Hello all. First time poster I own a Sorby lathe that I bought some years
ago when Farris Machinery was a US distributor. Due to a move the lathe had
been in storage for some years. Now that I have a shop I'm getting back into
turning. I currently use a Oneway chuck and have generally turned smaller
items...currently Christmas ornaments.

It has become annoying and time consuming to switch back and forth between
the one inch and two inch jaws and have decided to make another chuck
purchase to avoid the hassle. I've considered (a) another Oneway, body only,
which would allow me to use the jaws I already have (just the 1 and 2 inch);
(b) a cheaper Penn State scroll chuck that comes with a 1 and 2" jaw set,
or, (c) upgrade to a larger chuck and use the Oneway as my secondary chuck.

Anybody gone through the same thing or have any words of advice? Thanks in
advance for your help.

I recently bought a Vicmarc VM100 chuck plus a set of bowl jaws and a
screw plate.
The quality and workmanship on the chuck is top qualilty, everything
you need is included and the follow up from the factory is great - I
e-mailed them asking if they were planning to put their manuals online
because I like to use a copy and keep the original clean, and they
replied within 4 hours offering to post me a second copy. That is
service!

The VM100 is the smaller of the two T-bar operated chucks that they
make, but a guy at my turning club is using one to turn a Jarrah
(Aussie hardwood) burl that's about 12 inches wide and about 10 inches
long.
They also make tommy bar operated chucks if that's your preference and
they have a large range of accessories.

Check out:
http://www.vicmarc.com/

Cheers
Paul

On Fri, 26 Nov 2004 13:51:21 GMT, "Sanford Imhoff"
wrote:

Hello all. First time poster I own a Sorby lathe that I bought some years
ago when Farris Machinery was a US distributor. Due to a move the lathe had
been in storage for some years. Now that I have a shop I'm getting back into
turning. I currently use a Oneway chuck and have generally turned smaller
items...currently Christmas ornaments.

It has become annoying and time consuming to switch back and forth between
the one inch and two inch jaws and have decided to make another chuck
purchase to avoid the hassle. I've considered (a) another Oneway, body only,
which would allow me to use the jaws I already have (just the 1 and 2 inch);
(b) a cheaper Penn State scroll chuck that comes with a 1 and 2" jaw set,
or, (c) upgrade to a larger chuck and use the Oneway as my secondary chuck.

Anybody gone through the same thing or have any words of advice? Thanks in
advance for your help.




Unless otherwise stated all references to location refer to Western Australia

My advice is to get a Teknatool product - products are nice, support
is good, very many different jaw sets available. At least that has
been my experience.
hth



On Fri, 26 Nov 2004 13:51:21 GMT, "Sanford Imhoff"
wrote:

Hello all. First time poster I own a Sorby lathe that I bought some years
ago when Farris Machinery was a US distributor. Due to a move the lathe had
been in storage for some years. Now that I have a shop I'm getting back into
turning. I currently use a Oneway chuck and have generally turned smaller
items...currently Christmas ornaments.

It has become annoying and time consuming to switch back and forth between
the one inch and two inch jaws and have decided to make another chuck
purchase to avoid the hassle. I've considered (a) another Oneway, body only,
which would allow me to use the jaws I already have (just the 1 and 2 inch);
(b) a cheaper Penn State scroll chuck that comes with a 1 and 2" jaw set,
or, (c) upgrade to a larger chuck and use the Oneway as my secondary chuck.

Anybody gone through the same thing or have any words of advice? Thanks in
advance for your help.



Remove the nospam from my address to email me!!

We have Teknatool chucks at my club and to be honest I don't think
they compare with the Vicmarcs - the Vicmarcs just seem a hell of a
lot nicer.
Cheers
Paul


On Fri, 26 Nov 2004 16:40:37 GMT, Xlat
wrote:

My advice is to get a Teknatool product - products are nice, support
is good, very many different jaw sets available. At least that has
been my experience.
hth



On Fri, 26 Nov 2004 13:51:21 GMT, "Sanford Imhoff"
wrote:

Hello all. First time poster I own a Sorby lathe that I bought some years
ago when Farris Machinery was a US distributor. Due to a move the lathe had
been in storage for some years. Now that I have a shop I'm getting back into
turning. I currently use a Oneway chuck and have generally turned smaller
items...currently Christmas ornaments.

