A Woodturner’s Guide to Chucks and Jaws

If you haven’t discovered this short video by Richard Raffan then you should take a look.  I found this to be a great summary of the important points about chuck selection and use.  Here are the take-aways I pulled from the video:

  • Maximize the surface area for backing a piece on a screw chuck to get the most stabilized platform
  • Grip on the true circle for the safest, least invasive hold, and most efficient tenon size/length
  • Use a compression grip and turn the tenon off when/if needed
  • Select smooth/uninterrupted jaws with crisp edges for the best hold
  • Get multiple chuck bodies with jaws to maximize your turning time at the lathe
  • Have faith in your chuck(s)

Richard Raffan discussing chucks

Best regards,

Matt

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