PSI Baracuda 2 Chuck System

[eemer]

I received the Baracuda2 Chuck system yesterday by Big Brown Truck. I've opened it and removed the dreaded Chinese shipping oil/crud from all the parts and it indeed looks like they have a much better machine finish on the parts over the standard PSI chuck. (not better than a Nova, Vicmark or One-Way, but for Chinese machining, it looks good!). The wooden box was solid and inside even had a "shipping clamp" to hold the parts in place, had to remove a screw to take out the clamp.

I will be testing out this chuck and all 3 sets of jaws along with their version of the woodworm screw that came with it. I have both 3/4" x 16 and 1" x 8 lathes, so I can check it for "true" on each system. The jaws on this chuck also have "teeth" for better holding power, and it has a square recess "T" handle for one-hand tightening rather than the Tommy-Bars that the Utility chucks have. I will also test whether the jaws from this chuck will interchange with the Utility Chuck.

[Servcman]

will be waitng to hear how it does. I have an older chuck I bought at a flea market it was a good quality chuck in its day but now wants to loosen every now and then just from age and use. I was looking at the email special from penn state and others but didn't want to take the plunge til I heard more about the different chucks. I have a knockoff of the delta / psi turncraft pro lathe.
Dennis

[eemer]

Only got to do a little with the new chuck this weekend.
It is an extreme improvement over the PSI Utility Chuck (don't get me worng - the 2 utility chucks I have work fine I'll continue using them - 1 will get the jumbo flat jaws mounted permanently), the "T" handle for tightening makes it so much easier to grip your piece.
The gears for the "T" handle are a little rough, but a little bit of lithium grease smoothed them out pretty well (I am sure if you use a One-Way, Nova or Vicmark - they would be a lot smoother - but again you get what you pay for!).
The Jaws from the Utility chuck have the same bolt pattern, but the locating key (or groove) is just opposite from the Baracuda, so they are not interchangeable. This is not a problem because the chuck system comes with the #1, #2 & #3 Jaws as well as the Pin jays and screw adapter - so it comes with everything you would need, except the Jumbo Flat Jaws.
The Gripping "teeth" seem to hold well - more on this when I get a little more turning time.
Ran true on both the 1" x 8 and 3/4" x 16 lathes (notorious problem with the Utility Chucks and almost always the problem was the adapter, not the chuck).
So far, I like it and think I'll probably be using it more and more.

More on the review as I get more time to get to the shop and give it a real workout!

Now the excuse for the delay in the product test!

The weather was in the upper 50's - low 60's here (almost Never seen at this time of the year in Vermont) so I spent most of the weekend outside buttoning up for winter. Putting the porch furniture and lawn equipment away and getting the snowblower ready for the long, long cold, cold winter ahead. And of course cleaning up the shop furnace and getting it ready for a busy, busy winter of woodworking!!!!


I'll be in Boston this Friday at the New England International Auto Show, but I think I'll get some time in with it this weekend. So Far I REALLY LIKE IT!!!!