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ID chuck inserts

Lance Mirrer

Lance Mirrer

AKA "taxman"
Joined
Dec 4, 2006
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Location
Cooper City, FL
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taxmancpa.com
I have two chuck inserts that i am not sure which chuck they fit.

Does anyone have an internal thread list of brands?

Or any easier way to ID than removing inserts from chucks and comparing?

FYI one is 1x8, other is 1-1/4 x8.

Thanks

EDIT: Looking at the various Websites (OneWay, Nova, Vicmarc) I am leaning towards them being Nova inserts.
 

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Inserts from Teknatool that fit Nova chucks should have a code stamped on one of the hex flats. Mine are ILNS, 1-1/4x8tpi to fit my lathes.
www.teknatool.com

NOVA ALL INSERT SKUS - CHUCK INSERTS/ADAPTOR COMPATIBILITY CHART - NOVA, a Teknatool Brand

SKU: Various - See chart below for full list. NOVA uses an easy and inexpensive insert/adaptor system on all its NOVA insert chucks (apart from chucks that are directly threaded) The insert has different lathe spindle thread sizes internally and simply screws into the back of your NOVA chucks...
www.teknatool.com www.teknatool.com

I think the external thread that fits the Nova chucks is M38x3.

JKJ
 
Lance Mirrer said:
I have two chuck inserts that i am not sure which chuck they fit.

Does anyone have an internal thread list of brands?

Or any easier way to ID than removing inserts from chucks and comparing?

FYI one is 1x8, other is 1-1/4 x8.

Thanks

EDIT: Looking at the various Websites (OneWay, Nova, Vicmarc) I am leaning towards them being Nova inserts.
Click to expand...

They look just like my Nova inserts.
 
Inserts well generally I buy the lowest cost inserts, but never Chinese. I see little difference in the regular brands

Basically, specs are with each manufacturer. So I am not sure if a general list of them all is available, I used to keep the Nova sheet.
 
I know I have mentioned this before but many years ago Woodcraft sold inserts that fit the Nova chucks for $5.95 (which was a lot cheaper than the $25+ that the Nova insert cost). All of a sudden every nova chuck owner was screaming about how the Nova chucks were running out of round so bad and everyone was blaming Nova. Well Nova finally found out about these inserts and told about them but many still blamed Nova instead of Woodcraft. I'll tell you that those inserts did fit and work on the off brand chuck that Woodcraft sold and they worked well on that chuck. But Nova got a black spot over it and it was not their fault.
 
hughie said:
Inserts well generally I buy the lowest cost inserts, but never Chinese. I see little difference in the regular brands
Click to expand...

A few months ago I had problems with two Nova/Teknatool inserts, purchased directly from Nova. I have noticed a decrease in quality of a few of the Nova inserts. One I even put back in the box and wrote "bad", intending to return it for a replacement.

I read somewhere that Teknatool was having some components made in China, maybe that's related.

Someone else posted about their Nova chucks were not running true. Until recently I had never experienced that as long as I took a few minutes to deburr the insert and chuck threads.

Then I bought two inserts for new chucks that caused what I considered unacceptable wobble. By careful measurements on the surface plate in my little machine shop I traced this to what I considered poor machining of the insert - the plane of the bottom was not perfectly parallel to the plane at the top. I wrote about this in another thread. I devised a way to true up the bottom and the two chucks ran true, the same as my other chucks, within .0005" as measured on the outer diameter of the chuck near the front. (I wrote about this too but I don't remember if I provided photos and good instruction.) Holding a piece of ground, hardened drill rod in the chuck showed no wobble.

I've trued up two recent inserts that way. It does take a few minutes but it's not enough of a problem to make me switch to another chuck brand. Fortunatly I probably have a lifetime supply of Nova chucks, even after giving some away recently.

JKJ
 
John K Jordan said:
A few months ago I had problems with two Nova/Teknatool inserts, purchased directly from Nova. I have noticed a decrease in quality of a few of the Nova inserts. One I even put back in the box and wrote "bad", intending to return it for a replacement.

I read somewhere that Teknatool was having some components made in China, maybe that's related.

Someone else posted about their Nova chucks were not running true. Until recently I had never experienced that as long as I took a few minutes to deburr the insert and chuck threads.

Then I bought two inserts for new chucks that caused what I considered unacceptable wobble. By careful measurements on the surface plate in my little machine shop I traced this to what I considered poor machining of the insert - the plane of the bottom was not perfectly parallel to the plane at the top. I wrote about this in another thread. I devised a way to true up the bottom and the two chucks ran true, the same as my other chucks, within .0005" as measured on the outer diameter of the chuck near the front. (I wrote about this too but I don't remember if I provided photos and good instruction.) Holding a piece of ground, hardened drill rod in the chuck showed no wobble.

I've trued up two recent inserts that way. It does take a few minutes but it's not enough of a problem to make me switch to another chuck brand. Fortunatly I probably have a lifetime supply of Nova chucks, even after giving some away recently.

JKJ
Click to expand...
All you have mentioned here I have noticed as well, and it seemed to predominate the move to China. I had heard they got it all sorted it out, I haven't really added to my chuck collection in years.
 
It is general knowledge that Teknatool purchased a factory in China many many years ago. They own and run it. I have purchased most of my Nova equipment made in that factory. The newest is the Nova Neptune which is a great lathe and a delight to use. Before that I bought Nova Viking Drill Press and in my estimation has no equal. I myself have never had a bad part from them, no I remember when I got my first Nova DR14 it had a bad gear that ran the RPM dial. I called and they had a replacement on the way that day and they had the other picked up. But other than that I have had no problems. Now you and I know that no matter what company there is always something that slips through. Now I can't vouch for the last 2 years but I've gotten chucks, jaws and inserts and they have stayed right here as I will not keep a chuck that exceeds my requirements for runout. I think there quality got better over the years as to fit and finish. If I'm going to buy something my first look is always to Nova as for price vs performance they cannot be beat. And when I was in the shop 2 days ago I pulled out twenty Nova screws and they all looked exactly the same not a shoddy one in the bunch.
 
CONFIRMED, they are Nova Inserts. First, thanks everyone for the comments and help.

I found an unopened SN2 box with a factory Nova Insert to use as control samples. The brand new insert has 2 markings. A stamped "L" and "Printed Nova L" on the side.

The 2 old ones have stamped "L" (on the 1-1/4") & "T" (on the 1"). I assume these refer to the stock numbers ILNS & ITNS. (Stock !TNS is the 1x8 RH & LH Dual Threaded)

Both old ones screwed into the SN2 as they should.

With everyone's help and reviewing manufacturers web sites, I found the following:
1. I was reminded OneWay adapters do not have threads at all. They are installed and removed using hex screws.
2. The only reference I saw about the thread for the adapter is John's reference above (he external thread that fits the Nova chucks is M38x3)
3. A couple of extensive headstock thread reference tables. A table which answers questions I see from many New turners and beneficiaries of an inherited lathe looking for that info.

Thanks again. Always an enlightening experience sharing info here.
 
I think only about a third of my Nova chucks are direct threaded. I have about 8 extra inserts and once in a while I would change 1 1/4 X8 to 1" X 8 for a hands on. One thing I did to all of them was put brass grub screws in them so none of the treading on the headstock would get damaged.
 
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