Chucks are a basic accessory that woodturners quickly realize they could never live without. The modern chuck is simple to use and offers a  quick, strong, positive grip for most turning projects, and makes turning a real joy. The chuck was originally a metalworker’s tool, and for  years and years before the chuck was in widespread use by turners, jamb chucking, glue blocks, faceplates, and all sorts of other ingenious  devices were used. There are still times and places where those options do a fine job, especially in repetitive production-type woodturning.  Most woodturners, however, do not usually hold the same shaped object twice and really enjoy the flexibility of a chuck. In fact, they soon  discover that it is a whole new world of woodturning when they get their first chuck.

Modern, 4-jawed, self-centering chucks have screwon, removable jaws, and each set of jaws is designed to hold a specific range of diameters. Most serious turners, over a period of time, acquire a  number of different-size jaws for their chuck. In fact, many turners have several different chucks which are often different brands, each with jaws that are not interchangeable. It can get quite confusing.

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Color Coded Chuck Temps