| Customer Reviews |
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 Best bang for the buck
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02/21/2008 - by Norbert Dupas from Dauphin, Manitoba CA
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I bought this chuck about 2 years ago, and I have no regrets. It holds a piece very nicely, and is great when holding a tenon or used as a recess. Only thing I wish, is that I bought the Barracuda 4, as this would better fit on my new Jet 1642 EVS lathe. **NOTE: Be careful when ordering chuck adapters for this lathe. Penn state made an error, when I phone-ordered one**. All in all, still a great chuck!
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Very Pleased
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12/11/2007 - by Dave Merriman from Sanford, NC US
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This is the second chuck I purchased for my Lathe and I have been and still am very pleased with it.
The square hole drive is very positive. The chuck jaws all fit and track each and every time they are changed. The wood chips and dust clear out of the chuck drive gear with ease. The storage box is stout and holds all of the parts in an organized manor. I have had this Chuck for sometime now and still have all of the parts, even the screws.
I turn segmented bowls and use the #2 round jaws a great deal of the time, and have never lost a bowl due to chuck failure. Most of the turners that come to my shop go home and order this chuck. I keep the specification sheet in a plastic bag by the lathe so they can see what all comes in the box.
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Barracuda2 Best for Quality and Value
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12/03/2007 - by John Armstrong from Canton, MI US
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I was in need of a decent chuck for my lathe. The Barracuda2 appeared to be what I was looking for. I have had the chuck now for a few months and have found that it is more than I had hoped for. I have used all of the jaws provided with the system and am very pleased with the way they perform. The system is very well balanced and induce no vibration at any speed. The machining and finish on all the parts is excellent. Changing the jaw sets is quick and easy, and set up and operation works flawlessly. I have not been able to find another system of comparable quality for the price. This is the one addition to my lathe tools that I find invaluable, next to my chisels.
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Best Value
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09/13/2007 - by Wood Magazine issue 179, October 2007 from Best Value Upgrade
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Key-operated jaws give this chuck the advantage of one-hand operation...The package features four standard jaw sets for a wide range of internal and external gripping diameters, plus a screw center. Two sizes of optional flat jaws are available separately
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Very impressed with the quality.
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08/16/2007 - by Steve Strassburg from Bremerton, WA US
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I'm fairly new to turning and I'm still in the process of getting all the tools I need. I've bought items from PSI before and have been happy with their products. When I got a email from them promoting the Barracuda 2 with a free large flat jaws, I decided to go for it. Since receiving it I have used it a couple of times. The chuck is well balanced, every thing is well made, fit and finish is top notch. The only complaint I have is the flat jaws aren't big enough. 7 1/2" just don't cut it sometime (but that isn't PSI's fault). I will be buying a bare chuck in the future along with a smaller flat jaws. I find it a pain to switch between jaws, I'd rather spend the time turning.
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Best Bang for your Buck
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06/29/2007 - by Kenneth Falk from Camas, WA US
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Prior to buying this chuck I did some research to see what was out there. I could not find a lot of reviews on the Barracuda 2. It was fairly new at the time and I just couldn't pass up the price. The pictures looked like it was just as well constructed as the competition. When I got mine, I couldn't have been more happier. It has performed flawlessly. The fit and finish is excellent. I love the plastic case to keep everything organized. The jaws are easy to change. I keep finding more and more uses for this chuck. I have no experience with the other chucks and as of right now I have no reason to look for a different one. This is a excellent chuck at a very reasonable price. I would definitely buy it again but I don't think I will have to because it is built very well and should last me a lifetime.
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Barracuda 2-Best Jaws for the Dollar
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06/15/2007 - by ROBERT DARLING from LAKEWOOD, CA US
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I received a Barracuda 2 Key Chuck System for Fathers Day last year and it is one of the best gifts ever. The Barracuda is easy to use, changing jaws is fast, the storage case holds everything secure and the key system is great. The key system is much easier than the lever (non-key chuck systems). The jaw sizes are perfect for the vast majority of woodturning projects-I have not found the project that the Barracuda 2 system could not handle. Great value for your money.
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Excerpts reprinted from Wood Magazine
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03/20/2007 - by Jan Svec from Projects Editor, Wood Magazine
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"Thumbing through the Penn State Industries catalog a few months ago, I stumbled onto a bargain I thought had to be too good to be true; a fully accessorized four-jaw chuck, called to check it out, and the news is good."
"Getting a lot of parts for a little money doesn't mean much if the chuck doesn't perform well, but that's not the case with the Barracuda 2. I used this chuck extensively for more than six months, turning several vessels up to 11" in diameter and three small tapered display pedestals. Every time I used it, it held the workpiece securely and I felt both comfortable and confident while turning with it....."
"For less than the cost of most other chucks with one set of jaws and a screw center, you get a really great little chuck, including all the accessory jaws you'll likely ever need."
**For complete review, refer to Wood Magazine Issue 176, May 2007
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