3 or 4 jaw chuck to start?

[Greggski]

Thanks for all the help. I was leaning towards the 4 jaw, and the majority seem to confirm this. In have been looking at a bison 8" 4 jaw. Is bison a decent brand in line with the accuracy on the super 11?

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Get both. I see you already have a nice tool post.

Thanks. Didnt even know that it was anything special till it got the lathe home and looked up the Dorian quick change tool post. Was a nice bonus...

 

[ScrapMetal]

Bison makes a good solid chuck. You might want to look for a smaller one though. An 8" can be a bit much for a 11" swing lathe, you'd probably be better off with a 6".

JMHO

-Ron

 

[MCRIPPPer]

i find my 3 jaw stays on my lathe 95% of the time, because i usually want to just throw a piece of metal in there and make a part, and not mess around with getting it all centered up. i use my 4 jaw for larger things because it has more capacity than the same size 3 jaw, and things where i have to re chuck a finished piece that needs to be real round. i also use it to hold big odd shape things to bore holes because i dont have a boring head for my mill yet. honestly i think using a lathe with only a 4 jaw would be frustrating. you kinda need both if you want to stay sane, and make good parts in a reasonable amount of time. but it can be done with only a 4 jaw. the same can not be said for 3 jaw.

 

[Tony Wells]

Just for fun, I'm going to suggest a 4 jaw, as large as you are comfortable with, and a smaller 3 jaw that you can chuck in the 4-jaw if you want to run through a bunch of parts that don't need to be indicated to death, but within a couple of thousandths.

 

[Ray C]

Well, if you really are in the market for a Bison, check out www.machinetoolonline.com. They happen to be having a blow-out on Bison chucks with prices about 30% below any other dealer... You'll need to call them about price because he doesn't list them. BTW: This dealer is very well established and has a very good reputation.


Ray

Thanks for all the help. I was leaning towards the 4 jaw, and the majority seem to confirm this. In have been looking at a bison 8" 4 jaw. Is bison a decent brand in line with the accuracy on the super 11?

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Thanks. Didnt even know that it was anything special till it got the lathe home and looked up the Dorian quick change tool post. Was a nice bonus...

 

[epanzella]

I guess I'm gonna hafta go across the grain and recommend a 3 jaw. I can't even imagine having a lathe without a 3 jaw as everything would take so long. I try to plan my turnings with one chucking so that after a truing cut the work is perfectly concentric. Yes, when I need my 4 jaw nothing else will do but you really need both and it'll probably be a while before you start doing projects needing a 4 jaw. Just make sure the 3 jaw has 2 piece jaws or 2 sets of jaws for inside/outside holding.
Just my $.02

 

[Greggski]

Thanks again guys. I may look at getting both depending on price.

Bison seems to be on the mid-high end of pricing for the chucks I've seen, are there any other good brands that you recommend for me to check out?

 

[Ray C]

TMX is Bison's "Economy" series -also very good and also carried by the distributor mentioned earlier.

Thanks again guys. I may look at getting both depending on price.

Bison seems to be on the mid-high end of pricing for the chucks I've seen, are there any other good brands that you recommend for me to check out?

 

[Splat]

TMX is Bison's "Economy" series -also very good and also carried by the distributor mentioned earlier.

+1 on TMX chucks. Also, check what Jeff has at http://www.tools4cheap.net.

 

[Uncle Buck]

If you can only have one chuck to start with make it a 4 jaw chuck. Between the two types the 4 jaw is without a doubt the more important and versatile of the two types. That is not my opinion, it is a fact as I learned it. With that said, I have no particular fondness for 4 jaws and will quickly concede I like the ability of faster setup that 3 jaw chucks provide. The 4 jaw, unless you are a quick learner take longer to dial in as well. However, if you only have a 4 jaw and work with it often I am sure that more rapid setup could be learned through always having to correctly center the stock using an indicator. Generally I always use a three jaw unless a situation warrants my having to switch over to a 4 jaw which does happen from time to time. Of course since some time passes between the times I have to use my 4 jaw I am a bit slow having to adjust everything into center using an indicator.

However, with all that said I have always read and heard from those more gifted in machining than me that given a choice of one over the other a 4 jaw is a must (also generally accepted as more accurate when that counts) and thus should be considered a absolute winner over a three jaw.

Even if you do buy a 4 jaw first, get a good 3 jaw as soon as your situation allows. They are the lazy mans friend.