What 4 jaw chuck to look for

[Holzbub11]

Morning all,

Well, just an update from me , the Chinese wonder lathe never arrived, battling for my money back , but got sorted in the end .
I bought the Axminster AT 1416 lathe , which was a return item and after a few initial little problems is works sound.
And what a different kettle of fish to my older lathe!

I am using my old 4 jaw chuck, A KP 96 , with a adaptor to suit the M33 thread, but it takes a bit of depth away from the distance between centres.
Now I am looking for another reasonable chuck to buy but what to go for? And the Axminster one is a bit too pricey for me.
If I do buy extra sizes of jaws , would they fit any chuck or just certain ones?
Initially I was looking for newer and different jaws for the chuck, the KP 96, but I was not able to find the chuck it selves!
Have a good day

Lutz

 

[Doug B]

When I bought a second chuck I went for the Toolpost's Versa chuck, it meant I could use the existing jaws I had but I wasn't stuck to one manufacturers jaws as I could get carriers to use other makes of jaws on the same chuck.
It's very quick to change jaws as they just scroll in & out on the carriers, no unscrewing & screwing in small bolts with an Allen key & means I can pick up second hand jaws without having to look for one brand so I've found it quite economical

 

[woodpig]

The Record Power SC4 is a nice chuck. Without a set of accessory jaws I got the "companion" version for £89 inc M33 adaptor for my 1416. You'd need a 8mm hex chuck key but you can get these on eBay for a couple of quid. In addition to the Record ones you can use Sorby and Nova jaws on the SC4. I also have the Axminster SK100 but like the SC4 just as much.

 

[lurker]

I agree with Doug
My versa chuck has served me well for over 11 years
It's a bit expensive at first but as you buy more jaws it starts to make sense

I had the added bonus of being able to collect and chat with Peter many times over the years

 

[Robbo3]

Chucks

Back in January 2014 I wrote a summary of woodturning scroll chucks. The information is still good as far as I know.
- woodturning-chucks-some-info-for-those-new-to-the-hobby-t76139.html
- http://tinyurl.com/zwpmbp6

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

Chucks

Back in January 2014 I wrote a summary of woodturning scroll chucks. The information is still good as far as I know.
- woodturning-chucks-some-info-for-those-new-to-the-hobby-t76139.html
- http://tinyurl.com/zwpmbp6

That's a useful library source Robbo....nice one. You might want to edit the record Power entry with the updated information on their new range (about 18 months old now) ie the SC3 and SC4 which are essentially copies of the Nova range.

 

[woodpig]

You might want to edit the record Power entry with the updated information on their new range (about 18 months old now) ie the SC3 and SC4 which are essentially copies of the Nova range.

Although the accessory jaws appear to be compatible between the Record and Nova chucks doesn't the Nova tighten the opposite way round to all other chucks? Perhaps the Record is more a copy of the Sorby chuck which also shares accessory jaw compatibility?

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

You might want to edit the record Power entry with the updated information on their new range (about 18 months old now) ie the SC3 and SC4 which are essentially copies of the Nova range.

Although the accessory jaws appear to be compatible between the Record and Nova chucks doesn't the Nova tighten the opposite way round to all other chucks? Perhaps the Record is more a copy of the Sorby chuck which also shares accessory jaw compatibility?

You could make a case for either quite reasonably I suspect. The reason I cite it's similarity to the Nova range (apart from having fixed the stupid anti-clockwise tightening) is due to a long conversation with RP's managing Director at the show when they launched the new range. Their business drivers were not much to do with the engineering or technology of the chucks but rather the distribution restrictions that Teknatool placed on RP. Additionally of course, by making their own, they do create a better margin. But Teknatool (Nova) do make good chucks (I have a Supernova 2 myself) and RP wanted to maintain backward compatibility with their jaws, extend their distribution beyond Teknatools dealer network distribution contract restrictions so widen their market essentially.

So their idea was basically to remake Nova chucks with none of the problems. They can market them globally and increase their margins. Hence they are ostensibly the same as the Nova chucks but with a clockwise tighten (much better and the natural solution) and a much extended and better thought through jaw range. They're also made in the UK (that was to stick one to Axy). I like them, nice chucks and it means my Nova jaws are compatible.

I also have the new Axy Evolution SK114. Which is now my favourite chuck. Only bought that this spring and it is in a league of its own. In fairness you pay for that difference but it is a very very solid, incapable of rust, smooth operating and versatile chuck for larger, heavier work.

 

[themackay]

I Bought an Sc3 and SC4 chucks and am quite impressed with the quality prefer the SC4 of the two but they are not made in the UK Bob.

 

[woodpig]

My SC4 has "Made in PRC" on it.

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

Interesting......methinks Mr Record Power told me a porky about the origin of manufacturing!!! Either that or they've since moved it to China (but I doubt that given how long they've been out for).