Grizzly $99 scroll chuck?

If you will continue to turn and want to turn some of the projects out there that all the boys are turning, you will be very glad you have the scroll chuck. It elimantes a lot of different holding devices and adds a lot to your speed.

Are you actually a Chief?

Robert

I just got the Barracuda2 from Penn State and like it very much. Basically the same chuck but comes with 4 sets of jaws and a screw chuck adapter, 1"-8tpi and 3/4"-16tpi adapters for $169.95 with $8.00 shipping. By the time you buy all the accessories for the Grizzly, the Barracuda may be about the same price. YMMV.

Mike

Probably none- I have, and use, a $40 Grizzly chuck with a set of tommy bars, and it is perfectly adequate for anything I've used it for in the last two or three years (and some of the stuff in that chuck has been large enough to make my big lathe walk around the shop on me.)

That isn't to say that a $300 chuck isn't built to a tighter spec or made of better materials, but when free-hand turning, my opinion is that if it doesn't let go of the work or cause the pieces to turn out oval, it's good enough for my foolishness.

In any case, it's better to have a modest chuck you can afford than not to have one at all because you're waiting for the best one ever to fall into your lap!

I could understand your hesitation if you had only the catalog photo to go by but since you've actually held one in your hands, if the heft, fit and finish all meet your personal sense of good quality, then buy it. Generally speaking, "junk" is pretty obvious when you get to hold it.

And before you spend that much more money on all the accessory jaws, consider making work holding jigs that fit the jaws that come with it. Changing jaws takes time and the little hex head screws are hard to find amidst a floor full of shavings. Ahem. Yes, well all I'm trying to point out is that you may not actually require as many jaw sets as they offer. And keep a strong magnet at hand otherwise. ;-)

J.

Lynn Coffelt wrote:

going back a couple

scroll chuck and

I know nothing of any flaws with the Grizzly chuck, but I bought a Pinn acle chuck from Woodcraft (yes, I have a part-time job there) a few months a go and haven't found any problems with it either. Take a look at:

Hello Lynn,

I haven't personally checked out the Grizzley scroll chuck, but I think it is a Chinese copy of the Vicmarc Chuck. Victor, owner of Vicmarc, said that the Chinese even copied his user manual to supply with it. The Chinese are capable of making fairly good quality stuff, so I would consider purchasing the chuck in your case.

An earlier Grizzley chuck with two tommy bars that I purchased to check out was so sloppy that I wouldn't trust it to hold anything; however, someone else has posted that they use that chuck. So maybe the one I received was extra bad for some reason.

For many years, I've used the Nova line of chucks and have a dozen or so of them to save changing jaws. The new Supernova 2 is one of the best from them, but the little new Nova G3 Chuck is very good and the price is reasonable.

Welcome to woodturning. You might wish to purchase my book, "A Guide to Work Holding on the Lathe". It will answer quite a few questions that you may have as your turning experience progresses. You can get it from Amazon.com.

Fred Holder

Since I'm the guy that is using one of them, I figure I'd better add in at least one qualification-

My inital response to the cheap Grizzly was the same as yours, and I did lose a few pieces when I first got it, even when reefing on the bars as hard as I could.

Of course, having little cash on hand, I had to make the one I had work, rather than rushing out to buy another, and while I made no modifications to the chuck itself, I did find that some modification to the work I was turning was in order.

What I found (and it's still quite possible that yours was just extra bad, as you suggest) was that the chuck works really well, but only on a limited range of tenon sizes (only slightly larger than the chuck in the fully closed position) Using a large tenon or recess might work out ok with a better chuck that has a little more bite to it, but with the smooth-jawed cheapie, it needs all the metal contact it can get.

After using it for quite a while, I can say with some confidence that it works well- though I would have had a different opinion about it the first time I tried to chuck up a piece with a 4" diameter tenon on the bottom, and it went sailing off the lathe!

All that being said, it's like any other cheap tool- it works fine with a little practice and fussing around, but it's not a miracle worker right out of the box.

I bought one of the $40 Grizzly chucks, knowing it wouldn't be too good, and wasn't too surprised when it wasn't.

1. It turned fine, empty. As soon as I closed it on some wood the jaws moved off center, so that the tenon was not at the center of the piece. Not a problem until I wanted to turn a tenon on a piece mounted between centers or on a faceplate, and then mount the piece on the chuck. Everything was eccentric.

1. The dovetail inside the jaws, and outside is just plain inadequate for holding work more than 3" in diameter.

My own fault. I got it, then set it aside. By the time I discovered its inadequacies, the 90 day return window had long passed.

BTW, I'm not sure what all the hullabaloo about tommy bars is. They aren't that hard to use, if it saves me money.

Old Guy.

Yes I KNEW better, but I thought I would be able to improve one of those things, however when I checked it all out and did some measuring, and than not willing to give in, I chucked it in on my engine lathe and had a other fling at it, I realized how bad and cheaply made the thing was. I'm not exaggerating when I say, it would be easier to make one from scrap than to try to make one of those into a half decent chuck. So now I have one of those POS, it never saw a piece of wood, and it never will, I like my face just fine the way it is, and don't want it to be reconstructed by a chunk of wood that failed to stay in its grip. Seems like taking a chance with one of those cheapies is hard to resist, I did come close enough to buy one, but I'll never use it.

