As I'm starting to look for an entry evel lathe I've noticed that some chucks use 2 levers to tighten insted of a key. Other than the obvious drawback of needing 2 hands to tighten these chucks do they work nearly as well as a keyed chuck?

Are they satisfactory for a entry level unit?

 

I don't have the "tommy bar" style chuck.  However, the drawback you mention seems to be the only one.  A lot of the videos on you tube feature experienced turners using the chuck you describe.  From what I understand you can get that style chuck tighter using the bars than you can with other chucks that use keys or hex wrenches. 

 

FWIW I have the chuck key style and the hex key style.  I like the hex key style better.

I have a "tommy bar" chuck and a "chuck key" chuck. It is pretty much as you and Greg have already said. You can get it on tight with the tommy bars, but it does take two hands to tighten. You can in a lot most cases take them off with one hand as you are usually pulling them together at that point.

 

My chuck key chuck is a Nova G3. While I was at the turning symposium I heard it discussed about the geared key and the hex key. Most of them would prefer the hex key. You can use an Allen wrench for the key should you lose it. With the gear key I understand that many times people get in a hurry and don't set the key all the way and break a tooth off the gear. At that point the chuck is a lose. Some of this I didn't know until just recently.

 

With all that said, I am happy with the two I have and use them regularly. If I was looking for my first one now, I would look for one with the hex key.

 

It is a little more money, but I hear a lot of good things about the Vicmarc VM100. When I purchase another chuck, that will be the one I will spring for. It has an enclosed body to keep dust and chips from getting into the gears. It uses the hex key to tighter. Craft Supplies USA carries the Vicmarc. Once you have a good chuck, you will find you will use it all the time so it is worth the money to invest in. Of course you will most likely have more than one just to keep from changing jaws all the time.

Thanks gentlemen I appreciate the input. I'm probably going to have to wait for a higher quality hex keyed chuck so I may wind up buying a medium quality tommy bar chuck for starters. SWMBO needs to be kept happy as we are spending a good chunk of cash on a RV this spring. Thusly my tool budget was diminished this year.

John, I use my tommy bar chuck all the time. So it is not a bad way to go. I have turned several pieces using it so it will do a great job for you.

 

Let us know when you pick it up and get started with it.

 

Do you know which one you decided on?