It has become annoying and time consuming to switch back and forth between
the one inch and two inch jaws and have decided to make another chuck
purchase to avoid the hassle. I've considered (a) another Oneway, body only,
which would allow me to use the jaws I already have (just the 1 and 2 inch);
(b) a cheaper Penn State scroll chuck that comes with a 1 and 2" jaw set,
or, (c) upgrade to a larger chuck and use the Oneway as my secondary chuck.

Anybody gone through the same thing or have any words of advice? Thanks in
advance for your help.



Remove the nospam from my address to email me!!



Unless otherwise stated all references to location refer to Western Australia

You've got the right idea. Stay in the family. It's a real luxury to be
able to change chucks the way Norm Abram changes routers. As I have used
the poorly thought-of Teknatool products for the last dozen years and couple
thousand bowls, not to mention the other stuff, I can't comment on the
"quality" of the others. My requirement is that they hold wood and be
convenient, and repurchase of jaws you already own seems foolish.

"Sanford Imhoff" wrote in message
news:sxGpd.148135$HA.58313@attbi_s01...
I currently use a Oneway chuck and have generally turned smaller
items...currently Christmas ornaments.

It has become annoying and time consuming to switch back and forth between
the one inch and two inch jaws and have decided to make another chuck
purchase to avoid the hassle. I've considered (a) another Oneway, body
only,
which would allow me to use the jaws I already have (just the 1 and 2
inch);
(b) a cheaper Penn State scroll chuck that comes with a 1 and 2" jaw set,
or, (c) upgrade to a larger chuck and use the Oneway as my secondary
chuck.

Anybody gone through the same thing or have any words of advice? Thanks in
advance for your help.

Sanford,
Some great questions, but you'll likely come to realize you've touched
on an area where the discussion can often seem more like political
rhetoric than a dispassionate appraisal.

I believe an objective analysis finds that the current generation of
chucks coming from all the major manufacturers (Axminster, Oneway,
Teknatool, Vicmark) are very good chucks of refined design. I would
strongly encourage you to avoid chucks from anyone else, as they without
exception are of lesser quality and poorer function. There is a lot of
competition between the "big four" which has kept pricing in line with
true manufacturing costs. Any major step down in price is reflected in a
big step down in quality and performance (for example, nonhardened jaws,
lesser materials, poorer machining--all of which will result in a
decrease in precision and longevity).

You've already commented that you don't like changing jaws (I don't
either) so I would suggest that you select your next chuck based on
which can take the jaw set that seems to best meet your needs and
compliments the jaw set(s) you already use most.

If you just want to have a seperate chuck for each of your existing jaw
sets, then by all means get another Oneway, or get one of the Teknatool
Chucks (they can all mount your Oneway jaw sets).

If you want to expand your capabilities, then chose the jaw set that
most interests you first, then get a compatible chuck. For myself, I'm
real partial to the Oneway pin jaws for smaller work and the Teknatool
Powergrip Jaws for larger work, and the Oneway Vacuum Chucks used both
with vacuum and as jam chucks. Your needs, of course, may lead you to
other perferences.

If you go with a key operated chuck, you will find there is one area of
difference between the different models. A chuck operates a lot like
rack and pinion steering (in this case the rack is replaced with an
intermediate ring that drives the jaw slide racks). The pinion gear that
drives this can either be built into the end of the adjustment handle
(the Oneway and old versions of the Teknatool Supernova) or it can be
captured in the chuck housing with a square or hex shaped handle
inserted into it from the outside (Axminster, Vicmark, Teknatool
Supernova 2 and Titan). Both work equally well, but most find it much
easier to use handles that fit into the captured pinions. The Vicmark
has long been appreciated for its simple hex bar handle; the new
Teknatool SuperNova 2 and Titan have slightly improved on this to use a
ball ended hex shaft. I must fall into a slight moment of paritsanship
to say that I really really like the new Teknatool handles and wish all
my chucks had it.