Have fun and take care Leo Van Der Loo

Thanks to all the great advice. There were lots of good points to be considered. The one mentioned that is (or was) tempting is the Barracuda2 offer from Penn State. The only thing that squelched that combo deal (with several sets of jaws) is that my lathe's spindle is threaded 1 x 12. (I know, you've probably already guessed Grizzly) The Barracuda2 doesn't seem to be offered with that thread or adapter. Probably could make an adapter, but it would be an "extension" type, and likely induce too much "runout". The Grizzly still has it's appeal, dispite words of wisdom offered here by some of the best in the business. Was PT Barnham correct? A fool born every minute? I'll bring you up to date in a few weeks, after I launch or sling a bowl or two, just to get the hang of it. Thanks again! Old Chief Lynn (retired USAF Chief Master Sgt)

I've been using a $50 'utility' chuck for about two years now. I've never lost a piece due to the chuck. YMMV

Bill

Could work out. the same "wise men" have told me on more than one occasion that my slick-jawed Novas were no good, and my method of using them even worse.

Hasn't stopped me from using them, but I get all the support I can. In turning it's from the tailstock, and, as always, good procedure. Remember, always snug the chuck prior to adjusting or removing the other support, no matter what that is. Keep you speed as low as your level of impatience will allow rather than as high as the equipment will allow and you'll do much better. I worked for our mutual uncle as well, and decisions made at 500 feet and 300 knots were made to a different standard than those devised by second-guessing SOBs at groundspeed zero looking at the film next day....

I worked for our mutual uncle as well, and decisions made at 500=20 feet and 300 knots were made to a different standard than those = devised by=20 second-guessing SOBs at groundspeed zero looking at the film next = day....=20 =20

AMEN!!

You followed the instructions for mounting jaws that come with a NOVA . Probably works for the same reason.

As to shavings, they make great fire starters when they're from dry wood. Looks almost like excelsior, and makes decent heat. Dust isn't worth the effort. Mulch potential or compost when properly blended with grass clippings or other material. Just delivered nine feed sacks stuffed with fresh birch and maple to my neighbor's place. He returned some of last year's, well-mixed with horse manure. The poppies will love it.

"Lynn Coffelt" wrote in message news:zt-dndUrrcFTcIzbnZ2dnUVZ snipped-for-privacy@comcast.com...

(big snip)

Well, I did get the Grizzly $99 scroll chuck and although I have not used (or looked closely) at any other scroll chucks, I offer my opinion.

Although it was clear that it was not made by Swiss watchmakers, it did look fairly well made. It's opening and closing seemed a little "gritty", so I disassembled it and flushed it all out with plenty of WD-40. Yes, there was dirt and a few small machining chips that came out, and then after reoiling (mostly for rust protection) it operated fairly smoothly. Bought the additional jaws offered by Grizzly, and test mounted them on the chuck. I noticed immediately that they did not come together perfectly when fully closed, but found that by loosening the jaw attaching screws slightly, closing the jaws together and then retightening the screws resulted in an "eyeball" perfect closing. Mounting the chuck on my 14" Grizzly lathe made it look pretty small, but checking the runout of both the chuck body, and around the outside diameter of the closed jaws showed less than .001". I was impressed as the face plate that came with the lathe had a lot more than that. I tried turning some scrap (my best work to date) to use both the internal and external dovetail sides of the jaws, and nothing flew off. Seemed pretty secure to me, a certified greenhorn. I dulled all my recently purchased (and sharpened) tools, (a really elegant 7 piece carbon steel set which retailed at $29.95) learning how to produce great "catches" and surprise "scrolling". My 8 gallon ShopVac is full now, is there any good use for these chips, curls and dust? Seems a shame to waste so much good stuff! Old Chief Lynn (whose SHMBO has been quite tolerant)

Well, I don't know what they're doing with them, but I always put my chips out on the curb with a sign that says "Free" and lists the wood species inside. They're always gone within hours.

Best guess is people use them for mulch. I've done that myself around the bushes in front of the house. Looks all right, and is less risky for landscaping than rocks, which seem to like to roll out to where the mower can grab and toss them.

SNIP of some good info

Lynn - glad you like you chuck. It sounds nice, and now you make another that seems to like these really well. I have to say that at a hundred, its hard to kick about a decent keyed chuck.

Thanks for the review. I hope you are hanging around here and let us all know what you think about it in a year or so.

One more small thing... not picking here....

I think it would be great when this much time passes between your original post and the follow up if you would start a new thread so that everyone that benefits from this review. Hands on reviews of products from actual users are like gold, and I am sure others would appreciate your comments. I is also easier for those to find your review as some newsreaders prioritize the subject line, not the contents.

Thanks for the follow up.

One more thing, I use my shavings in my garden, I pack green turnings in them and put shavings and piece in a plastic grocery bag to let he piece stabilize, my neighbors use them for mulch, and I bbq, I use the mesquite shavings in the pit.

Robert