Advice/info needed for 1.25" chuck

[Mike Shannon]

I've received my Nova Neptune lathe. I have very limited experience but so far so good.
It has a 1.25" 8tpi drive. I would like to buy a chuck that fits without the need to adapt to a 1". Doesn't make sense to me to start downsizing and getting adapters involved if I can avoid it.
A package of some sort would be nice. Nova has the Titan which is for bigger lathes/swings. Nova once offered an anniversary Supernova2 package 1.25" direct thread which I can't find stocked anywhere.
It doesn't have to be Nova. They just seem to be a bit more affordable yet still have solid quality.
All help and advice is appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Dean Center]

There's a difference between an "insert" and an "adapter". An adapter changes the size and/or threading on the spindle, with the drawback that it moves the chuck away from the headstock to some extent. Adapters are used when you want to use your older threaded items on your new, differently threaded lathe. An insert is an integrated connection between chuck and spindle, which allows the manufacturer to make a huge run of identical products, keeping costs down, then allow the end user to fit them to whatever spindle threading they have. They add no significant distance between chuck and headstock, and a modest amount of cost to the user. The use of an insert also allows the user to move the chuck to a new, differently sized lathe in the future, at little cost.

If Nova is no longer selling a direct threaded Supernova, check Record which makes a nearly identical chuck. If not available, and Oneway and Vicmarc, also don't sell direct thread chucks in your size, you may have to get on the Forum Classifieds, Craigslist, and Ebay and look for a used model with direct threads.

 

[Josh Molaver]

Not sure what size chucks you're looking for, but here are a few direct thread Vicmarc chucks (so no spindle adapter required). I'm sure other manufacturers can provide the same. But having spindle adapters isn't the end of the world...works fine, and allows you to use the chuck on another differently sized lathe with just a different spindle adapter.
(I just picked woodworkers emporium - shop around others may carry)

Vicmarc VM120 5" Chuck Direct Thread 1-1/4"x8tpi

The Vicmarc VM120 is a 5" Woodturning Chuck, widely regarded as the best chuck on the market. Perfect for mid to full sized lathes. Direct thread 1-1/4x8tpi, includes standard dovetail jaws

www.woodworkersemporium.com

Vicmarc VM100 3.5" Direct Thread Chuck with Jaws

The Vicmarc V00283-6 VM100 is a 3.5" Woodturning Chuck, widely regarded as the best chuck on the market. Perfect for mini to mid sized lathes. Direct thread 1"x8tpi, includes standard dovetail jaws

www.woodworkersemporium.com

 

[GRJensen]

I have had great luck (8 years +) with Supernova2 chucks. I have 3 of them, each outfitted with a 1-1/4" Nova insert. Stay away from off-brand inserts.

 

[John Whitley]

Agreed with prior commenters: chucks designed to use inserts to achieve the correct spindle threading size are just fine IMO, and fairly ubiquitous. They’re quite low profile, essentially just part of the chuck body. I mostly think of adapters as those used to allow a larger-spindle lathe, e.g. your 1.25” x 8tpi with a chuck designed for a smaller threading such as 1” x 8 tpi. These have their place – I have a small special-purpose chuck that requires one on my lathe – but they necessarily add a lot of length/bulk which I wouldn’t love on one of my primary-workflow chucks.

 

[Matt Miller]

Really pleased with the nova titan 3 direct thread to 1.25”-8. It spins true, it’s very substantial and holds bowls really well.
Not so happy with the used supernova 2 that came with my lathe. It is the M33-3,5 version using an adapter to take it to 1.25”. It does not spin perfectly true, the adapter is likely to blame and swapping that out may lead to an improvement, though if I understand correctly this is different than the insert version of this chuck? Either way, if you want to do anything larger than a six inch bowl, I think you will be much happier with a larger chuck.

 

[hockenbery]

I suggest considering jaws that will serve you best with what you want to turn.
As mentioned above inserts are ubiquitous with chucks.
I have vicmark 120, ONEWAY talon, ONEWAY stronghold, and an ancient nova with Tommy bars.

I prefer dovetail jaws for turning bowls, platters, endgrain hollow forms, and small items where a perfect circle grip does not mar the surface.
For square spindle stock and spindles in general I prefer the ONEWAY profile jaws.
For holding tenons I like the smooth ONEWAY pin jaws.

All of the major manufacturer chucks will hold well with tenons and recesses made for their jaws.

I’m not a fan of nova Birdbeak jaws. They don’t hold over sized tenons or square stock very well.

Dove tail jaws hold over sized tenons really well I use 2.5” tenon in green bowls - the dried oval tenon can be returned to 2”
Dove tail will usually hold square stock well enough(unless the wood is punky)
The ONEWAY jaws will hold oversized tenons and square tenons better than dovetails but it sort of a diminishing return advantage.

 

[Doug Freeman]

I prefer an insert style chuck vs direct thread - easily changed for a different spindle thread in the future vs getting new chucks. IMO Oneway has the best insert design, but others work well also.

Get a chuck with a large selection of jaws so that as your project needs develop over time you acquire a new jaw set vs a new chuck/jaw set. I prefer tenons the vast majority of the time. Oneway and Vicmarc have the best selection of jaws for tenons. Record Power also has a good selection, more than Nova (depending one chuck size, RP and Nova jaws are interchangeable). RP and Nova don’t have the range of grip size of Oneway, dont know about Vicmarc - look at grip range of chucks.

 

[Mike Shannon]

Thank you all for the informative feedback.

 

[Darryn Achall]

I have had great luck (8 years +) with Supernova2 chucks. I have 3 of them, each outfitted with a 1-1/4" Nova insert. Stay away from off-brand inserts.

