I'm about to purchase a wood lathe. What are some good choices for lathe chucks? I was looking at a collet style for the head stock and a live center in the tail stock. Does anyone us a Jacobs style in the tail stock to ensure the mandrel doesn't walk backwards off the tail stock? I could just use mandrels without the ends center bored then correct? Below are links to the parts I'm looking at.


[www.pennstateind.com]
[www.pennstateind.com]

Thanks in advance,
Jon

I have that same collet chuck and use it with mandrels and a live center. Works well. I also have a small Nova chuck which I use on occasion.

I use drill chuck with ball bearing and a MT 2 as a tailstock and Jacobs with MT2 on the motor side ( as a headstock)

I use drill chuck with ball bearing and a MT 2 as a tailstock and Jacobs with MT2 on the motor side ( as a headstock)

I use drill chuck with ball bearing and a MT 2 as a tailstock and Jacobs with MT2 on the motor side ( as a headstock)

I use the Collet chuck head and Jacobs live tail. Work great with mandrels of different sizes if you have the multiple collets.

Jon,
I prefer to use an open center 3-Jaw chuck in the head stock. In contrast to a Jacob's chuck, this allows me to slide the mandrel through the chuck to minimize any unused mandrel length.

I use a pointed end - ball bearing live tail stock. I use a 60 degree center point drill to put 60 degree center points in each end of any mandrel that I use.

[www.grizzly.com]

[www.pennstateind.com]

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When I am drilling, I use a Jacobs chuck in the tail stock, a ball bearing work rest, and a 3 jaw chuck in the head stock:

[www.rodbuilding.org]

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When turning a grip, I use a small point in the head stock to secure the grip, and then use a small ended 60 degree center point live tail stock:
[www.rodbuilding.org]

[www.pennstateind.com]

[www.pennstateind.com]

Tons of great info guys. Thank you for all the input!