Lathe chuck Penn State Industries

[Mac McAtee]

I got a sale notice from Penn State that included a four jaw wood lathe chuck for bowl turning, kind you use to grip the bottom of the bowl blank. Price $40. Anyone have any experience with their product?

[Dick Parr]

Here is a quote from a guy over on another site today on that very subject.

"There is a lot of talk on this and other lists about quality of
tools, especially with import items from Grizzly and others.
I am one who cannot afford to purchase the top quality, high
priced items needed to pursue my woodworking & woodturning
avocation. Therefore I am always looking for ways to save money.
Many of my tools, large and small are from Grizzly. For the most
part, I am pleased with the quality of these items and very pleased
with the prices.
Recently, I decided that I needed a chuck for turning small items
and small to moderate sized bowls. The Oneways and Novas were simply
out of the question for me because of cost.
Then in the Penn State catalog I saw a very versitile chuck made
by PSI (item CMG3), priced at $79.00. It appeared to be exactly what
I need, so I ordered one.
When it arrived I saw it was rusty and the rust had been coated
with a rust preservative. Very dissapointing. I could not even
dissassemble it for cleaning or use. Back to Penn State, with them
picking up the shipping.
Chuck #2 arrived, not rusty. But when I put it on the lathe I
saw immediately it was out of concentricity. In other words, it was
not round and wobbled.
Again, back to Penn State, followed with an e-mail of
complaint. This started a series of e-mails between myself and XXXX-XXXXXXX, the owner of Penn State. He promised me another, with PS
picking up all the shipping charges both ways. He also promised to
check the new chuck before sending to me.
Finally, this week I got my third chuck. It was not rusty and
is concentric, runs true. I have been using it quite a bit and find
it to be every bit as versitile as I had hoped. It is a fine chuck
and a great value at 1/3 to 1/4 the price of Oneways, Novas and some
others.
The point is that there can be value in the import tools but
the buyer must be insistent on support and service from the dealer.
I do not like the fact that so much of what we buy today is Asian
rim manufactured, I am a proud American flag waver. But I am also
dedicated to watching my pocketbook. It's a fact of life and the
times."

[Doug Jones]

I got a sale notice from Penn State that included a four jaw wood lathe chuck for bowl turning, kind you use to grip the bottom of the bowl blank. Price $40. Anyone have any experience with their product?
I made this mistake. And at best it makes for a decent paper weight. However, if your still interested I'll sell you mine plus shipping.

[Mac McAtee]

Thanks, Y'all.

[Ray Dockrey]

I had a different experience with mine. I thought mine worked pretty godd for what i payed for it. I still use it occasionly even though I now have a Oneway. For somebody starting out and not having much money it will work. That is why I ended up with it and I don't regret it. But I do love my Oneway Talon.

[Paul Downes]

I bought a grizzley cheepo chuck when I purchased my grizzley lathe. It does not run true and has been a pain sometimes. I have to turn off more stock than I want to after rechucking the piece sometimes. That being said, it has been ok considering the price. It isn't a bad way to get your feet wet. All it has done for me is cause me to drool over the pictures of the better chucks and to also wish for a much better lathe. :D I am going to make this cheepo chuck pay for itself and pay for an upgrade. If you have the cash in the beginning I would skip the lesser quality chucks and machines and go for the gold. I was able to try out a top 'o the line powermatic lathe with digital speed control. WOW, what a difference!