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Vicmarc Chuck Warning

Mark Mandell

Mark Mandell

Joined
Apr 25, 2004
Messages
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Location
Annandale, New Jersey
This is for those who have purchased a Vicmarc VM-120 (5-1/2") lathe chuck in the past 2 years.

Picked up a post on WoodCentral last night regarding CS sending out recall notices to their customers who bought the large Vicmarc VM-120 scroll chucks during the past 24 months. I called CS Tech Support this morning and was told that there has been a problem with either the alloy or the hardening of the jaw slides such that they become too brittle and can snap under load; not a pretty prospect. Tech and Notice said to stop using the chuck immediately.

Anyone who has bought one of these chucks during the period should contact their vendor about the situation. I was told that you can identify your chuck as being part of the suspect group if the ends of the slides that hold the jaws are black rather than chrome colored.

Let's all stay safe!

Mark
 
Update

Just received the following from Vicmarc:

"Hi Mark

There was a batch of faulty backing jaws and the people who may have received these were contacted by Craft Supplies and advised of this. If your chuck jaws have not caused you any problem then they are not part of this recall.


Regards
Linda Morton
For and On behalf of Vicmarc"

Seems as though only folks who bought through CS are effected. Do think, however, that I'll be a bit more cautious until I hear from my supplier directly. Have no wish to be the film at 11.

M
 
Third Update!

Was just contacted by Brad Packard who disclosed that the problem with the VM-120's was experienced with some of the scroll gear teeth on the slides breaking from over-hardening. THIS WAS NOT A DISMOUNT or FLYING JAWS or OTHER OPERATOR SAFETY PROBLEM. Most of the effected chucks broke during early use and resulted in the chuck being jammed by the broken teeth.

Thanks Brad Packard for the full info!!

M
 
That's good to hear Mark.

I am really quite impressed with much of the equipment on the market for woodturners these days. I have a Oneway Stronghold chuck. And there have been times where I cranked it as hard as I could on larger pieces. The chuck must have 500 to 1000 hours on it and it doesn't seem to have any real problems.

I wish at some point that a chuck gets invented where the jaw changes are easier. Maybe some kind of snap or slide in arrangement with a lock. I seem to alternate between #2 and #3 jaws on a regular basis, sometimes multiple times in a day. (Maybe I just need to break down and get a second chuck...can you hear that wallet creaking open?)
 
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