3?/4? Jaw Chuck for my HFT Lathe

[charlessenf]

I just thought to ask if anyone had a spare chuck that would work on/with my HFT Lathe.

Not looking to invest much as a) I don't use the lathe much, b) I'm not sure what I might do with a chuck if I had such a chuck, and c) I don't have that many days left to learn.

I'm in Lenoir, NC and still able to drive a bit.

 

[Mike Davis]

I bought one for my portable lathe from Amazon. A quick check finds this cheap one.

https://www.amazon.com/NNBWKIXI-Self-Centering-Chucks-Thread-Woodturning/dp/B0C7NNP5JW/ref=mp_s_a_1_7?crid=1JN9XPV28CQYN&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.xWfGvOPPuxydwVtQVC2ZUtb7XaECsrPmR15Hf1V4A34xZMJmXn0HDlX8rB-ztVucp6tgHoswHpWyN_NPs2GrhyKhvD9RUYawFg8FXUR79Z4yqQZ3SORHeSMOIkKDvGV4eEBJ2Y7EZ7PFOYwWUBo6POITyMfGpVsGvzeJLPCel1PuHvkp9Vcb5WPfSrtoJO32vukGh6_M8goSblW3-Dle0g.TdvaMlMZRjQ0GHXpWBbxNF7Qt1-p-9duLYYH2Cqy15M&dib_tag=se&keywords=4+jaw+chuck+for+wood+lathe&qid=1783188130&sprefix=4jaw+chuck+for+wood+lathe%2Caps%2C174&sr=8-7

 

[charlessenf]

Thank you! I use Amazon regularly, but never thought they made a manual/cheap chuck! They have them up to six inches and at various prices for each (3"; 4"; 6") size.

Absent a specific project (well any to be honest) in mind; and given the prices are so close, would it make more sense to go for a six-inch instead of the four inch?

 

[Mike Davis]

Look at others and try to learn the advantages and disadvantages of each. If you decide this is adequate for your needs then I would recommend the 6 inch.

 

[charlessenf]

Thank you again. Now, to devise a purchase justification project!

By the way, I thought to share what I learned about sharing URLs.

When you do a search for "4 jaw chuck for wood lathe" and click upon one of the results, the URL of that result includes information for (in this case) Amazon detailing how you came to find that page Including the key words extracted from your search string.

However, only the part of that URL up to the question "?" mark is necessary to hare the destination with another: Amazon.com

The rest is superfluous.
Moreover, one can shorten the appearance of a url because they are formatted as two pieces. The part you see describes the piece that takes you there (identically by default).
In my Gmail editor, I can change either piece:
This is the Long one!
This is the short one
Both take you to the same place - go ahead, try them.
But the 'long one!' carries the excess baggage I 'stripped' from the original that was posted.
Now, I can click on a link (of any length) in my GMAIL editor and 'change it.' I can change the text you see, or leave that and change the URL so that clicking on: https://www.amazon.com/NNBWKIXI-Self-Centering-Chucks P5JW/ref=mp_s_a_1_7
takes you to see Ollie!
I do not know how to do this outside of gmail - never bothered to research it, but suspect it can be done by other means.

And, using Firefox browser, I can right-click on such s long link and bring up the option to copy "a clean link" like so:

and I get: Amazon.com

 

[ChemE75]

I’m sort of in the same boat - don’t need a tool that’ll last 50 yrs anymore, I won’t be around to enjoy it and none of my kids are deep into woodworking. Already got enough tools that are destined to outlive me. I do appreciate the quality of fine tools, but budget has its limits, high usage tools get priority. Similar to you, I got no particular turning projects in mind that need a chuck. Hard to justify a top quality brand chuck I might use once or twice a year at best. So I get where you are coming from.

