another chuck question

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M

mwhatch

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Joined
Nov 26, 2011
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111
Location
Oklahoma
I am using a Delta 46-460 and would like to expand my horizons from pen turning to segmented bowl and vase type stuff. I have been using the PSI utility chuck that works pretty good, but I'm not sure it grips as good as I would need. I have been looking at the Nove G3 which falls in my budget range. Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I may look at Woodcraft on their black friday sale.

Thanks

Morton
 
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Morton -

I would not automatically leap to the conclusion that your PSI utility chuck is not adequate. Instead, I would experiment with using that chuck, and only spring for something different (and more expensive) if you find that it really doesn't do the job for you.

I use a PSI utility chuck on all the time and it works just fine. That said, my lathe has a 8" swing specification, so the things I produce are necessarily small.
 
I have 2 Super Novas and a Vicmarc 120, all are great. I turn everything from 20" bowl blanks to pens. Suggestion for the Super Novas, I ground the ball tip off of the hex wrench, it tends to wear the sockets due to the small contact area and quits holding well, been there, done that.
 
Nova sells reconditioned chucks at an attractine price. $10 difference in the G3 and SN2 as reconditioned units. If you go that way, go for the SN2 for a bit better fit.
 
Some more thoughts

+3 on Nova line of chucks. I bought a Delta 46-460 lathe two years ago fully expecting that would be the end of my lathe purchases. After lots of online reading, I opted for a Nova G3 chuck because of good reviews, variety of jaw sets for the same chuck body, and in part because it afforded me a future option of swapping spindle inserts so my Nova chuck(s) could fit on another lathe spindle size besides my Delta 46-460. Well, two years lather I bought a bigger lathe that has a 1-1/4" x 8 tpi spindle (Delta 46-460 has a 1" x 8 tpi spindle). I bought a 1-1/4" x 8 tpi chuck insert (~$20) , unscrewed my 1" x 8tpi insert, screwed the new 1-1/4" x 8 tpi insert into my G3 chuck body and now am able to use my G3 chuck body and jaw sets on my new lathe. Performance of the G3 with 50 mm and pin jaw sets has been very good on both lathes ... pens, stoppers, small bowls, tool handles, chair rungs, other odds and ends, etc.

I believe that a Nova G3 chuck with its jaw interchangeability and provision for spindle size insert change in the future is just right for anything you might do within the swing of your Delta 46-460.

I bought my G3 chucks and jaws from a fellow in Canada ... Titan, Supernova 2 items in Nova store on eBay!. He currently has a good price at his site on a new G3 with 50 mm jaw set and includes a 1" x 8 tpi insert. If you want a G3 with another jaw set not shown on his site, just email him and ask for a package price on what you want ... I have found him very reasonable on a special package price.
 
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Ken beat me to it. +1 on the SN2 Refurbs...mine is flawless and I think Santa is bringing me another one or Christmas!!
 
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