Super Nova vs. Oneway Chucks

Bill

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Hi Bill, what chuck do you use? John

"William B Noble (don't reply to this address)" wrote in message news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com...

The current SuperNova 2 uses just such a method. Much nicer and easier to engage than the old SuperNova.

I have an old-style Super Nova chuck, along with several different jawsets. I began using it on my Jet mini lathe. In January of 2005, I bought a Stubby 750 and have turned some rather large and heavy pieces (by my standards, anyway). When dealing with really heavy green bowl blanks, I start my turnings on a faceplate, then switch to the chuck after the blank is lighter and balanced. The Super Nova has proven to be quite serviceable. I am anticipating the purchase of a Super Nova II, as I understand it is a great improvement over the original Super Nova.

Most semi-professional/professional turners swear by Oneway Stronghold chucks. Others swear by Vicmarcs. I do admit to wondering if they are really that much better than my Super Nova, but I'm not convinced. Since the jawsets are not interchangeable between the brands, I suppose I will just buy another Super Nova.

Barry

While I haven't seen the Super Nova up close and personal, when I saw it in a catalog, I thought it was a Vicmarc. I have 3 Vicmarcs, and love them. The only thing I can compare them to are one of the Novas with the tommy bars instead of a key. I didn't like that one at all. The keyed chucks do hold better and require only one hand to tighten. I have stripped 2 of the pinion gears in my smaller Vicmarcs, and broke the plastic handles on 2 of the keys. I don't try to overtighten, as I have broken a few feet (recesses/mortices) off on my bowls, but must admit to being one who believes that if all else fails, it is nice to be able to rely on brute strength. You will be happy with the upper end chucks. robo hippy

Welcome to Woodturning John,

The Nova, Oneway, and Vicmarc chucks are all excellent and you cannot go wrong with any of them. I personally have Nova Chucks, partly because they were the first four jaw scroll chuck on the market for woodturners and I purchased one in about 1990. I bought a second one a year later and a bunch of chuck jaws. I now have all of their chucks including the new G3 and the 5" chuck. I have to recommend Nova chucks because that is where my experience lies.

Fred Holder

I own a Oneway Stronghold and a Oneway Talon. They are both trouble-free and great to use.

Bill

Fred Holder wrote:

Barry - yes, the vicmark is much nicer - at least in my personal opinion - and it's much larger, more suitable for larger pieces

Bill

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I have Nova chucks.

When starting out turning I wanted a 4 jaw chuck. With all the other associated costs with starting turning I decided to save a bit of money and buy a super nova. At times now I think about getting a larger vicmark chuck but I've already over spent this year on just turning wood etc.

Suggesti> Hi, my name is John and I am new to this group. I am also new to > woodturning.

AYE CARUMBA! Really?! Stripped pinion gears? You da MAN!

I've had the smaller Vicmarc (#100) for 4 or 5 years now and have had no problems with it. Picked up the larger #120 (140?) last fall when I upgraded my lathe - but no additional jaws for that one yet. The allen wrench for the #100s jaw screws did break its bond inside the plastic handle - was able to easily replace it that day with a quick visit to my local Ace Hardware store.

I believe I've read somewhere that some of the jaws from one maker will fit the chuck bodies of another. I don't have a reference source for what fits what, but that would be a valuable file.

Bill.. the Oneway is gear driven also, if I understand your comment..

Mac

I have a Oneway Talon, SuperNova2, and a Vicmarc 120. If I was starting over I would purchase the Vicmarc chucks as I really like them better. But since I started with the Talon I will probably obtain another body to use multiple jaws. The Talon is a great chuck with nothing lacking. I don't particularly like the Nova since it tightens backwards and has been balky since I got it. It will stop tightening or loosening and you have to move the wrench to the other slot and then it will go. I keep it because I have several face plate rings I use on segmented projects to be able to quickly take on and off.

Frankly I don't truly believe you can go wrong if you stick with a good brand chuck. Like everything chucks, lathes, and all other things everyone has a pet or likes a feature of one or the other. Main thing is look at the jaw selection and see which one offers jaws that better fit your turnings.

Vernon

Thanks for all the comments. Since my post I have been looking at the Vicmark. I like the idea that it is a closed chuck and therfore the inside of the chuck will stay clean. I will think about it for a while. I'm not ready to buy the chuck yet. I need some time to get the money together. Thanks again. John

just because it's closed doesn't mean that it will stay clean - but it stays much cleaner - figure on opening it and cleaning it out every

300 hours or so of turning -=== i just made that number up - it will eventually get sticky then you just open it and clean it - the open chucks can be cleaned with a blast of air, but they need to be opened and cleaned for real much more often

Bill

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"William B Noble (don't reply to this address)" wrote in message news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com...

With the front having the same access holes to the scroll, regardless the enclosed rear, I don't understand how the open style needs more cleaning. Neither style requires much if you don't get finishes all over them. It's mostly dust, and as others have mentioned, compressed air or a brush cleans that up fine. I have a couple "closed" back standard NOVAs of a dozen years or more vintage, and a couple of open-backed supers. Seems no real difference in times between cleaning. Leaving the chuck face up on the table behind the lathe where it can fill up with shavings and dust is counted as abuse, not standard operation.

If something seems wrong with _any_ chuck, troubleshoot and repair as required. Beyond comprehension that someone would allow the trouble to continue.

If you get the Super, and it's a great chuck, just remember that it tightens right, loosens left in the expansion mode. Some people seem to enjoy parading their incomprehension as if it were a fault of the device. One can only imagine what the blade on their tablesaw must look like if they can't figure out a left-hand thread. "Leftie Lucy doesn't spread 'em for chuck."

Thanks again for the info. It is really nice to get so many good tips. John

Price the chucks with 4 sets of jaws, and compare the price with one of the package deals from kmstools.com

This is the reason I went with the Nova family.

..

Bob actually slightly customized a package for me, got a reasonable deal. Check their ebay store at

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