Nova G3 for $150 a good deal?

[EricU]

http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/150699/...oCqinw_wcB

I can't find evidence of a 1 1/8 adapter and the teknatool website is nearly broken, but other than the fact that I'm not sure it will fit my lathe, is that worth buying?

[MichaelMouse]

it's pretty much for faceplate work up to around 12" according to the lawyers.  Make your decision for a SN for larger swing, but the price isn't bad on the G3 with the 50 and the pin jaws, the ones I use most.

[Arlin Eastman]

I have never used that kind of chuck so I will say nothing about it but will see what others say

[iclark]

http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/150699/...oCqinw_wcB

I can't find evidence of a 1 1/8 adapter and the teknatool website is nearly broken, but other than the fact that I'm not sure it will fit my lathe, is that worth buying?

ToolsPlus has the insert.

That is a decent price if you have use of the included jaws.

The G3 is a good sized chuck for smaller to mid-sized lathes. It avoids the problem that some people have working a chuck with the bars. I have also used one on a live center to hold the tailstock end of inside-out turnings during their inside-out stage.

One of the advantages of the Nova chucks is that the jaws are pretty much interchangeable across their full line of chucks. (minor exception that the heaviest jaws cannot be used in the smaller chucks) The new Record chuck jaws will also fit the Nova chucks.

In the FWIW category, I have chosen not to mix Nova and Oneway chucks in my shop because I am too clutzy. The 2 brands tighten by turning the key in opposite directions from each other. I have Nova and Vidmar chucks and am happy with both.

[ACP]

What would you be turning and on what lathe?

I have an SN2 and I am probably going to get a G3 for smaller turnings since most of the jaws are compatible.  Those cole jaws are pretty small though.  I don't know that I'd put $150 on it when you could get the chuck for 90 and then use the other 60 to get a different jaw or two. 

The SN2 is only 120 at CPO outlets.  http://www.cpooutlets.com/nova-23055-sup...t,pd.html.

The inserts are easy to find too, even if woodcraft is sold out.  And yes, Teknatool's website is a joke. 

Adam

[NCPaladin]

I think it is a pretty good deal but agree that the jaw selection is not great.  I purchased the same a few years back (it was a wunntenbut) and have never removed the cole jaws from their package. I do use the pin jaws a lot especially for the first mounting; just drill a 1" hole and off you go.  The 35mm jaws are ok but the spigot is almost identical to the pin jaws.

Not sure what web site you went to.  If you go to Nova USA it is not bad, the full Teknatool site is horrible.
http://novatoolsusa.com/main.sc

You can get the G3 and pin jaws for about 135 on Amazon but that is not a big savings and you may like the 35mm bowl and cole jaws.

I agree with Michael that if your lathe has over 12" swing you may want to consider the SN2 as your first chuck.  I have both and like both.

[TDKPE]

I use that chuck on my 12" Delta 1460 lathe.  It's a fine chuck, and handles stuff about as big as I can work on my lathe, which doesn't have a gap bed, so I'm limited to 12" everywhere.  I almost never use a faceplate any more.

The additional jaws make it a good deal, assuming you have a use for them.  I could use the pin jaws, if you don't want them.  

[EricU]

thanks for the feedback, some interesting points.  I haven't done wood turning since I was in high school, many decades ago.  So maybe I'll start slower and do the stuff I need first, like chisel handles until I get some ideas that require a chuck.

[Arlin Eastman]

Eric

Here is a G3 much cheaper

https://www.amazon.com/NOVA-48232-Revers...C7YGBAM6SB


This is a chuck I really like the best since it is sealed and has a square drive and you never have to worry about getting the tool into the gears or having it slip like I did with my Oneway Stronghold chuck. Plus it is Stainless Steel and has indexing right on the back of the chuck.

Evolution Chuck, 1-1/4" x 8tpi

http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.as...9091,69183

Plus just this one jaw can be used for a lot of things

http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.as...9091,69184

I now have 3 of them and hope to get one more when Lee Valley has their sale again next year

[iclark]

Hi Arlin,

On the Axminster chucks, which way do you turn the key to tighten the grip on a tenon?

On the OneWay, the answer would be clockwise (righty-tighty).

On the Nova, the answer would be counter-clockwise.

thanks,
Ivan