Which chuck?

[sumunabeech]

We own 2 lathes...a HF mini and a Jet 1014. The Jet is the one I use most and the one I want he chuck to fit. I want a chuck, but there are so many I'm getting confused. 3 jaw, 4 jaw, self centering, adapters...the list goes on.

So, I come to you all. What do you prefer? Do I need an adapter if it is already threaded? The reason I ask this is a clerk at Woodcraft told me I would need one no matter what chuck I chose. 3 jaw? Self centering? Size?

So many questions and so little money. Mainly what I am wanting one for is to turn small bowls and coffee mugs. What I don't want is to spend several hundred dollars and then not have all I need and end up spending alot more money to even use it.

I'd like to keep it as inexpensive as possible. Don't get me wrong, I want it to work well...but I'm not selling this stuff.

Thanks in advance!

[Jim Burr]

Lot's of choices!! I use a Barracuda from PSI...4 jaw sets and a screw chuck. About $140'ish range. I have turned everything my 1014 could handle and now use it (w/ adaptor) on my 1642.

[PenMan1]

I like the Nova Midi Chuck for the Jet. It is currently on sale somewhere (CSUSA, I think) for $84. This chuck runs very true and all of the Nova jaws fit all of the Nova chucks.

HOWEVER; this MAY NOT be the chuck for you if you plan to use it on the HF mini. The Midi chuck is 1x8 (same as Jet head screw), but it will not take a threaded adapter. Depending on which HF mini lathe you have the threads may or may not be 1x8.

Without 1x8 threads on the HF lathe,, you may want to look at the Nova G3 chuck. It costs a little more, still uses all Nova jaws, but the differences are that this chuck will take a threaded adapter and uses a chuck key rather than tommy bars.

[mb007]

+1 on Andy's post above. I have the Nova Midi as well, and have been happy with its performance. I picked mine up at Woodcraft during a black friday sale - got the chuck and 6 sets of jaws total for around $150 I believe it was. Keep an eye out for sales, you can likely find a similar deal!

[robersonjr]

+2 on the Nova, it can fit both lathes with the correct adapters. Love mine

[ren-lathe]

Some of this has been stated already, but to add a little more to it. I have a couple of Nova midi's as well. The Midi's use "Tommy bars" to tighten & loosen the jaws. It is not hard to use the midi one handed but is not intuitive for everyone. The Nova G3 is a bit more expensive about $50.00 more but uses a "T" handle to tighten the jaws giving you one hand to hold the work & one to work the chuck. Also the G3 uses changeable inserts so you can move between different threaded lathes spindles. More expensive about $190 but if you think you may eventually get a full size the Super Nova2 has all the features of the others and is made for larger lathes/turnings. At craft usa the inserts for the g3 & supernova 2 are included at wood craft they are sold separately. I wait for a sale when I add a chuck. The Barracuda line from PSI also works well but thay are sized for 1x8 and come with an adapter for 3/4x16.

[PenMan1]

Originally Posted by robersonjr

+2 on the Nova, it can fit both lathes with the correct adapters. Love mine

One exception here is the Nova Midi. It is 1x8 and will not accept a threaded adapter. To my knowledge, all other Midi chuck will take an adapter.

[PenMan1]

My main issue with the PSI chucks is that not all PSI jaws fit all PSI chucks. It gets a little confusing.

[ren-lathe]

Originally Posted by PenMan1

My main issue with the PSI chucks is that not all PSI jaws fit all PSI chucks. It gets a little confusing.

I agree 100% that is why I only have one baracuda & that was given to me as a gift. If you are only going to by 1 chuck it is fine but limiting. If you use chucks a lot it is nice to have the jaws you use most already on a body ready to go. Saves the time changing things around, not to mention dropping s jsw screw into the shavings

[rjwolfe3]

I have two currently. One is the smaller PSI chuck and the other is the Gold Titanium Barracuda. Both came with adapters but I didn't need them for either of my lathes, PSI Midi lathe and a full size Harbor Freight. I love my Barracuda but the above posters are correct in that the jaws for one will not work with the jaws for the other.