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Lathe chuck jaws are the part of a four-jaw chuck that actually touches the wood, and they decide what you can hold. The body of the chuck is the engine. The jaws are the tires: swap them and the same chuck can hold a 1-inch ornament spigot, a 14-inch bowl or a finished bowl upside down by its rim.
That is why jaws are the long-term investment in any chuck system. The three things that matter most are the jaw type (dovetail, pin, Cole, greenwood), the grip range in millimeters or inches, and whether the jaws fit your chuck brand. Below are six jaw sets from NOVA, the most widely used woodturning chuck system, with the grip ranges NOVA publishes for each. If you still need the chuck itself, start with our guide to the best wood lathe chucks.
Our top picks at a glance
Quick picks
- Best for Bowls: NOVA JS100N 100mm (4 in.) Jaws. Best for bowls of about 12 to 14 inches in diameter.
- Best for Small Work: NOVA JS25N 25mm (1 in.) Jaws. Best for small bowls, boxes and unsupported spigots on mini and midi lathes.
- Best for Finishing Bowl Bottoms: NOVA JSCOLE Cole Jaws. Best for reverse-mounting a bowl to clean up the foot.
- Best for Green Wood: NOVA 6088 50mm Greenwood Jaws. Best for wet bowl and vase blanks without rust stains.
- Best for Large Hollow Forms: NOVA PJSN PowerGrip Jaws. Best for big spigots on SuperNOVA2 and Titan chucks.
- Best Value Bundle: NOVA 6033 Most Popular Jaws Bundle. Best for adding small, large and Cole jaws in one order.
Comparison table
| Jaw set | Best for | Expansion grip | Contraction grip (spigot) | Fits | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOVA JS100N | Bowls 12–14 in. | 3.81–4.64 in. | 2.99–3.89 in. | Standard NOVA chucks | Check price |
| NOVA JS25N | Small work | 1.02–1.81 in. | 0.39–1.22 in. | Standard NOVA chucks | Check price |
| NOVA JSCOLE | Reverse-mounting bowls | Holds rims with buffers | Holds rims with buffers | NOVA chucks, lathes with 12 in.+ swing | Check price |
| NOVA 6088 Greenwood | Wet wood | About 48–67 mm | 1.12–1.87 in. | Standard NOVA chucks | Check price |
| NOVA PJSN PowerGrip | Large spigots | 3.74–4.56 in. | 3.03–3.85 in. | SuperNOVA2 and Titan only | Check price |
| NOVA 6033 Bundle | Value | JS25N + JS100N + Cole | JS25N + JS100N + Cole | Precision Midi, G3, SuperNOVA2, Titan II | Check price |
NOVA notes that actual grip sizes vary slightly depending on which NOVA chuck the jaws are mounted on.
The best lathe chuck jaws, reviewed
1. NOVA JS100N 100mm (4 in.) Jaws: Best for Bowls
Who it's for: bowl turners who have outgrown the 50 mm jaws that came with their chuck.
NOVA calls the JS100N one of its most popular accessories, and it is built for bowls of roughly 12 to 14 inches. The jaws use NOVA's woodturning dovetail profile, which pulls the work into the chuck rather than crushing the fibers, and they hold in both expansion (in a recess) and contraction (around a foot or tenon). NOVA lists an expanding grip of 96.8 to 118 mm (3.81 to 4.64 in.), a contracting spigot grip of 76 to 99 mm (2.99 to 3.89 in.) and a square grip of 56 to 77 mm (2.2 to 3.03 in.).
The segments are machined from 1045 high-tensile steel, use the fasteners that come with your NOVA chuck, and carry a 10-year replacement warranty against manufacturing defects. You can also screw shop-made wooden "false jaws" to them for odd shapes. The catch is size: large jaws are only suitable on larger NOVA chucks and lathes with enough swing, so check your chuck manual.
