Choosing a chuck.

[pidgeonpost]

You could buy the Versachuck and get these, they are in stock. The jaws are generally cheaper than the Axminster ones anyway. You could get the Axminster carriers later when they’re back in stock.

View attachment 183684

Thanks - I'll have a closer look.

 

[Robbo3]

Thanks for your comments and suggestions.

• I saw the SK100 that was for sale (now sold), but bearing in mind earlier comments about the weight of some chucks I did wonder whether it might be a bit heavy, though can find no details on just how heavy. Nevertheless, I looked online for an insert to suit and was surprised to see that Axminster don't list one (1"x 8tpi to M33). Elsewhere all were Chinese, and I lost interest/got distracted by other options.

Weight isn't a problem. When the chuck & the work it is holding are in motion, the forces are centrifugal.

 

[mattjdnv]

Not quite true. Nova does make an insert/adaptor for M33 x 3.5 so you won't need a new chuck.

https://www.teknatool.com/products/chuck-accessories/nova-chuck-inserts/nova-i4ns/

Pete

Grrrrrrr. I wish I had been able to get that when I upgraded. I would have kept one of the G3's for small work.

I don't know where to buy it in the UK. I only see the M30 x 3.5:
https://www.machinery4wood.co.uk/Nova-Chuck-Insert-Thread-Adaptors/P14253
https://www.oliverswoodturning.co.uk/product/nova-chuck-inserts/
https://www.turners-retreat.co.uk/nova-chuck-insert/p3624
https://bivenmachinerysales.co.uk/product/nova-chuck-insert/

 

[Vulcan]

Grrrrrrr. I wish I had been able to get that when I upgraded. I would have kept one of the G3's for small work.

I don't know where to buy it in the UK. I only see the M30 x 3.5:
https://www.machinery4wood.co.uk/Nova-Chuck-Insert-Thread-Adaptors/P14253
https://www.oliverswoodturning.co.uk/product/nova-chuck-inserts/
https://www.turners-retreat.co.uk/nova-chuck-insert/p3624
https://bivenmachinerysales.co.uk/product/nova-chuck-insert/

I had a Record Power SC3 chuck with an insert and it didn’t run true. It could have been the chuck or the insert but either way I’ve only bought direct threaded chucks since then.

 

[pidgeonpost]

I had a Record Power SC3 chuck with an insert and it didn’t run true. It could have been the chuck or the insert but either way I’ve only bought direct threaded chucks since then.

That's one of my concerns, less so if chuck and insert are from the same manufacturers, but many inserts on offer are of unknown parentage.

 

[Vulcan]

That's one of my concerns, less so if chuck and insert are from the same manufacturers, but many inserts on offer are of unknown parentage.

In my case the insert was supplied by the manufacturer of the chuck, Record Power.
In my experience using adapters for anything can often lead to failure.

 

[Inspector]

My Nova chucks have inserts and they run true.

You can always step up to Oneway chucks. They have inserts that are tapered. https://oneway.ca/products-category/adaptors/Oneway-Talon-Adaptors?page=2 They are a higher quality chuck so cost more and I have never heard any complaints about them.

Pete

 

[Vulcan]

A slight aside. I’ve got quite a few chucks and I reckon the Axminster chucks are better quality than many others on the market. They are though far more expensive than some. Apart from the quality of the chuck itself the SK100 and SK114 and the jaws to fit them are stainless steel. Given the number of pictures of rusty wood turning chucks and jaws I’ve seen online this isn’t an insignificant feature. Axminster have a bigger range of accessory jaws for their chucks than any other manufacturer. Some other manufacturers like Record Power, Robert Sorby and Nova use a common mounting system so if you have one of these chucks you can use jaws from other manufacturers. This doesn’t give you a greater choice of jaw types though than Axminster as they all produce almost identical designs. You can shop around though on price.
The Versachuck looks to be very similar to the early Axminster Super Precision chucks so I expect it may be pretty good? I’ve had a couple of SK100’s and they are extremely well made. I’ve got a little Record Power SC2 and it’s quite nicely made. I bought a SuperNOVA 2 a while back so I could take advantage of other, cheaper jaws designs. The quality of the Nova is much lower than the Axminster but I got it as a “companion” chuck for under £100 including postage so no complaints. The most disappointing thing about it though is that you can’t remove the chuck jaws (carriers) like you can on a Axminster SK chuck. My mistake, I should have bought a Versachuck! Maybe next time.

 

[pidgeonpost]

A couple of weeks ago I stopped dithering and ordered the Axminster SK88 which I think should be up to the job for anything I'm likely to be doing. These were on back order, and shortly after placing the order the website listed these as no longer available online or in shop, which was slightly unsettling, but Customer Services assure me it will not be with me by early August. I shall then have brush up my turning skills which were a bit iffy even at their best!

 

[pidgeonpost]

A couple of weeks ago I stopped dithering and ordered the Axminster SK88 which I think should be up to the job for anything I'm likely to be doing. These were on back order, and shortly after placing the order the website listed these as no longer available online or in shop, which was slightly unsettling, but Customer Services assure me it will not be with me by early August. I shall then have brush up my turning skills which were a bit iffy even at their best!

Darn that predictive text! Cs say it WILL be with me by early August!

 

[Vulcan]

I expect the new SK88, although not made of stainless steel, will be nicely made like their other chucks.

Edit: I often forget this but if you’re on a tight budget these may be of interest?

https://www.beaufortink.co.uk/toolp...chucks/chuck-jaws-for-versachuck-lathe-chucks

Best double check they fit the SK88 as well, as it’s a relatively new chuck.

 

[pidgeonpost]

I expect the new SK88, although not made of stainless steel, will be nicely made like their other chucks.

Edit: I often forget this but if you’re on a tight budget these may be of interest?

https://www.beaufortink.co.uk/toolp...chucks/chuck-jaws-for-versachuck-lathe-chucks

Best double check they fit the SK88 as well, as it’s a relatively new chuck.

View attachment 184765

Thanks for that, I'll bookmark it.

 

[Robbo3]

I don't like pushing my own posts but I wrote a chuck summary back in 2014, updated in 2018, & is still fairly relevant.

- http://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/forums/...e-info-for-those-new-to-the-hobby-t76139.html

 

[pidgeonpost]

I don't like pushing my own posts but I wrote a chuck summary back in 2014, updated in 2018, & is still fairly relevant.

- http://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/forums/...e-info-for-those-new-to-the-hobby-t76139.html

Thanks, that was an interesting read.

An update on my own situation. When the delivery date for my SK88 was looming I was watching for an email from Axminster to notify despatch. When none arrived I contacted them, and after a day or so got an email to say that this chuck wasn't going to be available after all but an updated version should be available from November. Not what I wanted to hear. By way of compensation they offered me 10% off the SK100 kit. Nice of them, but still £60-odd quid beyond my budget. However, it's a more complete package so I coughed up and it arrived last week. I've not tried it yet, but it certainly looks the business. It's very well engineered and finished, no burrs, sharp edges or grease embedded with swarf. Being stainless steel should keep it looking good too. Just need some workshop time...

 

[mattjdnv]

Not quite true. Nova does make an insert/adaptor for M33 x 3.5 so you won't need a new chuck.

https://www.teknatool.com/products/chuck-accessories/nova-chuck-inserts/nova-i4ns/

Pete

Update: It looks like the inserts are now available in the UK!
https://www.turners-retreat.co.uk/nova-chuck-insert-m33-x-35/p5091

 

[Vulcan]

Axminster have a Sale on Chucks at the moment, up to 40% off.