Woodturning, The Early Years #1: Lets Talk About Chucks

Thanks for the input. Just pulled my lathe out of storage and have been wondering about additional chucks. This will certainly help.
Thanks, BTKS

Thanks for the post, Matt. I have a lathe on my wish list and every time I see how well a project “turned” out it moves the lathe one notch higher.

-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.

Thanks for the post. On Saturday, I purchased the SuperNova 2, Cole jaws, and 5/8” plain insert for my Shopsmith. It was the 10% discount day at Woodcraft so I’m happy. I had considered the Stronghold, but the SuperNova 2 seems to have almost as much capacity at less cost.

-- "Heaven is North of the Bridge"

I just bought a Barracuda 2, I wish I had done it years ago. I bought the kit because it was the most complete kit for the price. I got 4 different jaws, small flat jaws, a screw chuck, and a drive center all for $200.00 at Penn State Industries.

-- Todd, Richfield MN

I have an older Nova with the ‘dovetail’ jaws, and my brother-in-law just gave me a chuck made by PSI. I think it’s made in china, and looks just like a Oneway. Oneway’s chuck is good too.

-- Chip -- Manchester, Connecticut "When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace."

chucks are one thing that I’ve never seen (or noticed, anyway) at any wood show that I’ve attended.

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

Im happy with my supernova2 it works great ,and takes beating fairly well (turn daily 8 hours a day)

-- peruturner,lima peru

I went for the one way talon. I have been very happy with it so far. The stronghold from one way is a bit bigger and able to handle a bit more capacity. I live in Ontario not to far from the one way’s factory. I like their products and I like to buy made in north America stuff.

One thing about one way chucks, the jaws for the stronghold will not fit the talon. When buying extra jaw sets you must get the right ones.

-- Brian's Table Top Toys http://home.mountaincable.net/~bgraham/

Matt thasnks for the info. Great job.

-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

Matt, thanks for your help. I’m in the midst of a decision regarding the purchase of a chuck. There is a confusing aray of offerings and costs. I can’t afford to own a boat load of chucks so I want to make one purchase and be VERY happy with my choice. I’ve been looking at the Barracuda 2 from Penn State because it includes many extra jaws and looks to be a good value. I’d be interested to know what experience the Lumberjocks turners have had with this chuck. Such things as smooth adjustments, changing jaws, slop in the mechanism, robustness, breakage, etc. I’m not opposed to the SuperNova 2 if it is a better choice. Some feedback from the community would help. Thanks.

-- I started out with nothing, and still have most of it..... Ernest 1.

Hi if you see now the super nova 2 is cheaper by nearly $40 bucks at woodcraft

-- peruturner,lima peru

I will like to make another comment,do get the extra set screws from the maker of your chucks,you WILL strip them,after 5-6 times you change jaws,I had that problem ,lucky here in peru hand labor is cheap,went to my friendly bolts seller and luckily he had(metric)screws for my chuck(nova2) but the heads were a bit bigger,so my metal lathe man grind the heads to size and problem sold,bougt 4 sets of screws so I have plenty to go around,thanks

-- peruturner,lima peru