I also use the supernova 2. You can buy a kit with the chuck, insert. a couple sets of jaws, and wrench. Turned everything from very small pieces to 20" pieces with the various jaws.

 

[Rusty Nesmith]

Super Nova chucks will require an insert. They are good chucks. I have a few and have never had a problem.

 

[John Hicks]

Can't beat this deal.

Nova Super Nova 2 Standard Chuck

"For Sale in Canada Only"Nova has reworked the extremely popular Supernova chuck, and reintroduced it as the Supernova 2. The biggest changes are replacing the keyed pinion with a fixed pinion & Allen key opening/closing mechanism, a closed back, an

www.kmstools.com

 

[Omer Klee]

You can purchase direct threaded (no adapter needed) 1-1/4" x 8 Vicmarc chucks from Ken at Branches to Bowls

 

[Peter D'Attomo]

Can't beat this deal.

Nova Super Nova 2 Standard Chuck

"For Sale in Canada Only"Nova has reworked the extremely popular Supernova chuck, and reintroduced it as the Supernova 2. The biggest changes are replacing the keyed pinion with a fixed pinion & Allen key opening/closing mechanism, a closed back, an

www.kmstools.com

This is a great deal.
John, I got the band aids.

 

[Russell Nugent]

This is a great deal.
John, I got the band aids.

I just grabbed the last one in red deer the other day. Since I needed a 6th supernova chuck apparently

 

[Kent Reisdorph]

Can't beat this deal.

Nova Super Nova 2 Standard Chuck

"For Sale in Canada Only"Nova has reworked the extremely popular Supernova chuck, and reintroduced it as the Supernova 2. The biggest changes are replacing the keyed pinion with a fixed pinion & Allen key opening/closing mechanism, a closed back, an

www.kmstools.com

Wow, no kidding. That's in CAD, too, so shipping included it's about $90 US. I should have bought two.

 

[Nick Valenza]

Can't beat this deal.

Nova Super Nova 2 Standard Chuck

"For Sale in Canada Only"Nova has reworked the extremely popular Supernova chuck, and reintroduced it as the Supernova 2. The biggest changes are replacing the keyed pinion with a fixed pinion & Allen key opening/closing mechanism, a closed back, an

www.kmstools.com

Wow! Almost to good to be true!!

 

[John Hicks]

Wow! Almost to good to be true!!

If I werent broke, id have got two more!

 

[Darryl Fective]

Keep in mind those smaller chucks are for smaller projects. The gear ratio is very different from a Titan and the gripping power is not anywhere close. (I have 1 Supernova and just bought my 3rd Titan)

 

[Russell Nugent]

Supernova easily handles 14-15 inch bowls. I core with mine all the time with 4 inch jaws.

 

[William Rogers]

Nova chucks are ok. I had 7 of them. The one thing I always hated was changing jaws on the Nova’s or any other chuck with the screws holding them. That is why I had 7 chucks so I wouldn’t need to keep removing the screws to change jaws. I sold all my Nova chucks I bough the Axminster SK114 and SK100. The Sk114 is larger of the two where the SK100 is similar to the Nova chuck size. I like the Axminister chucks much better than the Nova chucks I had. Both Axminster chucks are direct thread for my Robust (1.25-8tpi) and are stainless steel bodies. I prefer a direct thread chuck, one less variable to affect runout verses a chuck with an insert. Once you have a lathe with the 1.25-8tpi spindle, it “almost” becomes a no issue if you change lathes. To change jaws wit the Axminster chucks, you crank out one set jaws and crank in a new set jaws. This does require buying jaw slides for each jaw set , but a whole lot cheaper than buying a new chuck and much easier to change jaws. Axminster have a large selection of jaws and are the only one to offer the O’Donnell jaws. I use those a lot. Most jaws are interchangeable between the SK 114 and Sk100. Now that jaw changing is easier I no longer need 7 chucks.

 

[Nick Valenza]

If I werent broke, id have got two more!

I called up a store.... cause there was a "Super Nova 2" for $99 and a "Supernova 2" for $199 (with description as 'Insert Version'). haha. Both were insert versions and both let you choose a FREE insert! The guy couldnt see any difference, only that one model was discontinued. I bought a few, got an alert from my bank asking if I had authorized these transactions (I guess because it came from Canada)... I was about to say yes, but the amount was much lower than the price I paid! I looked into it and the $99 price was in Canadian dollars! It was only $71 for a SuperNova2! Unreal! But we will see if I actually get it! haha

 

[Russell Nugent]

I called up a store.... cause there was a "Super Nova 2" for $99 and a "Supernova 2" for $199 (with description as 'Insert Version'). haha. Both were insert versions and both let you choose a FREE insert! The guy couldnt see any difference, only that one model was discontinued. I bought a few, got an alert from my bank asking if I had authorized these transactions (I guess because it came from Canada)... I was about to say yes, but the amount was much lower than the price I paid! I looked into it and the $99 price was in Canadian dollars! It was only $71 for a SuperNova2! Unreal! But we will see if I actually get it! haha

KMS has never let me down

 

[Nick Valenza]

You can purchase direct threaded (no adapter needed) 1-1/4" x 8 Vicmarc chucks from Ken at Branches to Bowls

He is awesome! He has someone travel once a day to the states to mail out packages to say the USAians money on shipping!

 

[Stan Pressner]

He is awesome! He has someone travel once a day to the states to mail out packages to say the USAians money on shipping!

I agree, Ken has been wonderful to deal with.

 

[Alan Weinberg]

Can't beat this deal.

Got mine today. Fast!