A First Chuck

[Snap Marc]

I have a Delta Midi Lathe LA200. I'm an novice turner who has done some basic spindle work, table legs, and pens. I have attempted bowls and such using a face plate screwed to a block of wood and then CA glued to the bowl blank. I'd like to get a reasonably priced chuck that would allow me to turn bowls the right way.

I have shopped a few and have found so many varieties. 3 jaw, 4 jaw, self-centering, all jaws tighten simultaneously, jaws tighten individualy, etc, etc, etc. Some require adapters, some don't.

What do I get? I just want a nice chuck that I can grow into, one that I don't have to break the bank buying. One that won't need additional investments like adapters or whatever other surprises there may be.

I also have a 30% off coupon and a $50 gift card for Rockler, so if there happens to be one they sell that would fit my lathe perfectly, hey, I'm into it. If not, I'll use my discount and credit for something else.

Thanks in advance for any info you may offer.

[Tom Hintz]

I have been using the Oneway Talon chuck for a few years now and love it. It ahs made turning bowls and all sorts of other projects far easier and safer. It's not the cheapest out there but for what you get (and it will last a lifetime if you don't hit it with a Buick or something) I think it is more than worth the cost.
I have a review of the Talon at the link below with photos and more on its features.

http://www.newwoodworker.com/reviews/onwytlonrvu.html

[Snap Marc]

I have been using the Oneway Talon chuck for a few years now and love it. It ahs made turning bowls and all sorts of other projects far easier and safer. It's not the cheapest out there but for what you get (and it will last a lifetime if you don't hit it with a Buick or something) I think it is more than worth the cost.
I have a review of the Talon at the link below with photos and more on its features.

http://www.newwoodworker.com/reviews/onwytlonrvu.html

Thanks, I have had my eye on that, but apparently I need some sort of $40 adapter for my lathe.

Do you know if these are avbailable for less than $189 anywhere?

[Tom Miller]

I almost hate to mention the Nova midi, because they just went off a really good sale at Woodcraft. Maybe they still have the Pinnacle on sale, but I don't have any experience with that one.

For a starter chuck, I think you'd do best with a 4-jaw, self-centering. A non-self-centering chuck is great for intentionally turning off-center, but if you want to turn on-center, I think you'd have a heck of a time setting it up.

Otherwise, another option to consider is whether the chuck uses "tommy bars", which is a two-handed operation, or whether it tightens with a single wrench. Tommy bar chucks are usually less-expensive, but some people find tommy bars to be a real pain. I happen to have no problem with them.

The Talon, btw, is a very nice chuck, and grips like no other. But they're over 2x what I care to pay for a chuck at this point, when you include the required adapter.

Regards,
Tom

[WoodButcher26]

4 jaw self-centering is the only way to go, IMO. I too don't mind the tommy bar setup, but it did take a while to grow the third hand to hold the wood in while you tighten the chuck.

BTW, the adapter is sometimes included in the price of the chuck, least it was for me.


Kim

[BigguyZ]

Eventually, once I get the appropriate tools/ machine to sharpen my chisels, I plan on getting the Pinnacle chuck at woodcraft. I talked to a turner there, and he recomended that over the Nova. It's keyed rather than using tommy bars, and has different jaws available for it.

Also, the Pinnacle is only $90 at the usual price.

[bigsteel15]

I don't wish to start a debate but I've seen about 3 import chucks come through at my PT job in the last couple of months and of the 3 only 2 would actually center evenly.
Are you talking about $189 without the adapter? That seems high. I believe they should be that as a kit. The Oneway used to be sold that way, adapter extra, but they stopped that with the new series.

[Ken Massingale]

Marc,
Check out the Nova G3. I find it to be fine quality and affordable. The adaptors are around $10. Amazon has it with adaptor for $140. Packard Woodworks in N.C. carries it also.
ken

[Flatlander]

How about this chuck:
http://www.pennstateind.com/store/cug3418c.html
It looks like a lot for around $88

[DonHo]

I have that PSI chuck and like it a lot. I've had no problems with it and you can get a set of 8" Jumbo jaws for it for around $30. It also comes with the adaptors too for the base price.

DonHo

[DeanKC]

The Talon chuck comes with an insert and additional inserts should be less than $25. $40 is a ripoff unless that's Canadian dollars. In my experience, most dealers will provide whatever insert you need, as part of the price. Look at Woodcraft's website as an example.

Don't buy a "first chuck"!!! When you do that, it implies that you'll buy "up" later, meaning that you're going to pay more than twice for your REAL "first" chuck.

Buy enough chuck for your current lathe and whatever lathe you're going to be turning on in 3-5 years. A Talon will keep you with diameters up to 16", according to Oneway's own specs. You KNOW that they are going to UNDERestimate for safety's sake, right? Nova's also a good name, although I've heard way too many complaints in the last 60 days. Axminster is a good one, as is Vicmarc (both out of England).

Most of the pro-level turners use Oneway, Axminster, or Vicmarc, with a few using (mostly not quite new) Novas, in my experience and observation.

Any of the "name" chucks will be around and will have a nice variety of jaws to serve your future needs. Most of them will also NOT abandon their last models. That's important, IMO.

Woodcraft's Pinnacle is a new entry on the market and doesn't have any track record to speak of. If it's built with the same attention to detail as the Pinnacle gouges, I'm going to be suspect. I've laid hands on a number of their gouges and found them to be mis-shapen. Not a good point for quality control.

PSI's Barracuda series has some severely tainted testimonies. PSI will ALWAYS make good on their products. They're good about that, but when a turner has to return 2, 3, 4, or 5 chucks because the jaws won't close together or that the mechanism is sloppy loose, that's not a good sign for me. Barracuda might be (or might have been??) equated to Yugo cars. They ran, for a while. They were sure cheap, but they had to be constantly in repair and they did not last. Were they worth the money or the trouble?

Buy the best chuck you can buy the first time! My Talon is on its third lathe!

Let us know what you decide, and then report back in a year and tell us what you think of your decision, if you would please.