Shopsmith Forums

Hi,

I'm wondering if any of you in the community have a recommendation regarding an economical but decent quality chuck that I could attach to my Mark VII. My son has caught the woodworking bug and I'd like to do a new project with him: turning a wooden bowl. It's been a couple of decades since I've done this myself, so it'll be an adventure :-)

At this point we can't spend a lot on new equipment, so suggestions regarding any relatively economical options are appreciated!

hobbyist7 wrote:Hi,

I'm wondering if any of you in the community have a recommendation regarding an economical but decent quality chuck that I could attach to my Mark VII. My son has caught the woodworking bug and I'd like to do a new project with him: turning a wooden bowl. It's been a couple of decades since I've done this myself, so it'll be an adventure :-)

At this point we can't spend a lot on new equipment, so suggestions regarding any relatively economical options are appreciated!

Have you considered getting a couple of face plates? Admittedly, there will be limitations on what you can do, but if we're talking basic bowls, then a faceplate will work and allow you to teach him good techniques and an alternative to chuck work. Then, if he really has the bug and shows some aptitude, you can invest in a chuck. Maybe he can produce enough stuff to sell to friends and families and buy a good chuck. The more he has personally invested in this, the better for both of you.

Using faceplates is a good way to start into bowl turning. You can either run screws directly into the bowl blank, or you can use a glue block screwed to the faceplate and use brown paper between it and the bowl blank itself. Mount the glue block to the faceplate with screws, flaten the block while mounted on the spindle with a scraper, then glue a sheet of brown paper bag (a brown paper grocery bag works well) between the glue block and the bowl blank, using clamps until the glue dries. After you turn the bowl and finish it, use a sharp chisel to separate the bowl from the glue block. Using paper between the two allows for a clean separation. Just sand the bottom of the bowl to remove any residue.

If you're really looking for cheap, the previous owner of my Greenie drilled holes in the 12 inch disk sander and used that for a faceplate.

I'm sure someone will reply and point out that the disk sander wasn't built strong enough for that. The holes I found in the disk only support about a 4" diameter workpiece. In fact there was a 3.5-4 inch parted-off piece of scrap still screwed to the disk when I bought it, and the disk still runs true.

Just a data point; your mileage may vary.

[quote="Culprit"]If you're really looking for cheap, the previous owner of my Greenie drilled holes in the 12 inch disk sander and used that for a faceplate.

I'm sure someone will reply and point out that the disk sander wasn't built strong enough for that. The holes I found in the disk only support about a 4" diameter workpiece. In fact there was a 3.5-4 inch parted-off piece of scrap still screwed to the disk when I bought it, and the disk still runs true.

Just a data point]

Sanding disk is cheaper than face plates? No I have not looked. I be surprised if so!

I purchased the Nova G3 a couple of Christmases ago, and have used it a few times. It would be much better on a real lathe, as the shopsmith has a difficult to adjust tool rest and when you use a toolrest (which is always), you can't get close enough to a live center in some cases, without extending the quill. I must say the newer (1989) headstock with a double bearing is a marked improvement over the Greenie (1955) single bearing quill. Much steadier.

I'd recommend the Nova G3, and I will be making a bowl chuck soon, so I can flip over the bowl and remove the tenon. There really should be a better tool rest, and I wish someone would let me beta test one.

Shopsmith Face plate. Good quality and price compared to others.

http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/cata ... plates.htm

I just purchased a chuck from PSI woodworking through Amazon.

https://forum.shopsmith.com/viewtopic.php?t=9978

JPG40504 wrote:Sanding disk is cheaper than face plates? No I have not looked. I be surprised if so!

I am assuming that he already has a sanding disk, but doesn't have a faceplate.

Culprit wrote:I am assuming that he already has a sanding disk, but doesn't have a faceplate.

I was not considering sacrificial lambs!;)