Record Power SC4 Woodturning Chuck Unboxing and Review 

Thanks Mike great review. Clear and informative. I bought a SC4 some months ago and have found it as good as the Super Nova 2 that I have had for years. They are both great chucks Being able to interchange jaws with my Nova greatly increases flexibility and set-up in my workshop. To nip up and also remove the chuck from the lathe spindle is easily accomplished by use of the large end of the spanner provided engaged in the sockets used to expand or close the jaws. However to perform chuck removal using the small end of the spanner in the threaded insert hole does give rise to spanner slippage issues I have found. I only ever just NIP the chuck up. No hero moves required. And have never had a chuck come loose in operation. I also enjoy the grip provided by the standard jaw and the fact that NO DOVETAIL IS REQUIRED for fit. Thanks for drawing attention to that feature. I have on many occasions pointed that out fact to fellow woodturners who have had issue with their work holding. Thanks again

Suggestion for a future video : Please explain how to best use the indexing plate on the back of the chuck. Thanks

Hi Mike, Thanks for the review, very interesting, all the best Harry

excellent information i got a g3 my first and only chuck but have been looking at the g2 for larger projects nice to know the jaws are interchangeable

Hi Mike. I have only ever bought and use Teknatool chucks in my workshop but have had on occasion use record and some very bad cheaper Chinese chucks.When record first stated selling chucks they sold re branded Teknatool chucks and I find the the new type they are selling are a knock out of the Teknatool design.The thing I find with Teknatool chucks is that the jaws made in the early seventies fit the most up to date chucks they make .I have a midi chuck made way back when (1970s) which takes all the modem jaws and if I had the inclination I could set it up with the new clip on style. This midi chuck is still working very well after 40yrs of hard labor. It was from the first production of the four jaw chucks ,at that time they were not putting there brand on them( Nova ) that show how close it is to being one of the first four jaw chucks made by Teknatool ,it is now my dedicated Cole jaw chuck. I have found that most chucks I have used are in some way a copy of the Teknatool product as Teknatool invented the four jaw chuck way back when. The only thing that I don't like about the Teknatool product is that it is now made in china instead of New Zealand or the USA. Great un boxing Mike I very much enjoy your videos you have a lot of knowledge and thank you for shearing it I get a lot out of it and you have taught me a lot. Sorry for being so long winded hahaha :o)

Nice review. It is good to know the 35mm bowl jaws are different from the Nova. It looks like the 75mm jaws are the same though.

The review is certainly appreciated. I've been kicking around the idea of getting one of these myself. Really like the Teknatool chucks and jaws and have the midi and Supernova 2 chucks that I really like, but the largest majority of turners in my club firmly believe in the Vicmarc chucks. They are great but I have a hard time spending that kind of money.

Hi Mike , I found this review very helpful as I am considering getting a new chuck ,I checked out the prices this side of the pond which is about £130. Think I'll be getting this any time soon ! Thanks Mike, Cheers Bram

Hi Mike, Great review! I've been subscribed for a while now and have enjoyed all of your videos. They're clear, concise, and very informative. You're one of my favorites on RU-vid. The Record Power chuck looks very interesting to me. I have a Nova G3 and don't really like it at all. There is a TON of play in the jaw slides. At a minimum, on each slide when the jaws are attached there is no less than 1/16" of wobble. This has been an issue when turning a small finial, pen blank, or what ever. I cannot rely on the piece being truly centered. My OneWay Talon has virtually no play at all in the slides, so I end up using it more often even though I like the Nova jaws better. WoodCraft has the Record Power S3 for $150 which is not a bad price at all. I may just give it a try. Thanks for posting this! I never would have known if the chuck existed or not until I saw this.

Thanks very much for your reply. I agree the hawk beak provides a super grip. And as you point out, used with a parallel tenon. Enjoying all your RU-vid video's.

There are two different 1 1/4x8 inserts. Be aware that only the 2132 Thread Adaptor 1-1/4” x 8 TPI UNS-RHhas a threaded hole and insert screw to secure the chuck when in reverse. The other one, 2162, does not and I understand that model is being discontinued.

Thanks for the review. I have a Nova G3 and two SN2 chucks but knowing that the jaw sets from several manufacturers will fit may be something to look into should I find the need for an additional jaw set or a different chuck to fill a need. Good information. Thanks.

Mike, I understand there is no grub screw on the SC4 for reverse turning. Should that be a concern for the chuck coming off? Thanks Roger D.

mike will the jaws on your g3 interchange with the sc3 chuck,,,just a quick note to your viewers,,i had a teknatool infinity chuck that was about 2 yrs old and one of the pins that release the jaws would not release,,called teknatool and it was replaced within one week and they paid postage both ways,,,superb customer service!!!!

Going be getting this chuck soon! Have anyone ever said you look a little like Tom hanks

Just saw this on sale at woodcraft so thanks for the review.

Hi Mike, Thanks for the review. Did I understand you to say that the Teknatool, Sorby Patriot and Record Power jaws are all usable on my Super Nova 2? If so, that is really good to know. Personally, I am very happy with my SN2 although it does seem backwards to turn the key counterclockwise to tighten down on something. Thanks again, Charlie

Mike... Please look on your new Record chuck insert and see if it has a set screw to fasten the insert & chuck to the lathe headstock to prevent it unscrewing during reverse turning... I'm sure you've used your lathe in reverse to facilitate a different sanding presence, and the set screw on the insert prevents the chuck from 'unscrewing' itself in the reverse direction and causing a nasty accident. I'm curious as my other Nova chuck inserts have a set screw to prevent this and would not purchase a record chuck/insert if it didn't have a set screw to prevent this issue. Thanks again for all you do and safe turning to you!

Thanks Mike for a great review of the Record chucks and jaws! I've been looking at them since Craftsupply started carrying them as they seem to be nicely made and finished. One question though, does the insert that comes with the chuck have a set screw to allow reverse turning? Thanks again for all of your videos and sharing your expertise! Safe turning always!

Mike ... Thanks for the review. I have two Nova G3's and a Nova Infinity. I adapted the G3's to use the Infinity quick-change jaws ... nice but a bit pricey. I have been considering the need for a bigger chuck (e.g. the Nova Titan or SN2) ... maybe the Record would be a good fit.

Thank you for the review. I would like to purchase the SC4 but I have a question about the inserts. I have an old PM90 lathe that is 1 1/2” x 8 (38mm x 8). I have a Nova G3 that threads straight on without any insert. My question is if the record power uses the same exterior thread as the Nova on inserts? I contacted Record Power and asked them what the threads on their inserts were but I cannot seem to ask the right questions for them to tell me the pitch on the exterior of the inserts. Any help would be most appreciated.

They are similar because Teknatool makes Record chucks. Record also sells Teknatool lathes.

Thanks for the very good appraisal of the SC4 chuck. Does the SC4 have a locking screw for use when the lathe is spinning in reverse and would it damage the spindle at all? Thanks James

Did you happen to notice how the jaw travel compares between this and the supernova2?

Hi Mike, just wondering if the profile of the Hawk Beak will work as well on a very shallow tenon. Nice review Lee

Mike, I'm getting in on this pretty late... Do you know if the Nova inserts will fit the Record? Reason I ask is my Nova inserts have the grub screw to be able to turn/sand in reverse.

What do you do about the fact that you cannot reverse directions of the spindle for sanding? I just bought one of these on your suggestion and now, after reading in the manual that there is no way of securing the chuck adapter, 1 1/4 in x 8 TPI, to the spindle, I cannot reverse directions for sanding. I just bought a PM2014 lathe. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

You had me until you said made in China. No way