Which jaws for Vicmarc VM 100?

[Jack Gaskins]

Hello all, hope everyone is doing well with their turnings. Well I am going to order my first chuck and have decided to get the VM100 from KSM tools in canada. Comes with a standard set of jaws. Since I have only turned pens and am going to expand my turning expereinces, can anyone suggest what other jaws I would really need. I currently will be using the chuck with my jet mini and learning to turn small bowls and lidded boxes. Maybe some small spindle type stuff like tops and finials (I plan to order a beal chuck for holding the tops and finials). This summer I will have enough money saved up to get a large lathe, the PM 3520B😀. Why the PM, why not! 😀. Oh, I also joined the local woodturning chapter here in Indianapolis. Went to my first meeting and demonstration. Man do they have some nice stuff in their shop, including a ONEWAY 2436! Awsome looking lathe I must say. It was also suggested that I order the 1" live tail stock center from Packard because it has a smaller diameter and allows you to get that much closer to the end of you work when working between centers, any thoughts on that?

Anyway if you guys can think of other stuff I may want to purchase for making "anything" then please dont hesitate to list them. I do plan to turn some vessel type stuff with finials on top, hollow forms, bowls, tiny things like lidded boxes and such. As of now I dont even own a bowl gouge, All I own is a jet mini and some stuff need to turn pens. Which that will change soon when I order some of the Thompson gouges.

Thanks guys, Jack

 

[Charlie Knighton]

enjoy, there is no correct path, follow your curve 😀

 

[justaccord]

I assume the 100 is being sold with the standard jaws. Hang out with those for a while and see what your projects need.

HTH

Dave

 

[Gil Jones]

Jack,

If you would like to try some inexpensive jaw sets, these jaws will fit your VicMarc VM-100 (they do fit my Grizzly H6267, and VM-100 chucks interchangeably). The price is fine, and the jaws seem to be well made.

The 4†Dovetail jaw set, H6269, $19.95 + shipping.
http://grizzly.com/products/4-Dovetail-Jaws-For-4-Jaw-Chuck/H6269

The 1†Pin jaw set, H6268, $19.95 + shipping.
http://grizzly.com/products/1-Pin-Jaws-For-4-Jaw-Chuck/H6268

 

[Jack Gaskins]

Jack,

If you would like to try some inexpensive jaw sets, these jaws will fit your VicMarc VM-100 (they do fit my Grizzly H6267, and VM-100 chucks interchangeably). The price is fine, and the jaws seem to be well made.

The 4†Dovetail jaw set, H6269, $19.95 + shipping.
http://grizzly.com/products/4-Dovetail-Jaws-For-4-Jaw-Chuck/H6269

The 1†Pin jaw set, H6268, $19.95 + shipping.
http://grizzly.com/products/1-Pin-Jaws-For-4-Jaw-Chuck/H6268

Yeah those might be a good way to go, better than paying $50 each.

 

[Burt Alcantara]

Jack,
Don't be too hasty in spending your money otherwise you will find yourself with a pile of unused tools. Most of us have these piles. I've found over time that I use fewer and fewer tools to do more and more things. Best is to get just a few tools and by this I mean all things spinny, and get to know how to wring the most from them.

In the end, you will be a better turner.

Burt

 

[john lucas]

I have almost all the jaws for the VM100. My favorites are the small extended jaws. They are great for doing Christmar ornament finials and wine stoppers. I also like the 3" jaws that you can't find just anywhere. I think I got mine from Craft Supplies. I use the 4" jaws a lot but that's because I do hand mirrors with a 4" piece of glass in them. They do work well for large bowls but then I turned a 19" bowl with the 2" jaws when that was all I had.

 

[Jack Gaskins]

Jack,
Don't be too hasty in spending your money otherwise you will find yourself with a pile of unused tools. Most of us have these piles. I've found over time that I use fewer and fewer tools to do more and more things. Best is to get just a few tools and by this I mean all things spinny, and get to know how to wring the most from them.

In the end, you will be a better turner.

Burt

I know what you mean on having a pile of tools. I was really trying to get a solid list of things I would really use or that would come in real handy.

 

[rsser]

The Shark jaws are IMO the most versatile. They provide excellent contraction and expansion grip, and give you a bit more distance from the headstock than the std or 3" jaws. They also work well with VM faceplate rings which are my preferred method of mounting a small to medium bowl blank.

Go for the size whose min diam just overlaps the max diam of the std 50mm jaws.