Anyway,I've reviewed in the past the Oneway Talon and Teknatool Compac
chucks, a recent review of the Titan can be obtained as a pdf he

http://www.fholder.com/Woodturning/lyn.html

and I'll shortly have published reviews of the new Teknatool Supernova2
and Precision Midi

Hope this helps a little,

Lyn

Sanford Imhoff wrote:

Hello all. First time poster I own a Sorby lathe that I bought some years
ago when Farris Machinery was a US distributor. Due to a move the lathe had
been in storage for some years. Now that I have a shop I'm getting back into
turning. I currently use a Oneway chuck and have generally turned smaller
items...currently Christmas ornaments.

It has become annoying and time consuming to switch back and forth between
the one inch and two inch jaws and have decided to make another chuck
purchase to avoid the hassle. I've considered (a) another Oneway, body only,
which would allow me to use the jaws I already have (just the 1 and 2 inch);
(b) a cheaper Penn State scroll chuck that comes with a 1 and 2" jaw set,
or, (c) upgrade to a larger chuck and use the Oneway as my secondary chuck.

Anybody gone through the same thing or have any words of advice? Thanks in
advance for your help.

Hi Sanford
I would go with the Oneway - body only; or even treat yourself and get the
Oneway Talon - body only. I have chucks by all the major makers and they
all work very well. If you stick to Oneway you are sure that all your
existing and future accessories will fit and work well. With the same
screws.
Edward

I would like to make a suggestion that I think will help, regardless of
which other chuck you buy, and will help even if you don't buy another chuck
for a while.

When you take off a set of jaws, and install another set, you have to
insert/remove 16 screws, usually. Get a rechargeable power screwdriver, set
it up with the appropriate Allen wrench, and keep it handy. My second
suggestion is to get one of those magnetic parts dishes that Harbor Freight
sells. Put all the parts in the dish, and stick it to the ways below the
chuck. This way, every part you are going to handle is right there, and if
you drop a screw, it goes into the dish instead of onto the floor.

An extension of this idea would be to keep the jaws and screws in a magnetic
dish on a shelf near the lathe, with the electric screwdriver. To change
jaws, you move the dish to the ways, and you are started.

Leo:

Good idea about the magnetic parts dishes. I think I'm up to five or so of them now -- have
them on my drill press table, wood lathe, metal lathe, desk...

I just picked up two for $5.00 at the local H/F store. I was there for something else but...

Bill

In article ,
says...
I would like to make a suggestion that I think will help, regardless of
which other chuck you buy, and will help even if you don't buy another chuck
for a while.

When you take off a set of jaws, and install another set, you have to
insert/remove 16 screws, usually. Get a rechargeable power screwdriver, set
it up with the appropriate Allen wrench, and keep it handy. My second
suggestion is to get one of those magnetic parts dishes that Harbor Freight
sells. Put all the parts in the dish, and stick it to the ways below the
chuck. This way, every part you are going to handle is right there, and if
you drop a screw, it goes into the dish instead of onto the floor.

An extension of this idea would be to keep the jaws and screws in a magnetic
dish on a shelf near the lathe, with the electric screwdriver. To change
jaws, you move the dish to the ways, and you are started.

Thanks to all of you...this is a great assortment of advice. I'm sorry I
didn't reply to the group sooner but I have just returned from a weekend of
travel.

It looks like the option of a cheaper scroll (e.g., Penn State) can be ruled
out.

A couple of follow up questions....

I want to confirm that my Oneway jaws could be used on Teknatool products. I
was in our local Woodcraft store last summer and purchased a set of Nova
jaws for the Oneway as I was convinced (in the store) that these were the
same as Oneway. However, when I tried them they wouldn't fit...are you
saying they will go the other way? (Oneway Nova, but not Nova Oneway?)
I looked at a close up picture of the Nova chuck and I don't see the safety
groove for the pin in my #1 Oneway jaw. If it were to fit I might be tempted
by the Super Nova 2, but, I also don't see a pin groove in its face that
would allow my Oneway jaws to be used on it, either.

Second question...is the Talon up to the same grip level as the Oneway
chuck? As I read it, this is a chuck for mini-lathes.


"Sanford Imhoff" wrote in message
news:sxGpd.148135$HA.58313@attbi_s01...
Hello all. First time poster I own a Sorby lathe that I bought some years
ago when Farris Machinery was a US distributor. Due to a move the lathe
had
been in storage for some years. Now that I have a shop I'm getting back
into
turning. I currently use a Oneway chuck and have generally turned smaller
items...currently Christmas ornaments.

