Dipping my toe in the pond

[hawkeyefxr]

As some of you know i have been turning pens for a short time now. Well i have a better lathe now and i am thinking bowls, but before that i will need a chuck.
I have been looking at the Supernova2 Wood Turning Chuck Direct Threaded. I was wondering what other people use and why, i have to admit that price pays a big part in my selection. I also like scroll chucks as they give next to not problems as opposed to geared ones. I am thinking opf my time in engineering, scroll chucks lasted for donkeys years.

My lathe is a midi record DML305

 

[sfurini]

Hi - I think the supernova2 might be a touch heavy on a midi lathe?? I'd probably go for the G3 or Record SC3. Although I find the Axminster chucks great too as I like to have different jaws mounted on their own jaw slides. The record rp2000 would maybe suit the size of lathe - it will take up to a 12 inch blank apparently, bigger than your lathe can turn....it's also the cheapest option...
Have fun choosing!

 

[Woody]

Scroll chucks are your best option maybe not the cheapest but defiantly the best on your small lathe the c3 size from Robert sorby or the Axminster SK80 will be more than sufficient personally I wouldn't touch the record cp2000 they are the Tommy bar type and take two hands to tighten them so no hands to hold the bowl also you have to be very accurate when cutting your recess or spigot as they only have about 1/8" jaw movement

 

[Penpal]

Under the skin these days there are so many variations in chucks we are indeed fortunate having easy access to Vicmarc who initially made chucks for metal lathes, they make robust and accurate chucks. I would yield to Woodies advice in the UK.

Peter.

 

[sfurini]

Scroll chucks are your best option maybe not the cheapest but defiantly the best on your small lathe the c3 size from Robert sorby or the Axminster SK80 will be more than sufficient personally I wouldn't touch the record cp2000 they are the Tommy bar type and take two hands to tighten them so no hands to hold the bowl also you have to be very accurate when cutting your recess or spigot as they only have about 1/8" jaw movement

Well done, Woody - didn't know this was how the rp2000 worked - I wouldn't get it either for this reason!

 

[Bigblackdog]

Scroll chucks are your best option maybe not the cheapest but defiantly the best on your small lathe the c3 size from Robert sorby or the Axminster SK80 will be more than sufficient personally I wouldn't touch the record cp2000 they are the Tommy bar type and take two hands to tighten them so no hands to hold the bowl also you have to be very accurate when cutting your recess or spigot as they only have about 1/8" jaw movement

Are you sure? I have the rp2000 and it can be tightened with one hand- you turn the square ended too that comes with it. Plenty of jaw movement too- far more than 1/8". I bought the wide jaws and have used it up to about 9 1/2". I think it would go bigger but my lathe doesn't!

 

[Vic Perrin]

I have had the Supernova 2 for a few years now and have the majority of the jaw fittings that they supply. Can't fault it to be honest ! I have stuck some massive lumps of wood into the jaws (30" diam being the biggest) and never had a problem

 

[Woody]

Are you sure? I have the rp2000 and it can be tightened with one hand- you turn the square ended too that comes with it. Plenty of jaw movement too- far more than 1/8". I bought the wide jaws and have used it up to about 9 1/2". I think it would go bigger but my lathe doesn't!

Yes your right I was thinking of the 3000 which is a tommy bar chuck sorry about that

 

[Terry Q]

I have 10 chucks. I don't like changing jaws. I have acquired them over a period of 15 years. I also have adapters so I can use any of them on either of my lathes. One lathe has 1 1/4-8 thd and one has 1-8 thd. That being said if this chuck had been available when I started turning it would have been hands down the right chuck to buy. Its versatility can't be matched. Easy chuck from Easy Wood Tools. More expensive up front but adding jaws is cheaper than buying more chucks.

Easy Chuck << Easy Wood Tools

 

[Pierre]

Scroll chucks are your best option maybe not the cheapest but defiantly the best on your small lathe the c3 size from Robert sorby or the Axminster SK80 will be more than sufficient personally I wouldn't touch the record cp2000 they are the Tommy bar type and take two hands to tighten them so no hands to hold the bowl also you have to be very accurate when cutting your recess or spigot as they only have about 1/8" jaw movement

I am slightly confused Woody I have a record RP2000 chuck ( RP2000 Compact Scroll Chuck 3/4" x 16 TPI Thread ) I used it for 5 years on a Record CL1 lathe producing all sorts of vases, winged bowls etc and there are no tommy bars on it but I have never seen a CP2000 so I can't comment on its tommy bars.

