathe and it will still be great... As with most tools, it only hurts for a little while but beats the hell out of spending $100 on an "ok" one and upgrading later.. YMMV

mac

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I agree with Mac, I have one too. Keep in mind these Oneway chucks come with an insert to fit the threads of your lathe (or in some cases, they're a moderately priced "option"). This means you can just buy another insert if/when you upgrade to a bigger lathe. I'm not sure if the Grizzly chucks are adaptable in this way. You don't have to keep buying chucks as you move from lathe to lathe.

"George" wrote in news:4280cd02 snipped-for-privacy@newspeer2.tds.net:

Care to explain why you state that? Before I spend my money? ;-)

I see the pin jaws on the Teknatool site, but not at either Woodcraft or Craft Supplies. Suggestions?

Patriarch

I bought a cheap Grizzly type chuck and I must admit I did a lot of work with it and it held quite well although I was no shrinking violet when it came to tightening the jaws. I have since bought Oneway and really there is no comparison. Since you can buy different inserts the investment doesn't die with changing the spindle size. I don't know your finances but certainly recommend you go the better chuck route from the start if you can. Billh

I assume your midi chuck came with a woodworm screw? If so don't waste your money on pin jaws....!

Are you talking about

So the Griz is $89, and the Nova Midi is $120 - a difference of $31.

Here's one on eBay for $99 - only $10 more than the griz.

Future upgrades is an important issue.

They are 25mm dovetail jaws, jaws for holding a rough piece internally which do not destroy the hold, and a great outside grab for long thin pieces of wood. Stopper turners and such should love 'em. I use them to grab the "icecicles" on ornaments.

You can take a peek at

Not a fan of the woodworm, it's one of those things like serrated jaws which tears up things to hold them. It's also prone tearing on starting/stopping if a wet piece has a lot of inertia.

"George" wrote in news:42811343 snipped-for-privacy@newspeer2.tds.net:

Thank you, George. Those will go onto 'the list'.

Patriarch

I like the Vicmarc chucks. They have several jaw accessory if you need them. The thing I like the best is that it uses an allen wrench to adjust. My understanding the gear type wrenches arre around $40 if lost or broken. All I have to do is go to harbor freight and look for another T handle allen wrench and I am back in busness.

I have the Vivmarc also with a couple of other jaw sets. I have never handed that chuck to anyone in the club that hasn't been throughly impressed with the obvious quality. After they used it, they like it even more.

I am on the side of spending all you can reasonably afford on your chuck. Mine works fine on my Jet mini, and I have used the living hell out if it. However, it is stout enough that when my Nova is back up in the shop I will certainly use it on that lathe, too.

I think if you use a really good chuck you will not only appreciate it more, but you will probably have that chuck in use on your lathe for a lifetime.

Robert

My problem is a lack of education on the issue. I have no idea what jaws I'm going to want or need, whether I *want* replaceable inserts, or if they're more work for less of a payoff, what a "tommybar" is, ad infinitum. My guess is that I'm going to figure all that stuff out in short order once I've got one in my hands, and then I can worry about getting a really nice one- and that's only if I am actually

That being said, is it possible that the $39 one is a better idea just to get my feet wet, to limit my investment in a tool that may need to be upgraded right away? I'm not trying to be obstinate about it, just trying to make sure I don't waste $180 on a super-deluxe chuck only to find that I really would have rather had one with independant jaws or something!

Aut inveniam viam aut faciam

Thanks for the advice from all of you guys! Of course, I should have expected the get the best philosophy to be true here just like it is with any tool. I think I'm going to try out the Grizzly for the summer, and then upgrade to a nicer model as soon as I've got some of the other tools I need to upgrade first in the shop. Aut inveniam viam aut faciam

I try not to overtighten things (first thing my uncle taught me back when I was an apprentice saw sharpener) but I can crank things down with the best of 'em if I have to. Just depends on the tool, and whether or not it needs to be torqued on.

In what way is it superior? I'm sure it's a better product, but how is it better?

I'm financially comfortable, though not weathy, and I'm really scrimping with the tool and lumber budget to try and get a Unisaw (or similar giant cabineted beast) into my shop by the end of the summer. If that was already out of the way, I'd be asking what the best darn chuck money can buy is, instead of whether or not the cheapest one will work at all! :)

Aut inveniam viam aut faciam

Ah.. you are talking about the H62xx series, maybe a different beast

As to tommy bars.. I have no idea either.. one of the reasons that I picker the oneway Talon was that it uses a large chuck key... and I already know how to use one of those and how not to abuse it.. YMMV

mac

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