Vicmarc 120 Questions

[Brian Lyles]

Two-part question:
1: Is an older vicmarc120 with tommy bars a good chuck?
2: Would jaws from an older tommy bar style fit the new style vicmarc120?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Dennis J Gooding]

I have four Vicmar, chucks that use tommy bars and like them much better than the screw-in chucks that I have demoed on. They are much faster to adjust. However if you do not have a handy spindle lock, much of the advantage is lost, because you need to manipulate two bars at a time. The tommy bars for the smaller chucks are a standard size rod that is available in hardware stores. I would guess that the bars for the larger chucks are a standard size also.

 

[hockenbery]

An older Vic is a good chuck.
Like @Dennis J Gooding - the tommy bars are faster and preferred by several production turners I know.
One made long handle bar - welding a bar inside a 10”-12” long pipe.
Easy on and off with a easy to reach spindle lock.

 

[hockenbery]

Can you read the model?
Vicmarc still sells the tommy bar style 90 and 140.
I attached the vicmarc manual here if you don’t have it. It shows what jaws fit which chuck models.



Beginners think they need 3 hands to master tommy bars.. the production turners use one hand to hold the bowl and a one hand push to tighten the chuck.

 

[Brian Lyles]

I don’t have any markings to verify anything at the time but I’ll take a look at the manual. Hopefully I can work something out and get a fair deal. Thanks guys.