Hi Ken,
Actually the Compac Chuck is/was quite a departure from their previous
chucks. Though it did share a Tommy Bar operation system with the
standard Nova, it was only available available direct threaded, and had
it's own unique jaw sets. The most prominent difference though, was the
implementation of round jaw slides that worked more like a screw than a
rack. I have found mine to be very smooth and precise in operation, but
wonder if tolerances were more of an issue with this design than others,
and thus, perhaps, some of the variations in success. Overall, though, I
think it the problems have had to do more with marketing and
expectations rather than performance. Teknatool advertised this chuck as
capable of dealing with anything suitable for a 12 inch swing lathe (and
furhered this perception by offering jaw adapters that would allow
mounting of the standard Nova spigot, step, and #2 jaws--which IMO both
were asking people to do things with the chuck beyond it's
capabilities). I think many of us have shown that one can take on some
awfully bit projects on even a Minilathe, such as hollowing out deep
hollow forms. Those big projects simple overwhelm a chuck such as this.
I've always felt that chuck should have been marketed as desirable for
working with miniature and small scale work, regardless of lathe size.
Working with projects of this size, which can easily be mounted one
handed, the Tommy bar system wasn't any issue at all. Work of this
nature I can usually hold into the chuck between a couple of fingers
while having one hand and a couple of fingers of the mounting hand
available for operation. The jaw sizes (both smaller than their
comparable Nova numbers, e.g., the #2 jaws were 40mm rather than the
usual 50mm) were very appropriate to this size work and I found to have
holding power fully adequate to the task. Most of all, the overall size
of the chuck was small, allowing excellent clearance to the headstock
side of the smaller workpieces.
As I've repeatedly said, except for the very smallest lathes (such as
the Carbatec), the Nova Compac was best considered an inexpensive SECOND
chuck to compliment the broader capabilities of a larger chuck. For a
minilathe, I think having a Talon as a primary chuck and a Compac as a
secondary chuck is still affordable and greatly increases the efficiency
and capabilities of such lathes. Same goes for a full size lathe, having
a Compac fitted with it's small jaws was great for those occasional
small scale projects.
Alas, at one level this conversation is presently moot, as Teknatool has
withdrawn the chuck for "design review." I personally hope to see it
return.I like mine a lot and continue to prefer it over my Talon (and
other larger chucks) for miniature work.
While the Compac is no longer found in the Teknatool website menus, it
can be seen by going directly to this page.
http://www.teknatool.com/products/Ch...mpac_Chuck.htm
Lyn
Ken Moon wrote:
Lyn,
I haven't had an opportunity to use a Compac, but isn't it just a smaller
version of the original Nova chuck?
Ken Moon
Webberville,TX
***************************************
"Lyn J. Mangiameli" wrote in message
link.net...
Leif Thorvaldson wrote:
Delay gratification?? What newsgroup do you think you are on!! *G* I
have
one and it works just fine.
So does mine. Apparently there has been a lot of variation in these
chucks, but I've have mine for about two years now and had no troubles
whatsoever. It is important to understand that this is a chuck well
suited for miniature and small scale work, but that never was intended
to be, and won't perform well as, a general purpose chuck. For a
Carbetec, I think it would be a very good match.
Lyn