Nova midi chuck

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shortcast

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Reading Haynie's "Really tired.." thread, I saw that a couple of you guys recommended the Nova midi and mentioned a current special at WC.

I just checked out the WC website and there are multiple reviews that complain about the grip of this chuck.

Have you experienced any issues validating the complaints?
 
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I love this chuck. I've got two of them (loaded with different jaws) and I've had no problems.

I particularly like the two bar system better than the key system. With the lathe's index locking screw and the knock out tool, I can tighten and loosen these chucks easier than I can the key system.

Additionally, all of the Nova jaws fit this chuck. That is not always the case with other manufacturers.
 
Don't believe everything you read. I have had excellent experiences with mine.
Those that had left negative remarks perhaps aren't use to using a chuck. Bought it only to discover that it was too small for using on a Large lathe.
There is no excuse to not reading the manual in items like this.
Now depending on the jaws one uses, you do need to apply a proper dovetail on the ends of a spindle or Bowl blank. That is just common sense. Manuals help one through the learning curve. I was lucky, I cut my teeth on a PSI Barracuda Mini chuck. You wanna talk about a chuck not holding, Don't get me wrong, they will hold 99% of items that are under one inch. But I digress.

Again I will reinforce, Don't believe in everything you read.:wink:
well at least on Commerce websites like Woodcraft, Rockler, PSI,...
 
I've got both a G3 (chuck key), and a Midi (two-bars to tighten/loosen). I think both are great, and it is nice to have two scroll chucks, to minimize the need to change jaws.

I keep pins jaws on the G3, and use it almost exclusively to hold square blanks for drilling. I have not used my drill press to drill a blank since I started using the lathe to drill them.

For large or irregular shaped blanks, I turn them round between centers, then chuck them to drill them. A collet system would also work for round blanks, and I suppose one will get to the top of my wish list eventually.

I do not think you would be disappointed with any Nova chuck.
 
I have the Nova midi chuck along with 2 of the Barracuda micros from PSI.
No complaints about the Nova it is a well made strong chuck. I turn mostly pens and bottle stoppers so the Barracuda micros get most of the use and I prefer a keyed chuck.
You can't go wrong with the Nova but if you are only going to turn small items take a serious look at the Barracuda micro.
You didn't mention what lathe you have but one thing to remember is the heavier the chuck the more power it takes to turn it.
 
I have had good luck with mine. The only time that I lost grip on a piece of wood I am pretty sure that my shaky hands was the cause. I worked at Woodcraft and do not remember any complaints. YMMV.
 
No complaints with mine. I have used it to turn bowls, lided boxes, toothpick holder, christmas tree ornaments, and I use to drill all my blanks too.
 
No problems with the 1st one I got when I got my jet mini...So I bought another to keep a set of pin jaws on it.....waited for the special to get it.
 
Purchased

I went downt to WC on Friday and picked up the chuck.

Used it all day Saturday with no reason for complaints.

I think I like the design of the Oneway jaws better. The Oneway has gripper ridges on both ID and OD surfaces. The Nova is smooth with a dovetail taper on the OD.

I was using it in expansion mode all day Sat without a dove tail on the work piece and it worked fine.

All in all, glad I picked it up. Thanks for all the input.
 
a most reasonable choice -- I have several chucks and find that little midi is smoother than the "value priced chucks" such as the PSI Barracuda. I think you will be satisfied with the performance over time, I use mine quite a lot on a big lathe when using small itema.

I have a welders magnet on the headstock and stick the tommy bars there when I am using the chuck -- they migrate to hidden spots easily and that stopped with the magnet.
 
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