Chucks

[Garno]

What is the difference (other than price) between a £50+ chuck and one for £15? I would of thought that if it holds the blank tight enough then that should be ok, or am I missing something here? I know that with chisels for the lathe that the cheap sets are to be avoided and that generally the more expensive usually means the better choice (talking from new and average retail price from a number of outlets) does the same rule (within reason) apply to chucks?

Gary

 

[Phil Pascoe]

What is the difference (other than price) between a £50+ chuck and one for £15?

Are you looking at Jacob's type chucks to be thinking in that price range?

 

[Garno]

What is the difference (other than price) between a £50+ chuck and one for £15?

Are you looking at Jacob's type chucks to be thinking in that price range?

Z011A Mini Collet Zinc Alloy 4 Jaw Lathe Chuck Clamp Wood Turning Tool Kit | eBay 4 jaw

Z011 Collet Zinc Alloy 3-Jaw Lathe Chuck Clamps Wood Turning Lathe Tool | eBay 3 jaw

 

[Duncan A]

Made out of cheese-grade Chinesium; I wouldn't trust it to hold a pencil, let alone a piece of out-of-balance wood.
....even if the thread matched any woodturning lathe spindle known to man
The picture shows it in use on a tiny metalworking machine, not a wood lathe.
Best used as a paperweight!
Duncan

 

[Rorschach]

Never seen a zinc chuck before.

Wouldn't trust it for much myself but I can see it being very useful to make a soft chuck for working on delicate parts like jewellery.

 

[Garno]

Made out of cheese-grade Chinesium; I wouldn't trust it to hold a pencil, let alone a piece of out-of-balance wood.
....even if the thread matched any woodturning lathe spindle known to man
The picture shows it in use on a tiny metalworking machine, not a wood lathe.
Best used as a paperweight!
Duncan

Thanks Duncan.

 

[Garno]

Never seen a zinc chuck before.

Wouldn't trust it for much myself but I can see it being very useful to make a soft chuck for working on delicate parts like jewellery.

Glad I never ordered one, I suppose the dearer one's have much better build quality

 

[Rorschach]

Glad I never ordered one, I suppose the dearer one's have much better build quality

Yes, at the very least made of steel/cast iron.

I am tempted to order one at that price, being zinc it would be easy to machine the jaws for holding small parts like rings.

 

[Dalboy]

The chucks you linked to not only do they look like they would break easily but would not hold anything accurately.

And last but not least they are not suitable for woodturning as they are designed to hold metal so should be avoided at all cost. I would not even buy one of those for a metal working lathe. As they say you get what you pay for

 

[alex_heney]

Quite apart from the flimsiness and small size and unsuitable jaws, it also looks like it isn't a scroll chuck - it looks like you adjust each jaw individually, so getting anything properly centred would be a nightmare.