need help picking out a chuck

[Joe Adams]

I am looking at the Oneway Talon chuck for $206.99,I am told it is a better chuck than the Barracuda.What can you guys tell me?

I have a Oneway Talon chuck and love it. It comes standard with the #2 jaws which work well for everything I've turned so far. Some sellers include the adapter.

Compare prices at Rockler, Craft Supply, Woodworkers Supply, Hartville Tools, and eBay before you buy. It's on sale at Rockler and Hartville has a promo through the 15th that includes four free turning DVDs.

[Dennis Puskar]

Jerry
I have the Barracuda 2 chuck from PSI and it has a "T" handled wrench for tightening the jaws, not a Tommy Bar.

Dennis

[Jim Sebring]

Nobody has asked what size your lathe spindle is. I think the largest PSI adapters only fit 1 x 8 spindles. I haven't looked at the Grizzly catalog lately, so don't know what size(s) they fit. The Nova G3 adapters can handle about any lathe spindle on the planet.

The two basic technical issues in selecting a chuck should be spindle sizes and jaw sets available. I've found that the basic 50 mm (2") jaws supplied on most chucks will cover about 85% of most turners' needs.

[cody michael]

my spindle is 1x8 (the better hf lathe) does grizzly have any coupons out i could use?

[Allen Neighbors]

I'm an old stick in the mud. I still think you can't beat the Nova SN2 chucks. Well worth the extra coins, because of all the interchangeable jaws, which saves you extra coins in the long run.

[Kyle Iwamoto]

+1 on the G3. A nice plus on the Nova line, is all the jaws interchange, except for the Titan. If/when you upgrade to the Supernova, (another nice chuck) all the jaws fit.

[Ryan Baker]

Nobody has asked what size your lathe spindle is. I think the largest PSI adapters only fit 1 x 8 spindles. I haven't looked at the Grizzly catalog lately, so don't know what size(s) they fit. The Nova G3 adapters can handle about any lathe spindle on the planet.

I agree. I wouldn't recommend any chuck that does not use interchangeable inserts. With a direct-thread chuck, you will be throwing away your investment when you inevitably upgrade lathes later.

The two basic technical issues in selecting a chuck should be spindle sizes and jaw sets available. I've found that the basic 50 mm (2") jaws supplied on most chucks will cover about 85% of most turners' needs.

That depends on what kind of turning you do. For me, standard 2" jaws don't meet more than about 15% of my needs. A lot of turners use the standard jaws for everything because they are the only jaws they have, they don't want to buy more, or they don't want to mess with changing jaws.

In general, you get what you pay for when buying a chuck. In the future you WILL want more chucks and more jaws. Do yourself a favor and buy into a line that gives you room to grow with quality chucks, jaws, adapters, etc. Also try to stay in the same chuck family, or you will again spend a lot more money in the long term. The chuck that is right for your needs depends completely on what type of work you do now and plan to do in the future. You don't need to spend a fortune, but don't necessarily go for the "obvious bargain" either.

[scott schmidt grasshopper]

I have a talon chuck and dont like the serrated jaws they dont bottom out well on dovetails so have to be fanaglled to run true in my opionon, I have a vicmark and love it ( the bigger one) if I had it to do over would buy a grizzly and vicmark jaws when I need a later grip

[Ryan Baker]

I have a talon chuck and dont like the serrated jaws they dont bottom out well on dovetails so have to be fanaglled to run true in my opionon, I have a vicmark and love it ( the bigger one) if I had it to do over would buy a grizzly and vicmark jaws when I need a later grip

Oneway profiled jaws are not supposed to be used with dovetails. Vicmarc (and Grizzly which is a Vicmarc clone), Teknatool, and Oneway smooth jaws are for use with dovetails.

Profiled jaws and dovetailed jaws are very different animals with different uses. There are times when each of them excel over the other type. Neither is "better", just more appropriate for the type of work at hand.

[Joe Adams]

Oneway profiled jaws are not supposed to be used with dovetails. Vicmarc (and Grizzly which is a Vicmarc clone), Teknatool, and Oneway smooth jaws are for use with dovetails.

Profiled jaws and dovetailed jaws are very different animals with different uses. There are times when each of them excel over the other type. Neither is "better", just more appropriate for the type of work at hand.

That's why I bought the Talon. If the profiled jaws are not right for an application, you can get Oneway smooth jaws for use with dovetails. Best of both worlds.

[Marvin Hasenak]

I would stay with the original chuck that you picked out from PSI. You said it was due in stock in March, that is 3 weeks away. You not only get 2 sets of jaws but also the flat jaws, another $26 value. I have the same chuck, it worked and worked for everything I threw at it. You will never have enough chucks, and this one is a good one to start with. I upgraded to a Nova, the additional cost for jaws are not worth it. I also have the Barracuda2, and in my pennies worth of opinion it is the best bargain for chucks. If I could have gotten my money back on the Nova I would have, it is a good chuck, but in my opinion not worth the extra dollars.

In 3 or 4 weeks you will have the original chuck you wanted, and you will have all of the extra dollars to spend on a new toy. Or save up and buy the Barracuda2 with all of the jaws.