Chucks and clamping jaws

Why should I buy a chuck?

As the name suggests, three-jaw chucks from metal technology work with 3 jaws. These are not sufficient for woodturning. As wood is a living, constantly working material, it is necessary to grip the material at almost 360°. This is why woodturning chucks always have 4 base jaws that ultimately support the clamping jaws.

There are countless different clamping jaws for a wide variety of turning work. For example, small versions are suitable for turning writing instruments and accessories, "standard" jaws for making tins, candlesticks and small bowls and large models for making large vases, bowls and the like. The number of different jaws is therefore extremely versatile.

The special turning jaws often have a so-called "dovetail shape". This additionally clamps the wood at the outermost point of contact and thus guarantees maximum safety. This special design also enables maximum hold when spreading or expanding. Place your trust in our selection of high-quality chucks specially developed for woodturning and order your favourite model here!

How much does a lathe chuck cost and which one do I need?

In our woodturning shop, you will find chucks (including a set of standard jaws) worth between approx. 70 € and 300 €. The price roughly depends on the size and weight of the chuck.

• Small chucks for less than €100 have a diameter of approx. 50 mm to 75 mm and weigh less than 1 kg. These are suitable for turning accessories and small bowls up to approx. 15 - 20 cm in diameter. Popular products in this category are the SC1 and SC2 from Record Power
• Medium chucks have a diameter of approx. 90 to 100 mm and cost between €140 and €220. We recommend this type of model, as it can be used universally for small to large turning jobs. These include the Super Nova 2, the Nova G3, the Record Power SC3 and SC4, the Robert Sorby Patriot and the Axminster Clubman.
• Large chucks between €250 and €300 have a diameter of approximately 110 to 125 mm and weigh between 3 and 3.5 kg. They have been specially developed for turning large, very heavy bowls and vases. The Nova Titan 3, the Oneway Stronghold and the Axminster Evolution chuck fall into this category.

In our online shop, you will also find many practical set offers that will save you money! In addition to the classic lathe chucks, we also offer collet chucks. These are only suitable for small jobs such as miniature turning and the manufacture of accessories and writing implements. These collet chucks range from around €50 to €100. A drill chuck with a cone can also be used for woodturning.

What are the differences between the chucks?

In principle, all 4-jaw chucks are similar: They have 4 jaws that can be contracted or expanded. There are many different jaws and other accessories for each chuck, which in turn are similar. The main differences often lie in the details, such as the use of a spanner or hexagon spanner, a left-hand or right-hand thread or the clamping path of the chuck.

What you choose here is purely a matter of taste. At Drechselbedarf-Schulte.de, however, you are guaranteed to find a model that is precisely tailored to your preferences!

Are chucks and jaws compatible with each other?

Chucks and jaws from Record Power, Robert Sorby and Teknatool Nova are fully compatible with each other. The only exceptions to this are the jaws and chucks for the small SC1 and SC2 chucks, which cannot be combined with the extra-large jaws of the Titan 3 chuck.

The components of the Oneway and Talon chucks can also be used together for the most part. The Axminster chuck jaws fit both the Axminster Evolution and Axminster Clubman chucks. To be absolutely sure, you will also find information on compatibility in the respective article data.

Which clamping jaws do I need?

Which jaws you need depends on what you want to turn. Most lathe chucks are equipped with 50 mm jaws as standard. With these, you can already produce relatively versatile items - for example, smaller tins, candle holders, bowls and much more.

However, these jaws reach their limits when longer workpieces need to be turned on the fly, particularly large workpieces need to be produced or small blanks need to be clamped. In addition to the standard models, we recommend small versions for accessories, extended jaws for fly-turning and large diameter models for large workpieces. If you buy a chuck set in the Drechselbedarf Schulte shop, it is usually equipped with such jaws.

Will every chuck fit on my lathe?

In Germany, the M33*3.5 mm spindle thread is the standard. This is why all our KS woodturning machines and the machines from the manufacturers Record Power, Oneway and Hager use such a thread. Similarly, all our chucks are equipped with an M33*3.5 mm thread as standard.

However, there are also other threads on the market. In addition, some older machines are equipped with other variants. But you don't need to worry here either. Because we have a suitable adapter for almost all threaded spindles. The Talon, Oneway and Stronghold chucks as well as the Record Power SC4 chuck also work directly with a high-precision thread insert. With these chucks, you can select the desired spindle thread directly in the article and therefore do not have to adapt the chuck.

Which spindle thread does my lathe have?

If you are not sure which spindle thread your lathe has and are therefore not sure whether the chucks will fit your machine or whether you need an adapter, you can simply determine the spindle thread yourself.

In our example, we measure an M33*3.5 mm spindle thread. M33 stands for the diameter of the thread, which is 33 mm. The distance between one thread is 3.5 mm.

images
Spindle with 33 mm diameter


Each thread is 3.5 mm long

Tabelle

Other known thread types are


ThreadDiameter ThreadLength Thread pitch

1" 8tpi
25.4 mm
3,175 mm


3/4" 16 tpi
19.05 mm
1.588 mm


M18 x 1.5 mm
18 mm
1.5 mm


M18 x 2.5 mm
18 mm
2.5 mm


M20 x 1.5 mm
20 mm
1.5 mm


M24 x 3 mm
24 mm
3 mm


 

What other accessories are available for my chuck?

In addition to the normal chuck jaws, there are many other accessories available. Such as

• Face disc segments to rework the recess of a bowl bottom. (see picture)
• Screw chuck: A screw chuck can be used to hold shell blanks.
• Faceplate ring: A faceplate ring is a round ring on which, for example, rough wooden blanks can be fastened with screws
• Multi-tooth driver. These are actually inserted into the cone of the spindle, but are also available for clamping in the chuck.

As you can see, our range at Drechselbedarf K. Schulte is broad. Whether you are looking for a chuck for a special project or a true all-rounder, you are sure to find it here! You can look forward to high-quality products from renowned manufacturers that will support you in your work for a long time. Order today and start woodturning in the next few days!