It has become annoying and time consuming to switch back and forth between
the one inch and two inch jaws and have decided to make another chuck
purchase to avoid the hassle. I've considered (a) another Oneway, body
only,
which would allow me to use the jaws I already have (just the 1 and 2
inch);
(b) a cheaper Penn State scroll chuck that comes with a 1 and 2" jaw set,
or, (c) upgrade to a larger chuck and use the Oneway as my secondary
chuck.

Anybody gone through the same thing or have any words of advice? Thanks in
advance for your help.

Sanford; No, No, the Oneway Talon is about the same size as the Onyway,
only it uses a key to operate instead of two bars. Some turners find the
key more convenient (or easier). The Talon and the Oneway have many jaws in
common.
There is no groove in the Nova body to accommodate the Oneway safety pin; it
must be removed to put the Oneway jaws on a Nova body.
I find the Nova a PITA to use. The floppy around key and now the floppy
around T-hex key (on the Super Nova 2) is very annoying - you cannot let go
of it to change your grip.
Stick with one brand, you will save yourself a lot of hassle.
Edward

The Teknatool Nova was the first four jaw self centering scroll chuck
for woodturners. When Oneway decided to go into the chuck business, they
basically copied the Nova design right down to the screw spacing and
interface grooves of the jaws. The good thing about this is that any jaw
that will fit on the Teknatool Nova will fit on the Oneway chuck and
vice versa.

The difference in jaws and chucks that is pertinent to this discussion
is how each achieve overstop protection so that the jaws slides cannot
be expanded right out of their containment gearing. Teknatool in their
Nova and original Supernova did this by a stop screw placed at the end
of one of the jaw slides. Oneway incorporated it into their jaw sets by
adding a pin to one jaw that was trapped in a groove in the face of the
chuck. Either system works adequately.

To mount a Oneway jaw to the Teknatool you have to remove the stop pin,
as their is not groove for it to go into and no need for it. A pair of
pliers will pull it straight out without difficulty. Save it if you want
to ever use that jaw on a Oneway again, and you can easily just press it
back into place, seating it firmly with just the tap of hammer.

I generally don't recommend putting Teknatool jaws on a Oneway, as their
is not provision for a stop pin. It would be possible to drill a jaw for
one and insert it, but it would take some careful measurement, drilling,
and a pin. Thus I usually state that Oneway jaws will fit on a Teknatool
chuck, but not vice versa.

I have a Talon. I like it. It has a grip level a little greater than the
lever bar Oneway chuck, but it does not have the grip strength of a
Stronghold.

There aren't that many SuperNova 2s out there, it being a very new
chuck, so I wonder how much experience some folks really have with the
chuck. Mine came directly from Teknatool and I've had quite a bit of
experience with two of them. It is an outstanding chuck, better than or
equal to any chuck I've used. Lots of people have lauded the Vicmark
chucks for their simple hex key handle. I agree. In my experience
Teknatool has gone Vicmark one better in using a ball end on the hex
shaft of their new handle. The ball end makes it a lot easier to have
the end of the shaft self guide into the receptical even if you are
slightly misaligned. It also allows the handle to be positions slightly
off center to allow the handle to be angle if you have a big turning and
need clearance to turn the handle. For me these are features and are a
big plus, obviously others may have their own opinions, though I again
wonder how much of those opinions are based on actual use of this new chuck.

Again, the Talon is a great chuck, though limited in jaw travel and
number of jaw sets available. I use one regularly on my minilathe. The
new SuperNova 2 is a great chuck, whith full jaw travel, an enclosed
back, enclosed pinion gear, exceptional handle, and one of, if not the
greatest range of compatible jaw sets available.

You'll likely be quite happy with either.

Lyn


Sanford Imhoff wrote:


I want to confirm that my Oneway jaws could be used on Teknatool products. I
was in our local Woodcraft store last summer and purchased a set of Nova
jaws for the Oneway as I was convinced (in the store) that these were the
same as Oneway. However, when I tried them they wouldn't fit...are you
saying they will go the other way? (Oneway Nova, but not Nova Oneway?)
I looked at a close up picture of the Nova chuck and I don't see the safety
groove for the pin in my #1 Oneway jaw. If it were to fit I might be tempted
by the Super Nova 2, but, I also don't see a pin groove in its face that
would allow my Oneway jaws to be used on it, either.