Pros
- Sized for 12- to 14-inch bowls
- Grips in expansion and contraction
- Accepts shop-made wooden false jaws
- 10-year replacement warranty
Cons
- Too large for small work and mini lathes
- Fits NOVA chucks only
- Larger diameter means more knuckle hazard: keep hands clear
NOVA JS100N 100mm (4 in.) Chuck Accessory Jaw Set
by Teknatool NOVA
2. NOVA JS25N 25mm (1 in.) Jaws: Best for Small Work
Who it's for: mini and midi lathe owners turning small bowls, boxes, finials and anything below the size the standard 50 mm jaws handle well.
The JS25N is NOVA's small dovetail jaw. NOVA describes it as made for small bowls and unsupported spigot work, and says it suits mini and midi lathes. Its published expansion range is 1.02 to 1.81 inches, with a contraction range of 0.39 to 1.22 inches on round stock and 0.35 to 1.10 inches on square stock. NOVA also suggests turning multiple small pieces, such as lace bobbins, from dowel stock held in these jaws.
Small jaws matter more than most beginners expect. A 2-inch tenon on a 3-inch box wastes wood and looks clumsy, and a 1-inch spigot gripped properly frees up the whole blank. Like all NOVA accessory jaws, the JS25N is K1045 steel and uses your chuck's existing screws.
Pros
- Holds tiny spigots and small recesses
- Ideal size for mini and midi lathes
- Works with dowel stock for repeat parts
- Uses your existing chuck fasteners
Cons
- Not for bowls much over a few inches
- Unsupported spigot work needs light cuts
- NOVA chucks only
NOVA JS25N 25mm (1 in.) Chuck Accessory Jaw Set
by Teknatool NOVA
3. NOVA JSCOLE Cole Jaws: Best for Finishing Bowl Bottoms
Who it's for: anyone who wants bowls without a visible tenon or recess on the bottom.
Cole jaws solve the last step of every bowl: once the inside is done, you need to hold the bowl upside down to turn away the foot. The JSCOLE set is four die-cast aluminum plates with preset holes and rubber buffers that grip the rim. NOVA says they are designed for re-chucking bowls to remove chuck marks, add decoration or reshape the bottom, and that they can also hold bowls and platters by an expanded dovetail or a reverse dovetail.
The set includes four aluminum segments, eight rubber buffers and two sets of mounting screws, and it needs a lathe with at least a 12-inch swing. NOVA also sells a larger 12-inch set (6040) for lathes with 16-inch or more swing, and a buffer kit (6030) with extra shapes. Run Cole jaws at low speed and with light cuts; the grip is gentle by design.
Pros
- Finishes bowl bottoms without a jam chuck
- Rubber buffers protect the finished rim
- Can combine with other NOVA jaws
- 10-year replacement warranty
Cons
- Needs a lathe with 12 in. or more swing
- Light cuts and low speed only
- Repositioning buffers takes time
NOVA JSCOLE Cole Chuck Accessory Jaw Set
by Teknatool NOVA
4. NOVA 6088 50mm Greenwood Jaws: Best for Green Wood
Who it's for: turners who rough out wet bowls and vases from fresh logs.
Green wood is hard on jaws. It is wet, it shrinks while it sits on the chuck, and it leaves rust stains on bare steel. NOVA's 6088 jaws have an electroplated coating to reduce rusting, plus a thicker profile, wider-angled teeth and 19 mm (0.75 in.) serrated inner and outer walls that NOVA says grip wood fibers firmly in both modes.
NOVA lists a contracting spigot grip of 28.4 to 47.4 mm (1.12 to 1.87 in.), a square grip of 20.7 to 39.7 mm (0.82 to 1.56 in.) and an expanding grip that starts at about 48 mm. A larger 112 mm (4.4 in.) version (6089) is sold for big green blanks. If you rough-turn wet bowls and let them dry, see our guide on how to dry wood for turning.
Pros
- Rust-resistant plating for wet wood
- Serrated walls bite into soft green fibers
- 50 mm size suits most small and medium bowls
- 10-year replacement warranty
Cons
- Serrations mark the tenon more than smooth dovetails
- Overkill if you only turn dry wood
- NOVA chucks only
NOVA 6088 50mm (2 in.) Greenwood Jaw Set
by Teknatool NOVA
5. NOVA PJSN PowerGrip Jaws: Best for Large Hollow Forms
Who it's for: hollow-form and large bowl turners using a SuperNOVA2 or Titan chuck.
