Supernova 2

I have a Supernova 2, purchased 10 years ago, then for a Jet mini. I never did use it for small bowls (turned a lot of spindles, however).


Now I have a Nova Saturn DVR and want to try my hand at bowls. It seems that I could do with a few accessories for the Supernova 2. Suggestions?


Also, I had a turning friend over yesterday, and he pointed out the the jaw of the Supernova is not dovetailed, but instead has a ring along the lip. Can anyone comment on this? I realise that a dovetail will hold the work piece more securely, but do I need to replace the jaw with a dovetailed one, that is, how much am I missing?


Regards from Perth


Derek

Derek, that lip is a design feature which does work quite well, remembering of course to use that set of jaws within the design parameters as mentioned in the owners manual.

This is from the owners manual.

"The 50mm standard jaw has a thin lip or shoulder at the front face. This is designed to bite into the timber as the jaws are tightened. DO NOT CUT A RECESS FOR THE LIP TO FIT
INTO, AS THIS WILL REDUCE GRIPPING POWER."

We have this chuck at my Men's Shed, it is a good chuck and the various jaws we have, make it a versatile unit.

I myself evaluated various chucks by asking members of my wood turning club why they had purchased what they had. The Supernova 2 chuck is great for most work most people will do, additional jaw sets make it better.

If you were going to specialise in heavy off balanced material; green wood full of water and therefore sometimes much heavier, then I would suggest dovetailed jaws of commensurate size and strength.

I myself went down the Vicmarc route, I have the VM100 and VM120 chucks, one of each. For both of them I have multiple jaw sets, which, apart from specialised jaws, think pin jaws, are all dovetailed. Coupled with Vicmarc face plate rings, these jaw and chuck combinations are quick and safe for doing bowl work.

If you can, borrow a chuck or jaw set with dovetailed jaws, then you can make your own opinion based on usage.

A point of interest, your new lathe is capable of quite fast speeds, check any chuck you use and ensure you don't exceed its rotational design speed. I cannot remember about Nova chucks, but Vicmarc chucks display their designed top speed on the back plate.

Mick.

Derek, if you want the dovetail jaws they are on special atm at carbatec

https://www.carbatec.com.au/woodturn...l-50mm-jaw-set

Rick

Most of the chucks used by turners around here are Nova, and many are Supernova2, and I’ve not heard any complaints of the grip not being adequate. I’ve had a piece or two pull the spigot off completely, but not seen one pulled out of the jaws.

Hi Derek

The SN2 chuck is a great little workhorse for jaws up to 100mm.

The jaw set style that you have has fallen out of favour. One of the disadvantages of them was that they had no inside clamping grip. The dovetail (in and out) are now the default.

If you are after the 50mm dovetail jaws, I think I have a few spare 50mm dovetail jaws for the SN2 (the chucks usually came with a set of those). If you would like one of those, let me know.

I'll think about what other jaw sets you might need for bowl turning. Have you decided on what method you are going to use for bowl turning? Most important consideration is how you will finish off the foot. Also, whether you will use the chuck to hold in expansion or contraction mode when turning the inside of the bowl. This thread from some time ago has some views expressed about that.

Only today I logged in to see what jaws are available for the SN2 now... and Geeze Louise! Talk about spoiled for choice! :oo:

The selection available is, IMHO, truly ridiculous.

Anyways, I would recommend:

• the jaws you already have (the default supplied with the chuck, from memory usually either a 35mm or 45mm bowl jaw, depending on time/place of purchase)
• a set of cole jaws for cleaning up/refinishing the underside of bowls
• a set of pin jaws
• a set of either shark-tooth or power-grip jaws for pieces that need loooong tenons. Goblets, anybody?

Perhaps a set of pen-blank jaws as well, if that tickles your fancy.

That should cover the majority of holding needs.

I also use (a lot!) a ring that has a dovetailed recess machined into the inner face. This can be screwed onto the piece similarly to a faceplate, but then fitted to the bowl jaws in expansion mode. Quite versatile but I couldn't find any available online.

Lovely to use, but if you misused 'em (fitting 'em to the wrong jaws, perhaps) things could quickly go wrong in a big way.

:think: Perhaps Teknatool decided they were too risky and took them off market? Dunno. But I still frequently find them useful for certain jobs.

I guess that's also why they moved to the ringed- instead of dovetailed jaws. It's easier for a newb to make a squared recess than to make a dovetailed one that's both the right diameter and angle for maximum holding power.