Second question...is the Talon up to the same grip level as the Oneway
chuck? As I read it, this is a chuck for mini-lathes.

Sanford the basic Oneway tightens with the tommy bars, the Oneway-Talon
uses the machined chuck key, has a better grip and is recommended for
lathe work up to 16", the Oneway-stronghold is recommended for the
larger turnings.
The Talon jaws and other accessories do fit the basic Oneway and vise
versa, but they do not fit the Oneway-Stronghold.
Whatever fits the other chuck makes I am not positive about that

Have fun and take care
Leo Van Der Loo

Sanford Imhoff wrote:
Thanks to all of you...this is a great assortment of advice. I'm sorry I
didn't reply to the group sooner but I have just returned from a weekend of
travel.

It looks like the option of a cheaper scroll (e.g., Penn State) can be ruled
out.

A couple of follow up questions....

I want to confirm that my Oneway jaws could be used on Teknatool products. I
was in our local Woodcraft store last summer and purchased a set of Nova
jaws for the Oneway as I was convinced (in the store) that these were the
same as Oneway. However, when I tried them they wouldn't fit...are you
saying they will go the other way? (Oneway Nova, but not Nova Oneway?)
I looked at a close up picture of the Nova chuck and I don't see the safety
groove for the pin in my #1 Oneway jaw. If it were to fit I might be tempted
by the Super Nova 2, but, I also don't see a pin groove in its face that
would allow my Oneway jaws to be used on it, either.

Second question...is the Talon up to the same grip level as the Oneway
chuck? As I read it, this is a chuck for mini-lathes.


"Sanford Imhoff" wrote in message
news:sxGpd.148135$HA.58313@attbi_s01...

Hello all. First time poster I own a Sorby lathe that I bought some years
ago when Farris Machinery was a US distributor. Due to a move the lathe

had

been in storage for some years. Now that I have a shop I'm getting back

into

turning. I currently use a Oneway chuck and have generally turned smaller
items...currently Christmas ornaments.

It has become annoying and time consuming to switch back and forth between
the one inch and two inch jaws and have decided to make another chuck
purchase to avoid the hassle. I've considered (a) another Oneway, body

only,

which would allow me to use the jaws I already have (just the 1 and 2

inch);

(b) a cheaper Penn State scroll chuck that comes with a 1 and 2" jaw set,
or, (c) upgrade to a larger chuck and use the Oneway as my secondary

chuck.

Anybody gone through the same thing or have any words of advice? Thanks in
advance for your help.

"Sanford Imhoff" wrote in message news:sxGpd.148135$HA.58313@attbi_s01...
--snip--
Anybody gone through the same thing or have any words of advice? Thanks in
advance for your help.


Yes, I did.
I am the happy user of a Oneway Stronghold, but wanted a lighter chuck
a.o. for cutting screw threads.
Like Lynn suggested I looked for complementary functions of jaws
first. In my case the range of pin/long nose jaws of the Vicmarc was
the deciding factor.
I ordered a VM 100 with several sets of jaws from Carrolls in
Australia at a price that -including postage and taxes- was far below
what is usual here in Europe.
On arrival there was a problem with one of the jaws, wich was replaced
promptly, without any cost to me.

I have been turning a lot of christmas ornaments this last month with
the long nose jaws, a pleasure to be able to reach nearly everything
from the headstock side.

Hans

I think the pin jaws are the handiest set you can get for a chuck, though
mine are on a Nova. Nice thing about ornament work is that you can clamp up
to a full inch square inside and have at it direct. I shank down squares on
the bandsaw to take advantage of one-mount turning.

They were to come out with a new extended set, but I don't see them on their
home page.
http://au.store.yahoo.com/cws-store/longnosejawset.html

"Hans" wrote in message
om...

I have been turning a lot of christmas ornaments this last month with
the long nose jaws, a pleasure to be able to reach nearly everything
from the headstock side.

Hans