NOVA calls PowerGrip the most powerful jaw in its range for large spigot and hollow-form work, and ships it as standard with its Titan chucks. Its grip ranges are 95 to 116 mm (3.74 to 4.56 in.) expanding, 77 to 97.8 mm (3.03 to 3.85 in.) contracting on a spigot and 55 to 76 mm (2.16 to 2.99 in.) on square stock. The segments are machined from solid 1045 steel.
The important limit: NOVA lists PowerGrip as suitable for SuperNOVA2 and Titan chucks only, not the smaller G3. Hollow forms put a lot of leverage on a tenon because the tool works far from the chuck, which is exactly where a long, deep grip earns its keep.
Pros
- NOVA's strongest grip for big spigots
- Long jaw profile resists leverage in hollow forms
- Holds in both modes
- 10-year replacement warranty
Cons
- SuperNOVA2 and Titan chucks only
- Large and heavy for small lathes
- Needs a big, sound tenon
NOVA PJSN PowerGrip Chuck Accessory Jaw Set
by Teknatool NOVA
6. NOVA 6033 Most Popular Jaws Bundle: Best Value Bundle
Who it's for: new chuck owners who want to extend their range in one step.
The 6033 bundles NOVA's three best-selling accessory jaws: the JS25N 1-inch jaws, the JS100N 4-inch jaws and the JSCOLE Cole jaws. NOVA lists it for its Precision Midi, G3, SuperNOVA2 and Titan II chucks. Together with the 50 mm jaws most NOVA chucks ship with, that covers small boxes, everyday bowls, larger bowls and bowl bottoms.
It is the simplest way to build a jaw kit, but think before buying: if you turn on a mini lathe with less than a 12-inch swing, you cannot use the Cole jaws, and the 4-inch jaws will be close to the limit of what the lathe can swing comfortably.
Pros
- Three most-used accessory jaws in one order
- Covers small to large bowls and finishing
- Uses your chuck's standard fastenings
- Fits most current NOVA chucks
Cons
- Cole jaws need a 12 in. swing lathe
- Less useful on mini lathes
- NOVA chucks only
NOVA 6033 Most Popular Chuck Accessory Jaws Bundle
by Teknatool NOVA
Buying guide: choosing lathe chuck jaws
Lathe chuck jaws types
- Dovetail jaws. The standard woodturning jaw. The angled face grips a dovetail tenon or recess. Sizes run from about 25 mm (1 in.) to 130 mm (5 in.) in NOVA's range.
- Serrated or greenwood jaws. Teeth on the jaw walls bite into the wood. Good for wet or soft wood, at the cost of more marking.
- Pin and long-nose jaws. Long, narrow jaws for spindles, small spigots and drilling pen blanks on the lathe.
- Cole and jumbo jaws. Large plates with rubber buffers that hold a finished bowl by the rim to turn the bottom.
- Soft jaws. NOVA's 6021 set is nylon, for holding delicate or finished work. On metal lathes, "soft jaws" are unhardened jaws you machine to fit a part.
Read the grip ranges
Jaw makers list two numbers. The expansion range is for a recess, where the jaws open outward. The contraction range is for a tenon or spigot, where they close inward, and NOVA splits it into round and square. Cut your tenon or recess so it falls inside the range, and preferably near the size where the jaw segments form a nearly complete circle. That gives the most contact and the least marking.
| What you are turning | Typical jaw choice | Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| Ornaments, finials, bottle stoppers | 25 mm (1 in.) or pin jaws | See options |
| Boxes and small bowls | 25 or 35 mm jaws | See options |
| Bowls up to about 10 in. | 50 mm (2 in.) jaws | See options |
| Bowls about 12–14 in. | 100 mm (4 in.) jaws | See options |
| Large hollow forms | PowerGrip or 130 mm jaws on a large chuck | See options |
| Finishing bowl bottoms | Cole jaws | See options |
Match jaws to your chuck brand
Jaw mounting is brand-specific. NOVA says its accessory jaws fit standard NOVA chucks (its Infinity quick-change chuck needs an upgrade or retrofit kit), and that some large jaws are only suitable for its larger chucks. RIKON's Z3 and Z4 chucks, Oneway chucks and WEN's LA4444 each use their own jaws. Before you buy, check the chuck model, not just the brand.