FWIW, I'm of the "I'll only buy dovetailed" persuasion, but let's not get into that can of worms, eh? ;)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by NeilS

Hi Derek

The SN2 chuck is a great little workhorse for jaws up to 100mm.

The jaw set style that you have has fallen out of favour. One of the disadvantages of them was that they had no inside clamping grip. The dovetail (in and out) are now the default.

If you are after the 50mm dovetail jaws, I think I have a few spare 50mm dovetail jaws for the SN2 (the chucks usually came with a set of those). If you would like one of those, let me know.

I'll think about what other jaw sets you might need for bowl turning. Have you decided on what method you are going to use for bowl turning? Most important consideration is how you will finish off the foot. Also, whether you will use the chuck to hold in expansion or contraction mode when turning the inside of the bowl. This thread from some time ago has some views expressed about that.

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Neil, tank you for your offer. Hugely appreciated. However, I may as well purchase a set (as in Rick's link, above) as they are on special, plus I think the Coles Jaws are likely to be helpful, so I would be getting both at the same time - I've been thinking about this for a while. (Thanks Skew!)

To check, these have the dovetail jaws? https://www.carbatec.com.au/woodturn...l-50mm-jaw-set

And this is the Coles Jaw I should get? https://www.carbatec.com.au/woodturn...w-set-large-12

My aim is to do a few simple bowls and plates over the Christmas break (outside of a couple of furniture builds and stripping bloody windows and re-finishing them! :-). Anything else that fits in with this that is essential?

Regards from Perth

Derek

Quote:

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Originally Posted by derekcohen

And this is the Coles Jaw I should get? https://www.carbatec.com.au/woodturn...w-set-large-12

Derek

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a man of your skills you should be able to knock up one of these and save yourself some cash :)

https://www.carbatec.com.au/article/...ongworth-chuck

Rick

Quote:

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Originally Posted by derekcohen

To check, these have the dovetail jaws? https://www.carbatec.com.au/woodturn...l-50mm-jaw-set

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This site has a better photo of the NOVA 50mm Jaws (TK-JS50N). At least you can see what you're getting.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by derekcohen

And this is the Coles Jaw I should get? https://www.carbatec.com.au/woodturn...w-set-large-12

....

Anything else that fits in with this that is essential?

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My starter set would be the 50mm jaws & 100mm jaws.

I assume if you are getting the Cole Jaws you will be giving the bottom of your bowls and plates the 'bare bum look', so the above two sets of jaws will be more than adequate for blanks up to 300mm diameter, which those Cole Jaws will handle.

Next question, do you still have the woodworm screw that came with the chuck? If so, that should do for the initial mounting blanks up to 300mm diam.

For larger diameter blanks I use the Faceplate Rings that Skew has referred to above, fitted to 100mm jaws (or 130mm, but not on the SN2). However, those can wait until you venture above 300mm diam. You can hang a large diameter blank off those 100mm faceplate rings, but then you have to start thinking about how you will hold them to give them the 'bare bum look'. Perhaps a larger set of Cole or Longworth jaws, or maybe jam chucking.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by derekcohen

To check, these have the dovetail jaws? https://www.carbatec.com.au/woodturn...l-50mm-jaw-set

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They do in the picture. :)

Quote:

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And this is the Coles Jaw I should get? https://www.carbatec.com.au/woodturn...w-set-large-12

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They're what I would've bought if I hadn't made a longworth chuck instead. (I wish I'd seen that link Rick :aro-u: posted back then; would've saved me a lot of trial and error.)

Quote:

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My aim is to do a few simple bowls and plates over the Christmas break (outside of a couple of furniture builds and stripping bloody windows and re-finishing them! :-). Anything else that fits in with this that is essential?

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Nothing is essential, beyond something to spin the blank and a sharp tool to poke it with. :) But, pedantry aside, the above should be sufficient to make it easy to achieve a fruitful chrissie production run.

G'luck with the stripping! [shudder]

I had a bit of a think about what I need to purchase. I will make do with the existing 50mm jaws. I also have a screw chuck, and these should get me by with up to 12" pieces. See how it goes. I have splurged on a 12" Coles accessory for the Supernova - yes, I could make one, however I really do not want to spend the time doing so now.

Thanks for the input - I will be along again to ask more questions.

Regards from Perth

Derek