will this chuck work?

[InvisibleMan]

http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/20...ion-Midi-Chuck-with-Two-Jaw-Sets.aspx#Reviews

nOOB Alert!!

I'm wanting to start making pepper mills and other things, but need "stuff" first. I need a 4 jaw chuck for drilling on my lathe among other things. Will this hold a 3" blank? It appears the 50mm jaws will not, but I'm not entirely certain what I'm looking at.

Seems like a good deal, even if I may have to buy bigger jaws as well.

Thanks,

 

[bitshird]

That's a great starter chuck, and the price is good as well, and yes it will hold wood foir a pepper grinder,

 

[monophoto]

Normally, when you do things like pepper mills, you start with the billet between centers, and turn it down to a cylinder. You also turn a spigot on one end that is clamped into the chuck. So it is not necessary that the chuck jaws open to the final diameter of the finished piece - only to the diameter of the spigot.

Also, the jaws of a chuck are machined as a solid piece of metal, and then that piece is cut into four segments. The best grip occurs when the jaws are in continuous contact with wood around the circumference of the spigot (or the recess if when the chuck is used in expansion mode). The jaws on the Nova Midi chuck you are interested in are 50mm diameter - which means that the optimum spigot is about 50mm (or 2 inches) in diameter.

 

[InvisibleMan]

excellent - thank you both. I think I'll pull the trigger while its on sale.

 

[cwolfs69]

i have that specific chuck and it works great. comes with 2 decent sets of jaws and purchase a set of flat jaws and you can hold mnost anything up to about 6 inches within reason depending on weight and length. nice chuck

 

[PaulDoug]

It's a good chuck. I have one and if I had the extra money I'd get another one. The only con is it uses tommy (sp) bars to open and close it instead of a 'key'. I think most people prefer a key, personally I don't care. Either works.

 

[pinelumber]

chuck

The super nova 2 goes on sale This Sat. at Woodcraft. $139.00 plus adapter.



Dennis Pinelumber

 

[PenMan1]

I love this chuck! I also have a Super Nova that I am not crazy about. If you have an indexing lathe, you'll never have to look for a stupid key or even the Tommy bars.

Lock the lathe with the indexing screw and use the knock out tool to tighten or loosen the jaws. This make chucking a one handed operation. Just remember to release the index lock.

The "run out" is actually less severe on my Midi than the super.

 

[PaulDoug]

The "run out" is actually less severe on my Midi than the super.

That has been my impression also. I notice I pick this chuck up most often when I reach for a chuck. Darn, wish I had an extra $100 right now. I have a second one.:wink:

 

[monophoto]

The chuck that InvisibleMan asked about has the advantage of being a Nova - ie, a known brand.

PSI sells a "Utility chuck" for a bit less that appears to be similar except that the package also includes Cole jaws. The price is a bit less than the current Woodcraft sale price, but it's an unknown brand.

 

[Mike D]

I built these auxilliary jaws today and they work very well. I got the plans from one of the members here that posted the plans but for the life of me I cant find the post. Thanks David great plans.