Nova Chuck Problem

Return it if you can. Just my opinion, mind you, but its really a poorly designed unit. I had one but I found it so unacceptable, I returned it within one hour. I suggest you get the regular Nova chuck as a replacement (which is what I did).

Peter Teubel Milford, MA

Tom,

You have an inexpensive chuck with associated problems. Taken out of order:

re. jaw movement - this is not too serious though the fact that all jaws don't behave the same is troubling. Also, if the movement is more than slight I would be worried. I have two Axminsters. The smaller & less expensive of the two has some slight movement in (all) the jaws till they grip. The more expensive Precision Axminster has none. Both do a fine job. I prefer no jaw movement and all additional chucks that I buy will be the more expensive Precision. (Note: There is a specific method to mounting the jaws on any chuck to get the highest precision possible from that chuck. If you are interested in instructions, email me.)

re. front of jaws not co-planar - IMHO this is very serious (fatal flaw) and you should send the thing back and get it replaced. You will never be able to remount anything in this chuck. Every time you re-chuck or remount you will have to get the exact original positionaing or else the turning will not run true. You will have to turn the inside and outside without mounting or else be satisfied with walls that vary in thickness around the circumference.

re. the binding during tightening - poor machining, plain & simple. There should be no binding anywhere in the jaw travel. It should be completely smooth. This alone would be reason to send it back for replacement.

Were I you, I would send it back and get my money back. I would then buy an Axminster. They are, without question, top of the line, not really that much more, and over time you will forget the extra cost but will always have the pleasure and ease of working with a fine tool rather than making do.

Larry

I'm sure you'll get lots of "advice" from others on which chuck you should have bought. That said, I've used the small Nova in the past with good success. I can't help but conclude that your particular example is faulty and should be replaced. I'd return it for a replacement, or--as others suggest--a refund, and buy another brand.

Max

In article , snipped-for-privacy@shawp.ca says... ...snip...

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This is a fatal flaw. When a tenon is held in a chuck, the tenon itself does not provide the rigidity you need to get vibration-less turning. You need a shoulder on the workpiece which sits squarely against the face of the chuck jaws. Not making this shoulder properly, or making the tenon so long that it bottoms in the chuck so that the shoulder cannot make contact, causes instability, vibration and possible conversion from workpiece to missile. In your case, no matter how well cut the shoulder, it cannot sit in contact with the face of the jaws.

Send it back before you get hurt. Buy a chuck from Oneway or Axminster and be safe rather than sorry. Those folks need to clean up their act, IMHO.

Bill

Agree, but before you do, check the mating surfaces on the jaws that sit proud to make sure you don't have a bit of metal protruding where they were tapped, or a bit of something on the faces. You might be able to do a quick fettle and put it right. I had to do a bit of filing on some jaws I got because it looked as if they had been dropped, and the peened up corners prevented a flat mating of surfaces.

The number of reported problems with the Nova Compac are now too numerous to write off to an occasional faulty unit. Indeed, Teknatool has now withdrawn the chuck for "design review."

I'm saddened by this as, like you, I've found my Compac to be a good chuck. I've had mine for well over two years now and never had a problem with it. I really like its smaller size when making small scale turnings, and its low price makes it very affordable to have as an additional chuck for such work.

I very much hope Teknatool is able to iron out the problems (which I suspect are more related to manufacturing than basic design), and is able to re-introduce it. Unfortunately, I don't know if they will be able to overcome the poor reputation it has developed.

Lyn

Maxpr> I'm sure you'll get lots of "advice" from others on which chuck you should

Most unfortunate. My father-in-law has an older Compac, which I've used on several occasions. It's been a great little chuck; precise and well-made. Makes one wonder if Teknatool is outsourcing the production of this chuck to a bargain tool shop?

Max

I have a Compac chuck. I have found mine to be quite satisfactory. It operates smoothly and the jaws fit nicely. More than I could say about my Super Nova's jaws. It took 3 tries to get a properly fitting set of standard 2" jaws. I would try to exchange the chuck for another Compac or a Super Nova. Just check out the jaws before you buy either.

Barry

I've had my Compac chuck a bit over 2 years and have had none of the quality control problems I've seen reported in this NG. Apparently, Teknatool put out a few good ones along with the bad ones. I have found mine to be an exceptionally good small chuck. I just find its extremely limited range of capacity to be severely restrictive to my work.

If I had the purchase to do over, I think I would just skip the Compac and go straight to a Oneway Talon or a Super Nova. I have since bought a Super Nova and find it to be a much more satisfactory chuck because of its greater range and wide selection of jaws available. But, I still defy anyone to find a chuck as good as the Compac (bad specimens excepted) for $89.

Barry

I advised the chuck manufacturer of my findings with their chuck and the following is their response.

"Thanks for your enquiry. I have consulted a technical engineer about your issues. What you have described is within tolerances. The difference of 1-2mm will not affect your work or the safety of it. Hence, there is no problem with the chuck or the jaw set.

I hope this puts your mind at ease. Feel free to contact us with future queries."

Sort of gives one a warm feeling - not. However, the on-line vendor, KMS Tools, has offered to look at it and replace it if they cannot right it.

Cheers, Tom

At least they did say "the problem is all in your mind," or something similar. Makes one want to run right out and buy one, dunnit.

Max

The response you got was much less than I got from Roger Latimer at Teknatool. He offered to replace my chuck if KMS couldn't solve the mismatched 2" jaw problem. He sent me a replacment screws set for my trouble.

KMS sent me two replacement jawsets to make it right. Peter at KMS was very nice and helpful to deal with. He kept insisting that I had a curious accent. I certainly do not. I'm from Kentucky! But, he sure did!

Barry