Axminster's new Evolution chuck

[Noggsy]

Has anyone bought this or tried it yet? It looks good in the adverts which I keep seeing, but having just phoned up, the lead time on this (for my thread at least) is four months, if I order now. Does that seem a bit poor to anyone else? Axi are a fair-sized company launching a premier new product (at £160, it had better be premier ) yet have so little capacity that you have to wait four months at launch date...that seems a bit odd to me. I really like that they have manufactured it here rather than abroad, but even Apple make sure they build up stocks beforehand and you only have to wait a couple of weeks for their latest lovely bauble :roll: (hammer)

Any thoughts from anyone else?

 

[woodyturner]

I phoned them up to order one and was told they had 10 coming in but they had 15 pre ordered by customers and the next batch was due in about march the impression I got was that they were imported not made in this country from what I was told to me it is a very poor show so I ordered the versa chuck from tool post with the Axminster carriers and saved a few quid

 

[CHJ]

Make sure that the chuck will fit on your lathe without any adaptor washers to pack it out, it is flush backed and does not clear the headstock casting on some lathes.
Also if you use reverse or your lathe has regenerative breaking (3ph invertor) make sure you are happy with and can make use of the the locking method.

Unfortunately Axminster have removed the Video showing how this is achieved from their Blog dated 26th oct.. this link now re-directs to a replacement statement regarding locking.

 

[woodyturner]

With the versa chuck you buy a complete back plate with your thread cut in it the same as the old supper precision chuck axminster once sold which has been my preferred chuck for the last 15 or so years

 

[KimG]

If I ever buy another chuck it will be a versa chuck, best all round option as far as Jaw compatibility goes.

 

[graduate_owner]

I've been looking at the versa chuck too. It appears to cost the same as the Axminster K10 by the time the backplate is included, but there's the dreaded VAT on top so it ends up dearer(roughly the same price as the 125mm Axminster Goliath). I don't know if the extra 25mm makes a difference to versatility.

The versa chuck has square holes for the operating key, whereas the Axminster ones (apart from the new evolution) have the serrated type of key, as on an electric drill chuck. Is there any advantage to the versa chuck type?

Does anyone have any opinions or experience of these issues?

K

 

[CHJ]

The Goliath is an OK chuck, not in the same league of robustness as the old Axminster precision but I have one permanently set up with a set of Cole jaws, if you have ever suffered from finding that your latest piece you want to mount on your 100mm chuck Cole jaws drops between settings you will find a 125mm chuck a revelation with its increased jaw travel.

Some images of one fitted with cole jaws here

 

[woodyturner]

I had the Goliath chuck on my CL4 lathe but I changed it and they dont do it with a 1 1/4" x 8tpi and I don't like using thread adapters so I sold it when I up graded to the Maxi 1 that is why I went for the versa chuck I also have the 8" and the 12" button jaws and find the supper precision chuck copes very well with them do you remember a few years ago when axminster's woodturner's chuck was about they recommended not to use the 12 button jaws on it and I was wondering if the k10 will cope with them because it looks no different to me but it dont carry the same warning so I wont use them on my k10

 

[Silverbirch]

Hi K

I`ve not found any problems with the square chuck key on the Versachuck - it locates easily and positively. I`ve no engineering knowledge, but the Versachuck seems quite poorly made compared with, for example, the Supernova, not to mention one or two other shortcomings.

Ian

 

[CHJ]

...., but the Versachuck seems quite poorly made compared with, for example, the Supernova, ..

Are you referring to an older model Ian or the current version ?

 

[dickm]

With reference to chuck keys, engineering chucks almost all use square keys, and always (?) have done. So there is probably no downside compared to the toothed sort, and the advantage that if you lose one, a bit of work with a file will soon produce a substitute .

 

[Silverbirch]

Are you referring to an older model Ian or the current version ?

I`ve had it for a couple of years, so I guess possibly an older model?

Ian

 

[CHJ]

I`ve had it for a couple of years, so I guess possibly an older model?

Ian

Thanks.

 

[EnErY]

I too Own The versa Chuck Along With The K10 I Like Both but Im slowly Thinking The Versa Chucks Better Value as the jaws are lot cheaper but as stated the dreaded vat creeps up and its a bit of a bum deal.
Regards
Bill

 

[gregmcateer]

so I ordered the versa chuck from tool post with the Axminster carriers and saved a few quid

Woody,
How are you finding the new Versachuck?
(I have the previous one and have been happy so far, but have never owned anything else, so can't really compare)
Thanks in advance
Greg

 

[woodyturner]

so I ordered the versa chuck from tool post with the Axminster carriers and saved a few quid

Woody,
How are you finding the new Versachuck?
(I have the previous one and have been happy so far, but have never owned anything else, so can't really compare)
Thanks in advance
Greg

Sorry I don't know yet the wife has put it away for Christmas but I did get a quick look at it before she got up out of bed and it seems to be quite good and very responsive and smooth action I cant see there being any problems with it I got it with the axminster jaw carriers because ill of my jaws are axminster and I have made faceplate rings and screw chucks to fit them

 

[gregmcateer]

Cheers for that, Woody - Looking forward to Christmas Day, I'll bet!
Greg

 

[Spindle]

Hi

I'm of the opinion that the Axminster Evolution chuck is probably over engineered and by that vitue over priced. Whilst munufacturing to 2 micron tolerance should produce a very accurate item I have to ask 'is this really necesssary on a woodturning chuck?'. We all know that in woodturning the work will 'move' due to stress relief and this movement will most certainly be in excess of the manufacturing tolerances of the chuck.
I own Supernova, RP4000 and Dakota XT700 chucks - all of which cost less than the Axi Evolution however I doubt whether there is any noticeable degredation in performance.
Also please don't be tempted to buy a particular chuck based on the range of jaw adaptors available - a lot of them can be interchanged between differing chucks and there are significant pricing diferences between manufacturers.

Regards Mick

 

[woodyturner]

Cheers for that, Woody - Looking forward to Christmas Day, I'll bet!
Greg

Hi Greg if you are thinking of getting one please note it only works out about £30 cheaper than the axminster one by the time you get the back plate and jaw carriers for another make if you need them if not then it is cheeper still dont forget VAT is added on after I went for that one because I couldn't be bothered to wait for 6 months

 

[chipmunk]

Hi Mick,
I'm afraid I disagree. I have owned several chucks and the APTC Super Precision chuck was night-and-day, in terms of concentricity, when compared to them - which is a huge advantage if you want to reverse chuck anything IMHO.

I don't think that there is any doubt about the quality that the Evolution chuck will bring.

The only doubts in my mind relate to the flat back of the chuck which may not be compatible with some lathes and the spindle locking mechanism not being compatible with removing the chuck from the lathe mid-project with the item attached.

...but the first issue may not be relevant to your lathe at all (it isn't an issue to me) and the second can be easily worked around on a project by project basis - you have just got to plan out how you make the item.

If I had the money I'd buy one to use alongside my SPC because of the compatibility of jaws which is a BIG advantage IMHO.
Jon