Oops! Wood is too small for the chuck.

[Richard Madden]

A chuck insert ring, like Michael describes would help. I've made a couple from cutting boards and UHMW scraps. If you are interested, PM me and I'll give some details.

[robert baccus]

Brian, try the corners thing--I've done it a lot. Cost is zero to try one.

[Clint Merrill]

Here's a solution for you to consider without buying or making anything. Your 50 mm. jaws will go down to almost 1 3/4 in, so why don't you turn a shoulder a little bigger on your square stock ?? There will be small flats but they will not interfere with the jaws gripping the turned portion. I have done this many times without any failures. Give it a try, think you will be happy.

Clint Merrill

[Robert McGowen]

I always thought that 8/4 stock was 2" thick and would fit into the 50mm jaws just fine. I am sure you measured the wood to get 1.75" and are not just guessing at it though.

[Russell Neyman]

Grabbing the corners works perfectly, believe me.

Leo's shop-made custom jaw suggestion is a technique every woodturner needs to develop. Those can be made in an infinite number of sizes and shapes, and they can be reused (and re-shaped) for future projects.

[Brian Kent]

Yes, Robert, the 1-3/4" is a real measurement.

My first try at grabbing the corners failed. Probably because of the length of the piece - 8" including the gripped portion. I'll try that again, and one with rounded shoulders on a 6" piece.

…and the new jaws are somewhere in transit, due about Tuesday or Wednesday.

[Lee Reep]

I have something like 10 sets of jaws for my Nova chucks (a G3 and a Midi). You can never have enough jaw sets. My saying originally was "I never have the right jaw set".

Now I do not have enough Nova chucks ...

[Stan Smith]

What I have done with things as small as birdhouse ornaments is to:
1. Turn the stock into round.
2. If part of the inside is to be hollowed, drill a hole the size of a dowel. Tight fit is good.
3. Cut a dowel to fit into the stock hole
4. Put the other end in a collet chuck or spigot jaws.

That's the way I do it to avoid end grain gluing and still be able to use the entire length of the stock.
You could also use a waste piece with a tenon to fit into the stock hole.

I'm sure there are many ways to accomplish your goal. I try to figure out a way to get by with what I have. Then I go and buy a new tool.

[hu lowery]

Links aren't opening for me so I'm not sure if this is what others are already talking about but I make bushings to fit if I have many pieces to make like you describe. Turn one end of your blank round between centers. The dimension can be a little rough but once it is completely round turn a ring that will slide over the blank and fit in the chuck jaws. Cut a slot through the ring so it can tighten up on the blank when you tighten the lathe jaws on the ring.


When I am cutting multiple pieces like this it is very fast since the same bushing ring is used over and over.

Hu