HF lathe and chuck options?

[DaveinFloweryBranchGA]

I'm wanting to make wooden bowls with my lathe and while I've been using the glue block method, I'm thinking I'd like to upgrade to a chuck.

With that in mind, what are good chuck options, from say, a good chiwanese cheapie to a really nice chuck? I'd like to only buy once, but have enough capability to do larger and smaller bowls, etc.

Thank you in advance,

Dave

[kwgeorge]

I have two good options for you the first is from Grizzly;

http://www.grizzly.com/products/item.cfm?itemnumber=H6265

This chuck is almost an exact copy of the Vicmarc. I have ordered one myself to check it out. You can purchase accessory jaws for it. They have a set of 4” Dovetail jaws and a set of 1” Pin jaws.

The second is the Nova Midi chuck. It is very well made and will take all the standard Nova jaw sets that are available.

http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?DeptID=2089&FamilyID=5185

Either one of these would be a nice choice for multiple purposes.

[Jim Boyd]

I am curious about that Griz chuck. Sure looks like a Vicmarc. Extra jaws do too! For $89 it is almost too good to be true. I love my Vicmarc. Keep us posted Ken.

[DaveinFloweryBranchGA]

Ken,

Thank you for the information. Those look about what I'm looking for. I looked at the HF ones on their website, but none of them looked "right" for woodworking. Am I looking at them wrong or are they just a bit too much like metal working lathes?

Thanks,

Dave

[dlanicek]

The Grizzly chuck that kwgeorge posted looks like it has some promise. Never used on myself but initial reports are good.

My first chuck was a Nova Midi and, although it's well made, I would not recommend it. The tommy bars are a slight annoyance but not my major gripe. The jaw travel on the Midi is very short and that is very annoying. Also, you are restricted to 1x8 spindle. I thought this would be no problem, it'd be years before I get a big enough lathe to need another size, right? Guess what? 2 months after I bought the Nova Midi I found a great deal on a used Nova 3000 that uses a 1-1/4x8 spindle. Can't use the Nova Midi on it (luckily, the Nova 3000 came with a SuperNova chuck).

If you only want to buy a chuck once, I recommend getting a SuperNova2 or a Talon. Both are highly recommended from those who own them. Chucks are not the place to buy cheap. These things need to work everytime or your safety is in jeopardy.

[kwgeorge]

Well, the Grizzly is still back order, now till june. Bummer.

[DaveinFloweryBranchGA]

It'll come in on the same boat as their latest 8" jointer offering, I'd bet.

[DaveinFloweryBranchGA]

Has there been any news about the above Grizzly chuck recently?


Thanks,

Dave

[kwgeorge]

I will let you know when I try to order it again later in the week.