I have a SC4 lathe supplied by Axminster tools a few years ago.  It came with a 3 jaw chuck but no external jaws with that.  As a beginner and having now made a few stationary engines, I feel I could treat myself to some better quality chucks.  I think my skills have advanced enough now to appreciate a difference in quality.

My 3 jaw has no additional outside jaws as mentioned earlier and I could have made good use of them if it had.

The 4 jaw independent chuck I later bought and have been using, seems quite slack in the slides and it takes a lot of time to dial in.

Can anyone recommend a make that would be a step up for me ? ( Nothing outrageously expensive please ) I have looked at the Vertex chucks, for instance and they are double the cost of many I have looked at, but are they twice as good?

I am going along to the ME Show in October and will have my shopping list with me.

Cheers for now

Steve