Skew ChiDAMN!!
21st December 2006, 07:12 PM
I was recently asked a seemingly simple enough question: what's the Nova equivalent to Vicmarc's Shark Jaws? Seemingly simple, until you realise that Nova don't make a one-to-one equivalent.
In my opinion the closest visual match would be the Nova Long Nose Jaws (http://cws-store.yahoostore.com.au/cgi/index.cgi/shopfront/view_product_details?category_id=1107144839&product_id=1107419009). However I believe these are longer than the Shark Jaws, which would mean that they'd handle longer items without tailstock support in compression mode (ie. take a longer spigot) but would have less holding power in expansion mode when used safely. (Assuming that they're used with a std. 5mm recess, unlike pin-jaws which are used full-depth.)
If, instead of looking for a one-to-one match, you're looking for the strongest grip I'd have to say it's the Powergrip Jaws (http://cws-store.yahoostore.com.au/cgi/index.cgi/shopfront/view_product_details?category_id=1107144839&product_id=1107369271) but AFAIK they have no expansion mode capability at all. I don't know that I'd be using them for my goblet blanks, either. Big, humongous bowl blanks, yes. Goblets? Nar, I'll pass. ;)
Personally I use the Nova Spigot Jaws (http://cws-store.yahoostore.com.au/cgi/index.cgi/shopfront/view_product_details?category_id=1107144839&product_id=1107369268) because with the thicker material at the base I feel safer giving that extra twist to the wrench when tightening, meaning more power to the grip in either mode. Slightly shorter than the Shark Jaws and the extra material at the base means less clearance to to the chuck body in expansion mode, but there's still enough clearance to safely make touch-up cuts and sand the base of the bowl up to the lip of the recess. To my mind, these are the closest to the Shark Jaws in terms of actual use.
Now, I don't have the Shark Jaws myself, although I have used 'em elsewhere, so I can't do a direct comparison. I'm interested in what others think, though... what would you say is the Nova equivalent?
In my opinion the closest visual match would be the Nova Long Nose Jaws (http://cws-store.yahoostore.com.au/cgi/index.cgi/shopfront/view_product_details?category_id=1107144839&product_id=1107419009). However I believe these are longer than the Shark Jaws, which would mean that they'd handle longer items without tailstock support in compression mode (ie. take a longer spigot) but would have less holding power in expansion mode when used safely. (Assuming that they're used with a std. 5mm recess, unlike pin-jaws which are used full-depth.)
If, instead of looking for a one-to-one match, you're looking for the strongest grip I'd have to say it's the Powergrip Jaws (http://cws-store.yahoostore.com.au/cgi/index.cgi/shopfront/view_product_details?category_id=1107144839&product_id=1107369271) but AFAIK they have no expansion mode capability at all. I don't know that I'd be using them for my goblet blanks, either. Big, humongous bowl blanks, yes. Goblets? Nar, I'll pass. ;)
Personally I use the Nova Spigot Jaws (http://cws-store.yahoostore.com.au/cgi/index.cgi/shopfront/view_product_details?category_id=1107144839&product_id=1107369268) because with the thicker material at the base I feel safer giving that extra twist to the wrench when tightening, meaning more power to the grip in either mode. Slightly shorter than the Shark Jaws and the extra material at the base means less clearance to to the chuck body in expansion mode, but there's still enough clearance to safely make touch-up cuts and sand the base of the bowl up to the lip of the recess. To my mind, these are the closest to the Shark Jaws in terms of actual use.
Now, I don't have the Shark Jaws myself, although I have used 'em elsewhere, so I can't do a direct comparison. I'm interested in what others think, though... what would you say is the Nova equivalent?