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Record Power SC 4 Chuck?

Aaron Harris

Aaron Harris

Joined
Jan 3, 2021
Messages
566
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Location
Spartanburg, SC
Fellow turners-After watching many reviews and videos, I am seriously considering the Record Power SC 4 for that PowerMatic I've got coming Tuesday. A number of you convinced me to keep one of my Nova G3 chucks, as I already have several jaw sets for it. The Record Power is compatible with Nova jaws, along with some of its own, and seems very solid, precise and well-made, and it doesn't seem like something I'll outgrow. Who has them, and what are your thoughts? TIA-Aaron
 
Aaron Harris said:
Fellow turners-After watching many reviews and videos, I am seriously considering the Record Power SC 4 for that PowerMatic I've got coming Tuesday. A number of you convinced me to keep one of my Nova G3 chucks, as I already have several jaw sets for it. The Record Power is compatible with Nova jaws, along with some of its own, and seems very solid, precise and well-made, and it doesn't seem like something I'll outgrow. Who has them, and what are your thoughts? TIA-Aaron
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I have the SC4 - it's virtually identical to the Nova Supernova2 - which I also have. And, you're correct, jaws are interchangeable between them. I like them both but I think the Record Power is actually just a little bit nicer. Seems like tolerances are tighter, and the threaded insert hardly sticks out the back, so you can mount things closer to the headstock. Small differences.
 
Yeah, that face-plate jaws concept seems like it could be useful, too. I'm still watching and reading reviews, though. A good chuck is (almost) everything in turning, I think. (I'm gaining more and more appreciation for good tool-rests, too).
 
I had multiple of the RP 4 chucks and multiple SuperNovas. Both are decent chucks, but I would rate the RP chucks above the Novas. I didn’t like changing jaws. In all I had ten chucks including a HTC 125. I sold all my SN’s and RP chucks and bought Axminster chucks. I have 4 Axminster chucks. I could get by with two, but Lee Valley was closing them out and couldn’t resist the price and bought two more. I like the Axminster much better than either the SN or RP. Storage became a problem with 10 chucks, 5 is manageable. Jaw change with the Axminster does not require messing with screws. I also have the O’Donnell jaws that I use a lot. I kept the HTC 125 as it is a good chuck.
 
I have two SC-4s and like them a lot. I bought the first one because I was looking for a chuck in a price point a little lower than the Oneway/Vicmarc chucks. For my needs a least, they work very well.

(Random question in case anyone knows.... It's been mentioned that the Nova jaws are compatible with the Record Power chucks. Does anyone know if this applies to the cole jaw extensions? I have the Record Power 12" cole jaws and like them a lot, but RP doesn't make extensions and Nova does. I'm asking because obviously the extensions don't use the mounting holes on the chuck itself. I've also been considering just making my own but haven't gotten around to it yet!)

Dan Stromberg
 
Dan Stromberg said:
I'm asking because obviously the extensions don't use the mounting holes on the chuck itself.
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Actually the Cole jaw plates do attach directly to the slides on the chuck body. So I can't imsgine there would be any problem using Nova's Coles with the RP chuck.

Side note. The "buttons" that come with Nova's Cole jaws do not hold very well. Nova sells an accessory set of buttons that perform very well and because of their shape offer more holding options. I strongly recommend them.
 
Thanks for the feedback, all. I ordered it this morning from Craft Supplies with free shipping-seemed like a no-brainer to me.
 
I just got mine in the mail, haven't even used it yet until I get the new PM set up and running. The chuck body seems very heavy and precisely-made, the plastic box not so much. I just finished cleaning out and reorganizing my humble shop in anticipation of the 3520C I'm about to move in next weekend. Thank goodness for my wood supplier/arborist friend's two boys as paid helpers. More later.
 
Gerald Lawrence said:
That is where Nova is made now. Started in New Zealand and moved to China about 5 or 6 years ago
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This is not surprising. I've been to New Zealand. To do anything there is quite expensive as you can imagine. As for the Chinese stranglehold on manufacturing, that may be changing rapidly for a long list of reasons based on what I'm reading lately.
 
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