Chucks

Wow, that amazes me. I like Vicmark Chucks but they offer the smallest choice of jaw sets compared to the Oneway Stronghold, Teknatool Nova/Supernova/Titan, and Axminster Precision series chucks. Axminster in particular has almost every jaw combination available, including some no other manufacturer offers, with Teknatool a close second and Oneway more recently being in the same category.

Now everyone may have different needs and find a particular chuck manufacturer to have the best selection of chucks for their specific needs, but in terms of shear range of jaw sets, Vicmark actually trails the pack. If it appears otherwise, one needs to expand their search of what is actually available. In the case of Axminster, look to the CS catalog or to Axminsters' own site. For Oneway, go to the Oneway site. For Teknatool, go to the Teknatool site.

I would also note that Teknatool in particular offers the advantage that all jaw sets that will fit on their Nova/Supernova series will also fit on their Titan (as well as a new series of very large jaw sets that are exclusive to the Titan). Several of the jaw sets that fit on their Nova/Supernova series can also be fitted to their very small "Compac" chuck (currently out of production, though it will likely return). Thus you can purchase jaw sets for a moderately sized Nova or Supernova and know that you will likely be able to use them if you move to larger or smaller chucks from Teknatool. This is unlike the other manufacturers where for the most part you must by different jaws sets for their different size chucks (Vicmark 3.5 not interchangable with Vicmark 5; Oneway/Talon not interchangable with Oneway Stronghold, etc.)

Lyn

Maxpr> Having researched the more common chucks, I've arrived at the conclusion

Hi Lyn

A well informed response as usual. Also the jaw sets Axminster offer also fit a number of their chucks ie the Super Precision, the Woodturner's Chuck and the Carlton Chuck.

Thanks, Lyn. That's why I asked before buying. I'll do some additional research, but it looks as if a Nova or Teknatool may be the wisest choice.

Max

Hi Max, I wanted to clarify things on the range of chuck jaws available (and thanks to Mark for filling in what I left out), but for most turners, the range of jaw sets is only one factor in choosing a desirable chuck. For one thing, as I alluded to, a wide variety of chuck jaws may not be very important if you do mostly one kind of work (and thus need only the best jaws for that work), or if you intend to later obtain more than one chuck and will match the jaws sets to the use intended for each chuck. It is nice to know that you can carry jaw sets over from one chuck to another, but again, depending on your turning needs that may not be important.

So what are some of the other factors (some, not all):

1. Easy of operation (The Teknatool Titan and Vicmarks score the highest of the ones I've used, as much for their easy key system as the actual smoothness of operation).
2. Fit to the size work you do (The Talon is very well matched to minilathes and smaller work, I also liked the Teknatool Compac for miniature work;for very big work, I like the new Teknatool Titan and the bit Vicmark, but the Axminster Precision and Stronghold are excellent in this regard to). Keep in mind that a huge chuck will limit your access to the rear of small scale turnings, but a small chuck will likely lack the strength and jaw sets to be most suitable for gripping long heavy hollow forms or coring out large bowls.
3. Precision. Some chucks really are more precise than others. This is not much of an issue unless you will be dismounting and remounting your work. If precision is expecially important, the Axminster Precision chuck very much lives up to its name.
4. Price. It is, IMO, foolish to spend over three hundred dollars for a combined chuck and jaw set for the work that will be done on a lathe of less than 14 inch swing. Often times their will be more utility in having two modestly priced chucks than one very expensive large chuck. On the other hand, it seems to me to be false economy to obtain multiple modestly priced chucks when you are going to need at least one large powerful chuck for coring out 22 inch bowls.
5. How does one feel about faceplates? I like faceplates a lot and have tradionally prefered them for tasks where others felt the need to have a large powerful chuck. In most cases, a 4-8 inch faceplate (say the excellent Oneway versions, or the one from Seahorse Engineering) will hold more securely than any chuck and cost but a fraction of the cost (usually about what the jaw set alone would cost).

There is a lot more to be said,and Russ Fairfield among others have written some good guides on this topic. I just wanted to point out that while the variety of jaw sets, and their adapatability of fitting between other jaws in a manufacturer's family may be significant factors, there are a lot of other considerations to make in choosing the chuck most suitable for your present and future needs.

Hope this helps somewhat,

Lyn

Maxpr>

Exactly what is going on with the Compac chuck? I have one and it works perfectly. The only limitations I have noticed are its capacity.

Barry

the teknatool site seemed to list few of their things, KMS listed more. in article M%WRb.604$ snipped-for-privacy@newsread1.news.atl.earthlink.net, Maxprop at snipped-for-privacy@propshaft.end wrote on 1/28/04 2:49 PM:

Hi Barry, That has been my experience as well,mine has worked flawlessly for over two years. There did appear to be some nagging issues with quality control, and my understanding is that it is now undergoing "design review." I expect to see it's return, though I have no personal knowledge of that.

My sense is that it was never gained the praise it was due, both because of the quality control problems and that IMO many people purchased it because it was inexpensive but without giving thought to it's proper niche in the chuck hierarchy. As I see it, and this is the way a wrote a review of it comparing it to the Oneway Talon, the Teknatool Compac is/was a superb chuck for small scale and miniature turning. The Compac had the smallest body of any quality chuck, and in my experience was very precise. That small body and precision meant one had access to the headstock end of small turnings in a way that no larger chuck provided, including the Talon. To this day, I still use my Compac for miniature turnings. In the end, I felt this made the Compac more suitable as a second or third chuck, rather than a first chuck, but because of price, many bought it hoping it would do everything for them.

On the other hand, the Talon is the superior chuck for the total capabilities of a minilathe. It is twice as expensive, but from one perspective it is twice the chuck. It definitely is a nice chuck and the one used for all larger work on my Jet Mini. Despite it's excellent all around capabilities (except for coring and deep hollowforms) for lathes from 10 inch to 16 inch swing, it is still pretty chunky for miniature work, even when fitted with it's excellent #1 pin jaws. So, I remain very pleased to have my Compac for the little stuff, and hope to see its return.

Sorry for the length, I've been wanting to say something about the Compac for quite a while, and this was just the occasion.

Lyn

what is coring? is it running a gouge straight down the middle? how deep would you use it for?

Bowl-saving.

Go to my article on it located below if you want to know more:

I've copied and saved this post, Lyn. Thanks to folks like you on this NG, my learning curve is steepening. But I obviously have a lot more research to perform. Your kind assistance is appreciated.

Max

how deep would you use the compact, or the talon chuck for? in article GKZRb.855$ snipped-for-privacy@newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net, Lyn J. Mangiameli at snipped-for-privacy@earthlink.net wrote on 1/28/04 5:55 PM:

I've made 10" deep hollow forms using the Talon chuck and the #2 jaws. That chuck has a tenacious hold!

Peter Teubel Milford, MA

I bought the SuperNova as well as a set of 1" pin jaws to go with the jaws that came with the chuck. So far I have but one complaint. There are 2 places in the chuck where you can tighten/loosen the jaws. One of these has the set screw very close to where you place the chuck key - so close in fact that the chuck key can loosen the set screw. Not all that big of a complaint though and easily fixed by using the other access point.