I Need a Chuck

[JoeyGee]

I'd like to start turning some small bowls and the like. I have a Rikon midi lathe. What's a good chuck to start with that won't break the bank? My bank is already in pain after getting started with pens, lol.

[leehljp]

I'd like to start turning some small bowls and the like. I have a Rikon midi lathe. What's a good chuck to start with that won't break the bank? My bank is already in pain after getting started with pens, lol.

Few hobbies start this modest in expense and then jump to major bucks as quickly as turning! LOL

I have a PennState chuck and a Grizzly chuck. I like both of them just fine. I bought mine, 6 to 8 years ago.

http://www.grizzly.com/products/H6265

https://www.pennstateind.com/store/CSC3000C.html

[Bill in Buena Park]

Joe,
I'll second Hank's recommendations, and add another for your consideration - PSI's original Barracuda. https://www.pennstateind.com/store/CSC2000C.html

I like the Barracuda 2 for being a keyed chuck, but it doesn't come with the larger jaws for larger bowl/platter turning. My solution - I bought both, and I have two chucks with fully interchangeable jaws (but I wanted to have one set up with Cole Jaws for those times I needed to reverse the bowl.) Cole jaws: https://www.pennstateind.com/store/CJAWFJ2.html

And to Hank's comment about quickly eating budget - I then wanted dedicated Pen jaws set up, so got the PSI mini chuck and pens jaws. The nice thing about these particular PSI chucks is that the same jaws work all of them.

[dbhost]

I have a Wood River Chuck 4 jaw, and a Central Machinery Jacobs style chuck. I am assuming you are talking a 4 jaw. The wood river is great by me, but I have big hands and the double rod tighten / loosen mechanism works fine for me, smaller hands might have problems with it though...

[Whaler]

I don't think you could go wrong with the Nova G-3 which you won't outgrow if you move up to a larger lathe.

http://www.amazon.com/NOVA-48202-Turning-Chuck-Insert/dp/B0064JJ52U/ref=sr_1_4?s=power-hand-tools&ie=UTF8&qid=1452710116&sr=1-4&refinements=p_89%3ANova

[Carpenter96]

I have a Busy Bee and an Oneway basic chuck the Oneway is much smoother in operation and rock solid.

Regards Bob

[JoeyGee]

Thanks for all the replies. I was already sort of leaning towards the Nova G3 and Dick's recommendation certainly helps that cause. I like the single geared tool to adjust the jaws, but I really don't know anything, lol.