I'm new to turning and just got my G0766? Don't have a chuck yet. Any recommendations for a good versatile chuck? Thanks.
Really depends, but what ever you go with you tend to get extra bits for that chuck system. I have the super nova 2 chuck and a have a lot of the jaws that fit on it. I can say I have no issues with the chuck and have used other chucks at our guild, they all hold wood. I started out with a manual 4 jaw face plate to save a dollar, I can strongly say avoid that.
For quality and value, you cannot beat the Hurricane HTC-100, which is a great chuck. A Vicmarc clone, well built, and the insert comes with it. I have 5 SuperNova 2’s, but switched to the Hurricane lineup about 3 years ago. Now have 4 Hurricane 100’s and one HTC-125, which is a BIG chuck! You get them from thewoodturningstore.com
+1 on the Hurricane chucks, both the HTC125 and the HTC100. In fact, if I'm remembering correctly, they will mount fully flush to the spindle face without modifying the spindle boss (Roger, is that right?). But I still recommend making the mod, in case you ever want to mount certain other aftermarket chucks, e.g., the Oneways.
Someone said that one time, David. I am not positive on it though, as my Hurricanes were purchased after I did my spindle boss mod. I did have the spindle boss mod already when I had my 18/47 G0698, but did not think of checking that when I got my G0766 into the shop, and made the spindle mod as a matter of course.
Thanks for the recommendations everyone! Mark Inmon- This may be a stupid question, but what are "extra bits"?
Jaws like http://www.rockler.com/nova-6033-popular-accessory-jaw-bundle?sid=V9146?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc& utm_term=&utm_content=pla&utm_campaign=PL&gclid=Cj wKCAjw-bLVBRBMEiwAmKSB88n_2sGkT-W3LtVjzL8Jna9Uk1U0ACU_UrBu4evqpYZcPcJKU4YijhoCDKgQ AvD_BwE
Ok Thanks Mark!
I'm sure that the Vicmark and the Hurricane are good chucks. So what I am going to suggest isn't going to be better than those fine chucks. But it is comparatively less expensive when outfitted with all of the various jaws. I have a pair of Grizzly 5-1/2" T10811 chucks. I like that the Griz chucks came as a set and included step jaws, pin jaws, small dovetail jaws, large dovetail jaws, and a decent sized Cole jaw set. I typically have one chuck fitted with the small jaws and the other with the big jaws. Occasionally, I replace one of those jaw sets with the Cole jaws. I think that when I bought them they cost 30 bucks less. At one time, I tried the G8785 chuck which only comes with a set of small 2-1/4" jaws but is dirt cheap. I found that it arrived damaged or mismanufactured and had one jaw that was out of line with the other jaws. Perhaps it had a burr on the back side of the jaw. I decided not to over-analyze it or repair it and just returned it for a full credit.
Thanks Brice. In looking at the Grizzly, I see that it is 1"x8TPI. My lathe is 1-1/4"x8TPI. I know there are adapters, but is there a downside to using a smaller chuck?
