Not Up To PSI Standards

I can only give this item 3 stars because as the Screw Chuck it's awful. The screw exhibits unacceptable runout which is glaringly visible to the eye. It came with 2 screw sizes and they both wobble! I purchased two chucks & they both exhibit the same runout. If I thought a screw replacement would fix this I'd keep these chucks but the threaded center hole is either not drilled & tapped on center or it was not drilled square to the face plate. This was tested with a straight threaded rod screwed into the chuck's threaded hole. All the other negative reviews about the screw, set screw & flat apply here too... Bad design! Also, one of the chuck's was missing the Allen key. For those that are looking for a small faceplate, this is a nice little chuck. The face runs true and the register clearance is properly undercut for the shoulder of the chuck to seat against to spindle shoulder. I don't need two more faceplates though. I don't think that a serious turner cares whether their screw chucks have removable screws or not. If affixing it permanently is what it takes to make it run true and cure the set screw issues then PSI should consider doing just that. The set screw will eventually bugger up the machine screw threads and make it nearly impossible to remove it anyway. Keeping a closer eye on quality control wouldn't hurt either. PSI has a good reputation. Good QC will go a long way in keeping it that way.

Well worth the cost.

The center screws on these are too small to be of any use other than being used as a locator until the four other screws are inserted. Reviews by other users seem to confirm that. That being so why not simply have a stud in the middle of say 5/16 in diameter and about ¾ inch long and simply push the plate in the piece you would be working on after drilling a 5/16 diameter hole in the middle of it. Then instead of screwing the faceplate in before inserting the four retaining screws you simply push it in. I took that option and made a 5/16 stud threaded the section that goes into the faceplate 6mm. I still think that this item deserves the 5 stars.

center screw is inferior

After using this item for a couple months now I have lowered my evaluation. The plate itself is solid however the center screws and the retaining set screws are TOTALLY inadequate. I have replaced the center screw 3 times. They strip out on the retaining ens because the flat side which the retaining set screw pushes on is too small and doesn't hold. The set screw itself is cheap ... hey, PSI sent them free with the replacement screws I bought - what does that say? I'll recommend and continue to use.

Rock Solid Faceplate

Wish I would have read the reviews first before using. Had the same problem with the center screw. Stripped out the set screw trying to tighten it down. Located a new set screw, ground a flat face on a NEW center screw and now its perfect. Recommend PSI provide a longer set screw and a flat faced center screw and its money.

Faceplate

Really nice quality faceplate. Works perfectly. Arrived sooner than I expected.

4 inch Screw Chuck

The center screw machine tread end was too short for the locking set screw to hold the screw in place. If you grind off the wood screw end a 1/16 of an inch and then reinstall the set screw will then hold. After this procedure this is a very good product and I would recommend it.

Set screw doesn't do the job

The first time I used this the set screw would not grab the drive screw. It spun and stripped the threads off the top of the screw. The allen wrench is too small to get good leverage on the set screw. I would not buy this product again. However, the 3" faceplate/screw chuck works great!

4

Solid and accurate.

4" Faceplate

Product is very well made and runs perfectly true on my lathe. Great size for doing small and large turnings.

Needed some tweeking

This faceplate works fine for my needs after some minor modifications. Even after tighening the set screw as tight as I could get it, the chuck screw continue to spin with even a small turning blank attached. Eliminated this problem by grinding a flat on the chuck screw. This, however, required a trip to the local Home Depot for a longer set screw. The one provided is just too short, especially after the chuck screw modification.