What is a Woodturning Lathe Chuck?

What is a lathe chuck used for in woodturning? A lathe chuck, also referred to as a scroll chuck, is a wood lathe accessory that is used to secure turning blanks.

Rather than mount your bowl turning blank on a lathe faceplate, it's easier to turn a bowl using a four-jaw lathe chuck. As the name suggests, this type of chuck has four jaws, and these jaws can be adjusted in and out to hold a workpiece, either by contracting around a turned tenon or expanding into a recess you turn in the workpiece.

What is a Lathe Chuck?

Using a four-jaw self-centering lathe chuck is an easy and effective way to secure bowl turning blanks and small spindle turning blanks on a wood lathe.

Another effective way to mount a bowl turning blank is with a screw chuck insert. This deep thread screw is secured in the lathe chuck and the bowl blank is threaded onto the screw chuck. They are included in many lathe chuck kits. (Note: Turning blank (above) is cut away to show screw chuck insert)

You can purchase a lathe chucks and accessories individually or in kits that include a variety of accessories. Our best selling lathe chuck bundle is this Nova Pro-Tek G3 Chuck Bundle. This kit includes the Pro-Tek 2'' (50mm) jaws, the 4'' JS100N jaws, JSPIN Pin Jaws, a T-handled hex wrench, a screw chuck insert, a case and all the necessary washers and screws to assemble the scroll chuck. This lathe chuck features a 1'' x 8TPI direct thread, and is designed for use on lathes with 1'' x 8TPI spindles. This lathe chuck kit is well-suited for mini and midi lathes with up to a 16'' swing over the bed. .

You can purchase different types and sizes of jaw sets individually or in a bundle to suit your turning projects. This Lathe Chuck Jaw Accessory Bundle includes the top three most popular sets of Nova accessory jaws, which add range and versatility to your Nova Chuck. The set includes: a 1'' Jaw Set, a 4'' Jaw Set, and Cole Jaws that are designed for re-chucking bowls with the bottom side exposed in order to remove chuck marks, add decoration or to re-shape the bottom of the bowl.

The jaws in a lathe chuck can be exchanged for variety of jaw types and sizes. The jaws are typically secured to the lathe chuck with hex screws.

Specs to Consider When Buying a Lathe Chuck

Four-jaw lathe chucks are an investment, so you want to choose wisely. Here are a few considerations to keep in mind when deciding on the best lathe chuck for you.

Lathe Size Manufacturers typically offer different models of four-jaw chucks designed for specific lathe size ranges. A chuck that provides the needed heft, capacity and strength for large projects on a 2hp lathe with 20" swing over bed might simply be too massive for a 1/2hp mini lathe with 10" swing. Look for a chuck that's sized for your lathe.

Insert vs. Direct-thread Chucks: Some chucks thread directly onto the headstock drive spindle, while others require the use of a separate insert/adapter. Direct-thread chucks can be a little less expensive, but they only fit lathes with matching drive spindle specifications. If you switch to a lathe with different drive spindle specifications, the chuck won't work. With insert chucks, inserts/adapters are available for a variety of drive spindle specifications, so you can just get a different insert if you change lathes.

Drive Spindle Specs: As mentioned above, different lathes are likely to have different drive spindle specifications. These specifications are expressed with one number indicating the diameter of the spindle and another specifying the number of threads per inch (TPI) on the spindle — for example, 1"-8TPI. Whether you opt for an insert or direct-thread chuck, it's important that you know the drive spindle specifications for your lathe. You don't want to buy a direct-thread chuck for a 1"-8TPI spindle only to find out that your lathe has a 1-1/4"-8TPI spindle. Chuck manufacturers make chucks with threads to fit almost any lathe's spindle size and thread count, so buy the chuck that fits the spindle of your lathe. If you have an unusual spindle size and/or thread, you can have an adapter made.

Jaws: Four-jaw chucks come with a standard set of jaws (usually around 2") to get you started. A variety of interchangeable jaw sets are available for different types and sizes of turning projects. If you need to hold much smaller or larger workpieces, you'll want to look at other jaw sets. As you explore turning with the chuck, you'll discover which jaw sets would be most beneficial to your application.

How to Clean and Assemble a Lathe Chuck

If you frequently use a scroll chuck, then you'll occasionally need to clean it. This video demonstrates how to disassemble and clean a woodturning scroll chuck.

Woodturning Tip: How do you prevent or remove marks left by lathe scroll chuck jaws?

How to Turn a Bowl Using a Four-Jaw Lathe Chuck