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Axminster chuck jaws sizes compared to Nova

J

Jay Simmons

Joined
Jul 8, 2018
Messages
40
Likes
14
Location
Dalton, GA
Not the normal question about compatibility but relative size for both expanding in a recess and gripping a tendon. I was given a great little disk from Axminster that allows you to trace the circumference of either the recess or tenon for each of the Axminster jaw sets. The Axminster jaws are designated by a letter. My chucks are 100% Nova and I would like to translate the Axminster letter system to the Nova system
 
Tim Tucker said:
Jay - I don't think the Axminster jaws will fit your Nova chucks - if that is your aim. Not sure I understand
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Not my question. I have been given a jig that will outline the diameter of a recess or a tenon that the jaws require. The Axminster jaws are designated by a letter. I would like to equate the The A Axminister jaws to which Nova jaws etc.
 
I have one of those. I don't use it much, but you should be able to use it for nova jaws with the same mm sizes.
 
@Jay Simmons , if I understand you have a chart from Axminster showing the "perfect circle" diameters, for both recess and tenon mounts, for all of the Axminster line. And further you would like something similar for the Nova line of chucks. While Nova does publish a chart of the range of diameters (recess and tenon) that each jaw set is capable of. That chart does not indicate the perfect circle diameters. At Chattanooga I asked if they had the perfect circle numbers and was told that they do not.

My solution would be to to manual set the jaws to what by eyeball was a perfect circle, then remove two adjacent chuck jaws exposing a cross section view. Now you can use calipers/ruler to measure the OD and ID at the base of jaw cross section where the OD will be narrowest and the ID widest.

(If I'm honest, I've never done this measurement. The perfect circle diameter was just never one of those issues that knotted my shorts, but that's me).
 
To repeat the circle I have a stick mounted in front of my lathe. For each jaw size I have the number and at the bottom an index hole then a tenon size hole and a expansion mode hole. It is the white vertical strip at center, magnify to see better. There are other ways to see this but I found this to take the least room and easy to use.
Lathe station upper8-20.JPG
 
Jay Simmons said:
Not the normal question about compatibility but relative size for both expanding in a recess and gripping a tendon. I was given a great little disk from Axminster that allows you to trace the circumference of either the recess or tenon for each of the Axminster jaw sets. The Axminster jaws are designated by a letter. My chucks are 100% Nova and I would like to translate the Axminster letter system to the Nova system
Click to expand...
Hi Jay
I have sold all my Nova chucks and replaced them with Axminster SK114 and jaw sets. Might solve your problem. Axminster chucks are an engineering work of art and are a joy to use. Such precision SS machining. They also have a very large range of jaws including O’Donnel jaws which I use a lot.
I haven’t seen the Axminster tool you have and wonderered if you would post a picture.
cheers
Ron
 
Ron Boulton said:
I have sold all my Nova chucks and replaced them with Axminster SK114 and jaw sets.
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Same as Ron. I have two SK114 chucks and two SK100 chucks. I was up to 9 Nova and Record chucks because I hated changing jaws and dealing with stripped/stuck jaw screws. Sold them all. With the Axminister I just crank one set out and another in. I could easily get by with just two chucks, but Lee Valley was closing the out at the time and I bought two more. I use the O’Donnell jaws a lot.

I don’t think there is any list comparing the Nova and Axminister jaws.
 
William Rogers said:
Same as Ron. I have two SK114 chucks and two SK100 chucks. I was up to 9 Nova and Record chucks because I hated changing jaws and dealing with stripped/stuck jaw screws. Sold them all. With the Axminister I just crank one set out and another in. I could easily get by with just two chucks, but Lee Valley was closing the out at the time and I bought two more. I use the O’Donnell jaws a lot.

I don’t think there is any list comparing the Nova and Axminister jaws.
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I also took advantage of Lee Valley's close out of Axminster. The O'Donnell jaws were an incentive. The quality of the Axminster chucks and jaws is remarkable. I've used Vicmarc chucks while teaching at the Folk School and in a class last month with Derek Weidman at Arrowmont. They are very nice, but perhaps not quite Axminster. Nova is not really comparable, and their inserts in the last few years have become abominable. I have always been careful to buy their insert. I haven't bought a Nova chuck or insert since they went to Protech; I have and use several Nova chucks. I doubt I'll dispose of them since they do the job when asked.
 
Ron Boulton said:
John thanks for picture. Because I use Axminster chucks I thought it might be useful until I looked at the Axminster price
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The prices I see for Axminster are completive with any quality chuck - such as Vicmarc. But, Ron - you likely have an economic advantage with Vicmarc as they are made in Aus - and the Axminster's - are from England. Freight is expensive especially now.
 
For marking tenon location I use a cheap center finding ruler with a "V" cut into it at "0" to locate on anything round, be it the live center cone or the wood column remaining if I had to cut down into the blank. I keep a laminated chart of all chuck jaws I have listing size range for tenon and mortice in easy eye sight of the lathe. Allows marking any size I want. It does require dividing the tenon size by 2 :).

IMG_2707[1].JPG
 
Tim Tucker said:
The prices I see for Axminster are completive with any quality chuck - such as Vicmarc. But, Ron - you likely have an economic advantage with Vicmarc as they are made in Aus - and the Axminster's - are from England. Freight is expensive especially now.
Click to expand...

I suppose it depends on what one calls competitive. I just priced out a Stronghold chuck body, adapter, and #2 & #3 tower jaws (my most used) from Hartville Tool, $383. An Axminster SK114 direct thread chuck body and comparable jaws, HF 4" and 50mm O'Donell, from thewoodturningstore came to $495. Depends on the chuck and jaws but there's a significant difference.
 
Doug Freeman said:
Depends on the chuck and jaws but there's a significant difference.
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Both are excellent chucks. There is a difference. Axminister is a stainless steel body that is direct thread. The O’Donnell jaws are not a comparison to the tower jaws IMO. Most buy the O’Donnell jaws with the inserts ($159) and this gives you quit a few options no other jaws provide. I also buy the jaw slides at another cost because I hate dealing with stuck/stripped jaw screws. I just prefer the features of the Axminster even if the cost is higher. Just feel they are worth the extra $.
 
Doug Freeman said:
I suppose it depends on what one calls competitive. I just priced out a Stronghold chuck body, adapter, and #2 & #3 tower jaws (my most used) from Hartville Tool, $383. An Axminster SK114 direct thread chuck body and comparable jaws, HF 4" and 50mm O'Donell, from thewoodturningstore came to $495. Depends on the chuck and jaws but there's a significant difference.
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True Doug but - heresy warning- I dont like Oneway chucks and I do not think of them in the same tier as Vicmarc and Axminster. Again….. machined from a solid block of stainless. Including the jaws. If you want jaws that do not get rusty from turning white oak, walnut or other woods that corrode steel… Axminster is your Huckleberry
 
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