But turning is fun and since I see interesting projects facilitated by a chuck, I’ve done some looking at the various types to try to figure what might be most useful if I were to decide on a project. My lathe is somewhat under powered but also limited to 11” - sufficient for most things I’d consider turning, but I’d limit a chuck to 4”. I initially focused on the less expensive lighter weight types like in that first suggestion. However, this type I believe requires 3 hands - two to hold the rods in order to rotate the chuck to tighten the jaws and a third to hold the work piece in place. I assume in some cases the tail stock may be able to get close enough to act as the third hand or maybe using a drill chuck in the tail with a long bit or rod may work to hold the piece while tightening. The other type I’ve seen has a thicker heavier body that uses a key like a Jacob’s chuck key through an access hole or uses a square key, so just two hands are needed - seems a lot easier. Just to complicate matters, some have stepped jaws like the first link or have “dovetail” jaws that grab onto an outer dia or into a previously turned recess. A good number of models have a variety of jaws. In my case, I’m leaning to the key type, just not sure on most versatile jaws. I see more key types with dovetail jaws. Wen has a decent looking LA4374 model that I think I read has Nova compatible jaws. In my search, there are hundreds of odd name Chinese brands on Amazon. Hard to know which might be decent plus warranty could be useless. But there are a few names that popup frequently that may be safe choices. I came across bmwoodturning.com when I needed a drive center. They have several versions of chucks including a NCK series that they say is Nova compatible. Not sure how well they support their products my center set has been fine. HF/Bauer actually has a decent looking version too, comes with 2 sets of jaws that may satisfy most needs. I tend to consider HF or Wen like decent choices in the low-mid range. To be fair Nova has a G3 lite and Rikon has a Z3 that are not beyond my pain level. I’m just not sure these low ends of a big name are any better for a casual user.

 

[charlessenf]

"this type I believe requires 3 hands"

Thank you for making the effort and taking the time to share all those details about turning/chucks and such. Frankly, that is the sort of thing one hopes for when posting such questions here - answers to questions one had not thought of!
So many chucks and so little time and even less personal experience to guide the decision(s) involved.

It is a shame to reflexively share the thought that "all this stuff is made in China," TieWonOn or Mexico (indeed China appears to be building mfg plants in Mexico). But it is so true so often that, when discovered and confirmed, it is not at all surprising.

When I worked at Home Depot in Sarasota ('95? or so) they were selling GE Water Heaters. But GE never made a water heater - never, ever! HD had simply bought the right to use the name on the same product 'everyone' was getting from some automated plant in TN. We, as consumers, are sold on the sizzle. Or the 'craftsman.' Discovered when looking to replace trimmer string rolls this weekend that replacements could be had at Lowes for nearly nine dollars per thirty-foot reel, or out on the Amazon one could find sets that brought the cost down to a buck a reel because the 'Craftsman' 20VDC Trimmer was essentially one of several 'brands' that employed the identical trimmer reels and mechanism. We live in a global cabal of multi-national venture 'capitalists' who claim a particular 'citizenship' for the tax breaks and legal protections.

Back to the chuckles at hand, your advice thereto and the value of participation in a organization such as NCWOODWORKER. I wonder if one of 'our' chuck users might happen upon this discussion and share the rationale for one or more of the chuck iterations whispering "buy me, please" as we wander digitally through the maze of global commerce in search of the best choice "for me" at the moment.

I just went looking for a forum likely to attract expert chucksters and happened upon a post seeking information on "removing thumb blood from dowels*" - NCWOOD covers it all!

Maybe try Woodturning

Thank you again for the thoughts and suggestions - now to find out how my HFT Lathe is designed to find out which if any of the chucks on offer might be compatible with my Chinese wood turner.

Might Online Auction - Pegas Chuck Head Set and (2) LED Lamps- Grobet USA (Value $100) work?

*

Easiest way to remove blood from a project ?

I was cutting some dowels to length using my (sharp) wobble blade..and inadvertently got my thumb in the way :) Anyways, I went thru the first aid kit, staunched the bleeding (or so i thought) and went back to the project. Unbeknownst to me, i was bleeding through the bandage and put my paw...

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