Getting ready to get at it again!

[Kevin Cole]

Im getting power to my lathe on Monday!:D
But I still dont have anything to mount pieces with. I am going to ask someone to pick up the live center from Lee Valley for me, theres one thing gone. But I havent decided on the drive center or faceplate.
I was told Busy Bee was having a sale. I saw they had quite a few chucks on sale. Ive never used a chuck before and know nothing about them so I was hoping if you guys could advise me on which one to get, or if its not worth getting at all.

1) http://busybeetools.ca/cgi-bin/picture10?&NETID=1027291027071598942&NTITEM=B2618

2) http://busybeetools.ca/cgi-bin/picture10?&NETID=1027291027071598942&NTITEM=B2249108

3) http://busybeetools.ca/cgi-bin/picture10?&NETID=1027291027071598942&NTITEM=B2546

They might all be garbage but since I know nothing about them maybe you guys could tell me.
But I still havent found a drive center. I found one but they only ship to the US. I might have a chance of getting it still. Its similar to the Sorby Steb drive center but made by PSI and instead of $80 its $15.
I'm so excited I get to start turning again! So I would like to buy what I need as soon as possible.

Thanks

[Kaptan J.W. Meek]

Check out the Barracuda II chuck from PSI.. For the money, I don't think you could get a better chuck to start with.

[Dave Noon]

Hi Kevin,
Not sure where you are in Ontario (I'm in Hamilton). If you are near Toronto there are a couple of stores you could try. All-in-one (across from Busy Bee in Mississauga) and Woodchucker in Weston (N.W. Toronto). John, the owner, is a member of our Guild.
I bought a cheap chuck recently, King Canada, and it turns out that you pretty much get what you pay for. I also have a Nova Midi, which I like, but Lee Valley no longer carry them. My next chuck though will be a Oneway Talon, not cheap but very good, and Canadian made (in Stratford Ont). They also have drive centres. http://www.oneway.on.ca/spindle/spurs.htm .
HTH.
Dave

[John Bartley]

I bought this one : Busy Bee Item B2545 (http://busybeetools.ca/cgi-bin/picture10?&NETID=1904591027071599445&NTITEM=B2545) and it seems to work fine on my old General Lathe. The spindle on mine is 1"-8tpi. It's a two-bar for locking, and despite some warnings about it being a pain to lock while holding the turning, I've not had any trouble. I am currently using an MT2 drive spur from BusyBee, but I would like to find the sort of "Texas Centre" that Bill Grumbine describes in his DVD so that I can leave the chuck in place and use the drive spur at the same time.

cheers eh?

[RL Johnson]

John
You might look at http://bestwoodtools.com/ they have both two and four flute drive centers that filt some of the popular chucks.

[Kevin Cole]

I got power but its probably not legal. :)
And I gave in and ordered my stuff by mail. I got the Spur drive and a 6" face plate from Busy Bee and my live center from Lee Valley. I held out on buying a chuck because I don't absolutely need one right now. And the sale is on for a while so i will have time to go look at them later or save up for a better one.
I was happy to hear it going for the first time.:D