One thing I will say about the RP 2000 is if you can get this kit with a set of jaws ie the boxed set it will make anything until you get to greater than 30cms in diameter and it takes a tension like no other, mine has taken 10 years of use including market demonstrations where the pieces are mounted at 50 per day and it is still tensioning like mad.

PG

 

[Woody]

I am slightly confused Woody I have a record RP2000 chuck ( RP2000 Compact Scroll Chuck 3/4" x 16 TPI Thread ) I used it for 5 years on a Record CL1 lathe producing all sorts of vases, winged bowls etc and there are no tommy bars on it but I have never seen a CP2000 so I can't comment on its tommy bars.

One thing I will say about the RP 2000 is if you can get this kit with a set of jaws ie the boxed set it will make anything until you get to greater than 30cms in diameter and it takes a tension like no other, mine has taken 10 years of use including market demonstrations where the pieces are mounted at 50 per day and it is still tensioning like mad.

PG

I have already admitted I made a mistake on this one I was thinking of the rp3000

Quote Originally Posted by Bigblackdog View Post
Are you sure? I have the rp2000 and it can be tightened with one hand- you turn the square ended too that comes with it. Plenty of jaw movement too- far more than 1/8". I bought the wide jaws and have used it up to about 9 1/2". I think it would go bigger but my lathe doesn't!

Yes your right I was thinking of the 3000 which is a tommy bar chuck sorry about that

 

[wm460]

Just remember that Supernova2 Wood Turning Chuck tighten up the opposite to Vicmarc and metal lathe chucks.

 

[fortress]

I use a Supernova 2 and it's a very good chuck.

 

[hawkeyefxr]

Thanks one an all, great recommendations. I will now go and visit different places for the different chuck and have a read up.

 

[hawkeyefxr]

Well i have had a trawl around and narrowed it down to two chucks at the moment. The 61065 SC3 Geared Scroll Chuck Package with 3" Faceplate, M33 x 3.5, at 61065 SC3 Geared Scroll Chuck Package with 3" Faceplate, M33 x 3.5 They do do a cheaper one but it's not in a box and you have to have an adapter from the smaller size thread to the M33 thread. This will give an over hang at the head stock which in my opinion is not good for the lathe.

My second choice is still the NOVA2 Woodturning Chuck Direct Threaded M33 x 3.5mm PACKAGE DEAL from NOVA SuperNOVA2 Woodturning Chuck Direct Threaded M33 x 3.5mm PACKAGE DEAL my reason for this one is that it comes with the second set of jaws and a the rear of the chuck features a Duracon composite backing plate with 24 division indexing. (what ever that is). I like the idea of a cover to stop dust getting in the rear of the chuck but i'm not entirely sure what the indexing part is for on a wood lathe. I know what indexing is in engineering terms like a dividing head on a mill but in a wood lathe i cannot see what it is used for.
There is the weight issue that sfurini pointed out, this in my mind may affect the starting of the lathe but once spinning will give it greater inertia due to it's mass . which will aide when cutting.

Yes the Nova2 does not have a box but it does have the second set of jaws which makes it more expensive, but there is a likely hood that i will get a second set of jaws at a later stage for the SC3 chuck. This sort of balances out to costs, the box i am not to worried about as i may well make one for it like i did for my Porter Cable router.

so ends War and peace lol

 

[Woody]

The only thing I dont like about the nova chucks is you have to turn the key anticlockwise to tighten the jaws after using the Axminster chucks for many years whict tighten up by turning the key clockwise other than that they are excellent chucks good luck and happy turning

 

[hawkeyefxr]

I spent many years on engineering lathes and turning the key clockwise or anti clockwise does not mean much to me, it all depended on what i was machining.

I did notice one of the chucks i looked at was made of stainless steel that surprised me.

 

[Walter]

If it's any help I reviewed the RP SC4 for Woodturning Magazine. The SC3 is very similar, just it's little brother basically.

Here is a link to the article:

Dropbox - WT_293_94_97_KIT_&_TOOLS_bdvsMB.pdf

 

[hawkeyefxr]

Good review, there does not seem to be much difference between the SC4 and the Supernova2 except the weight maybe, i can't find the weight for either of them.
Just been to the record website and they say the SC4 has been discontinued .

 

[Walter]

Just been to the record website and they say the SC4 has been discontinued .

Don't know what site you're looking on mate. Stll there on the RP official site:

62063 SC4, Insert Thread, With 62572 Face Plate (Includes Insert)

and for sale at Jaymac:

SC4 Chuck Package - With Insert

Can't see why they would discontinue a new product after less than a year in production.