Morning guys, I searched and did not find any info on chucks, but my searches on this forum are normally unsuccessful.

I need a spare chuck and I really don’t want to buy one of the name brands because of the prices. I want a chuck that will be capable of turning 18” bowls.

I  would appreciate any info.

There are lesser known (popular) chucks that are capable of turning what you need.
I should say, you usually get what you pay for, quality speaking.
If this is not going to be a frequent type of turning, fine. If this is something you plan on doing often, you may benefit from a higher quality (price) chuck.
What you're willing to pay will probably the determining factor.

Buy quality tools and cry once
Buy cheap tools and cry every time you use them

Best buy would be the quick change type chuck, can't remember the name. They make jaw changing simple and fast, then you start with a big chuck, and use which ever jaws are properly sized for the bowl you are turning, and multiple sets of jaws are cheaper than multiple chucks. I use the Vicmark chucks. You do get what you pay for, and especially with an 18 inch bowl, you want a good grip.

robo hippy

Hi Ken, I don't think I'd split chucks between "beginners" and others, but between "economy/hobbyist" and possibly "professional".  I suspect the difference lies mostly in features (e.g., types of jaws available, types of chuck keys, load capacity) and likely the durability of the parts/materials.  I assume this is what drives the price differences.  I'm a hobbyist, and have only invested in the economy type chucks to date.  I expect the fit and finish is not quite as nice as "professional" grade, and they will likely not wear as well in the long run, but I turn on the weekends, and since I'm not worried about daily use in a professional capacity such as Reed (robohippy), these work OK for what I do at this time.  However, if you're a professional, I think the old adage "Buy once, cry once" might apply here.

Ed Weber wrote on Feb 1^st, 2018 at 1:48pm:


Bill Rockwood wrote on Feb 1^st, 2018 at 1:26pm:


I think we're in agreement here.

Ed Weber wrote on Feb 1^st, 2018 at 1:48pm:


I would hate to think of an economy or beginner chuck being acceptable for even hobby use if the quality is this poor, makes it sound like a safety issue.  And there likely are cheap, poor-quality chucks out there that may pose safety issues - buyer beware.  However, less expensive chucks can still be acceptable quality, but maybe not as feature-rich as the higher-end types (e.g., tommy bars versus gear key).  I've never had an issue with either my economy Barracuda or Barracuda 2 chucks (one with bars, one with gear key) where it wasn't operator error, no fault of the chuck.  Maybe I got lucky though, so YMMV.

Ken Schleman wrote on Jan 31^st, 2018 at 10:19am:


An 'inexpensive' spare that will readily and safely turn an 18" bowl?  Turning an 18" piece will create a lot of force and energy...whatever you choose, make sure you don't sacrifice safety for a few dollars.  Just a thought...

Craft supplies and Highland woodworking both sell Record Power chucks

Thanks again for the info guys. I’ll post as soon as I know if the Record Power chuck works for me.
I noticed it’s make in China but that doesn’t  mean much because I have noticed in the past they can build quality stuff, as long as the American ordering does not want some cheaply made thing.

This Topic was moved here from Turning Talk by David Hamann.