Mind your lathe's swing
Big jaws need room. NOVA's standard Cole jaws need a 12-inch swing, and its 12-inch Cole set needs 16 inches. Large jaws also add mass and a wider spinning radius, so keep speeds modest and your knuckles away from the jaw tips. Our wood lathe accessories guide covers the other fit specs to check.
Tenon and recess habits
Most chuck failures come from the wood, not the jaws. Cut tenons with a square shoulder so the jaw tops seat against the blank, match the dovetail angle to your jaws, and avoid tenons in punky wood or right on the pith. Retighten the chuck during a session, especially with wet wood, which shrinks as it dries. Our step-by-step wood bowl turning guide shows where the tenon goes and how big to make it. Start with sound stock; our guide to wood blanks for turning covers what to buy.
Metal-lathe chuck jaws are different
If you searched for lathe chuck jaws for a metal lathe, the vocabulary changes: three-jaw self-centering chucks with reversible "inside" and "outside" jaws, independent four-jaw chucks, and hard or soft jaws you bore to fit a part. See our 3-jaw vs 4-jaw chuck comparison for how they differ from woodturning chucks.
How we chose
We did not test these jaws ourselves. We compared the grip ranges, materials, compatibility notes and warranty terms Teknatool publishes for each NOVA jaw set, checked them against retailer listings, and picked the sets that cover the most common woodturning jobs. We focused on NOVA because its jaws fit the widest range of current chucks; if you own a RIKON, Oneway or WEN chuck, buy that brand's jaws.
FAQ
What are the different types of lathe chuck jaws?
The main woodturning types are dovetail jaws (the standard bowl jaw, in sizes from about 1 to 5 inches), pin or long-nose jaws for spindles and small spigots, Cole jaws with rubber buffers for reverse-mounting finished bowls, greenwood jaws with rust-resistant plating for wet wood, and large PowerGrip-style jaws for hollow forms. Metal-lathe chucks use hard and soft jaws instead.
What size chuck jaws do I need for bowls?
For most bowls from about 6 to 10 inches, the 50 mm (2-inch) jaws that come with most chucks are the right starting point. NOVA rates its JS100N 100 mm jaws for bowls of about 12 to 14 inches, and its JS130N 130 mm jaws for larger bowls.
Can I use NOVA jaws on another brand of chuck?
No. Jaw mounting patterns are brand-specific. NOVA says its accessory jaws fit standard NOVA chucks only, and warns that non-genuine jaws on a NOVA chuck can cause operation and safety issues and void the warranty. Buy jaws made for your chuck.
What are Cole jaws used for?
Cole jaws are large aluminum plates with rubber buffers that hold a finished bowl by its rim, so you can turn away the tenon or recess and finish the bottom. NOVA's standard JSCOLE set needs a lathe with at least a 12-inch swing.
How do I read chuck jaw dimensions?
Jaw makers list an expansion range (for a recess) and a contraction range (for a tenon or spigot, sometimes split into round and square). Size your tenon or recess so it falls inside the range, ideally near the size where the jaws close to a full circle, which gives the most contact.
Verdict
If your chuck came with 50 mm jaws, the most useful next set is the NOVA JS25N for small work, followed by the JS100N for bigger bowls and the JSCOLE Cole jaws for clean bowl bottoms. The 6033 bundle gets all three at once. Wet-wood turners should add the 6088 greenwood jaws, and hollow-form turners on a SuperNOVA2 or Titan will get the most grip from PowerGrip.
Related: see our how to use a lathe chuck guide.