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Thread: Cole Chuck Question

  1. #1
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    Cole Chuck Question

    Hi Group, I'm looking to get a Cole style chuck and was wondering what would fit my small Super Nova chuck. I was looking for inexpensive alternatives like maybe PSI or something similar. I've also considered making my own. Thanks, Jim

  2. #2
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    Sep 2015
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    I bought a 5.5" Grizzly chuck set that came with Cole jaws plus 4 or 5 other sets of jaws. I also put together a vacuum chuck. Surprisingly, I don't use my Cole jaws very often now that I have a vacuum chuck. I know that there are things a Cole jaw could do that the vacuum chuck cannot - - but I typically reach for the vacuum chuck or I make a jam chuck.

    But, have you checked out Nova? I googled it and they have a #6006 set of cole jaws and the price isn't all that bad. But it is kind of a small set up. It can only take 6.7" externally and 8.5" internally. They also have a larger one (goes up to about 10") but I don't know if it would fit your small Nova chuck.

  3. #3
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    Nov 2007
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    Houston, Texas
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    If I’m not mistaken, all Nova jaws fit all Nova chucks.
    Don't let it bring you down,
    It's only castles burning,
    Just find someone who's turning,
    And you will come around

    Neil Young (with a little bit of emphasis added by me)

    Board member, Gulf Coast Woodturners Association

  4. #4
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    Original Supernova? That's your small chuck? The new Supernova 2 and current jaws all interchange. Not sure about the original SN.

  5. #5
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    Sep 2015
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    I read a post on Facebook Woodturners page from a fellow that used a Cole jaw chuck to hold a 12" bowl. He turned it down to 1/16th inch thickness, was in a hurry and was aggressively turning and then got a catch. It pulled the bowl out of the cole jaws and the jaws helped remove two chunks. The bowl was ruined.

    I think that this was a disaster in waiting. With 1/16" thickness, any catch was going to apply enough force to pull out the bowl.

    I really LOVE my vacuum chuck....

  6. #6
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    Yes , It's an original Supernova. I stopped by my local Woodcrafters store and did some checking. I looked at the Nova 12" Cole chuck and the box says it will fit all Nova chucks. They also carried Records chucks and I was told the their jaws would fit Nova chucks. I will take one of my jaws in and check the screw holes. I'm considering building my own also. Also looking at building a Longworth type chuck just for the fun of it. Jim

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
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    Quote Originally Posted by Brice Rogers View Post
    I read a post on Facebook Woodturners page from a fellow that used a Cole jaw chuck to hold a 12" bowl. He turned it down to 1/16th inch thickness, was in a hurry and was aggressively turning and then got a catch. It pulled the bowl out of the cole jaws and the jaws helped remove two chunks. The bowl was ruined.

    I think that this was a disaster in waiting. With 1/16" thickness, any catch was going to apply enough force to pull out the bowl.

    I really LOVE my vacuum chuck....
    Each tool has its place. I find it difficult to use my vacuum chuck to hold segmented rings so I can turn the mating faces flat.
    Thank you,

    Rich Aldrich

    65 miles SE of Steve Schlumpf.

    "To a pessimist, the glass is half empty; to an optimist, the glass is half full; to an engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be." Unknown author



  8. #8
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    You're right that a vacuum chuck has specific applications and doesn't work for everything. Also, it wouldn't work with voids.

    (But I still love my Vacuum Chuck )

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jan 2020
    Location
    Hoschton, Georgia
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    If you're just looking for a way to hold a bowl to finish off the bottom, I like a donut chuck. It securely contains the bowl and gives you complete access to finish off the bottom. I have 3 different sizes of holes for different sized bowls. I also have an assortment of different length bolts. It takes a little time to set it up but once you do, it's very secure. You can make a donut chuck yourself with a faceplate and MDF.

  10. #10
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    Well I took one of the jaws off my original Supernova chuck into my local Woodcraft store today to see which Cole jaws would work on them. The Nova jaws which are suppose to fit all Nova chucks almost worked and so did the Records jaws. I say almost because the attachment holes lined up but the grove is off slightly. Could be corrected with a little filing. The manual says the I need JSCole jaws which are a little harder to come by. I may just build my own and maybe also do a Longmount chuck too. Jim

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
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    sykesville, maryland
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    I have a 10" Nova Cole Chuck. I didn't like the bumpers that came with it so I bought a set of oneway bumpers. They hold much better. Though I rarely use it. If I can vac chuck it, I will. Then I look to jamb chuck. Only when all else won't work do I turn to the Cole Chuck. Mine isn't big enough much of the time anyway. I wouldn't mind a set of extensions, but there are other things I need to spend my money on.

  12. #12
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    My Grizzly 5-1/2" chuck came with cole jaws that can hold up to 9-1/2 ". I ended up making eight extension arms with lots of tapped holes that fit the bumpers that came with the chuck. I think that I can extend out to about 20". But I've never needed to make something that big.

    Before I made the extensions, I wanted to make an 18" platter. So I went to Home Despot and bought a glued up disk about 20" in diameter and attached it to a faceplate. Then I made it concentric and eliminated the runout. Then I spun it and marked a bunch of concentric circles. So, to work on the foot of the platter and remove the mortise, I placed the platter in the middle of the disk and used a bunch of wooden wedges to hold the platter firmly to the disk. The wedges were screwed in such that as I screwed them down that they tightened the platter more firmly. Then I went through a process of getting it precisely centered. I think that when I got it down to maybe 0.005 to 0.010" runout I declared it good enough.

    So that is another alternative to a set of big Cole jaws.

  13. #13
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    sykesville, maryland
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    I also have a big donut chuck that I can also use to remove the tenon. Easily made for a few dollars. So, there's another alternative.

  14. #14
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    I just picked up a Supernova 2 with the Cole jaw set off Evil-bay for $140 with shipping. Was located locally so shipping was $9. Not sure it has the Nova JS100N 100 jaws with it but there's a set on Evil-Bay that's also local. I'll have to get the insert so it will fit my lathe which is about $23 off Amazon. Jim
    Last edited by James Baldwin; 11-13-2020 at 12:14 AM.

  15. #15
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    Feb 2020
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    Martinsville, VA
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    Cole jaws, as all tools, have their strengths and weaknesses. I use mine for cleaning up the bottom of most of my bowls where possible. Why? because that's what's in my tool box that works.

    There are things you can do to make them work better & safer.
    My cole jaws came in a set with a G3 chuck along with three sets of buffers. I don't think I have ever used the standard buffers that come with the jaws by themselves. I mostly use the square-ish ones with the angles sides.
    Also, I use them with the tail stock as much as humanly possible. I made a simple wooden center extender that fits over one of my live centers to give a bit of extra room to work.
    Finally, when when using the cole jaws without a center, light cuts, sharp tools and always try to keep tool pressure towards the chuck. Even with the best grip possible, it doesn't take much to move the work in the jaws or knock it loose.
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