Replies

1. 
   DennisS | Oct 25, 2002 06:42am | #1

   Our host, Fine Wood Working reviewed a host of midi/small lathes an issue or two back. The Nova was among them.

   A friend of mine, totally novice turner, bought one recently. While he's not had much time to work with it, he seems to be satisfied. All the reviews seem to give it high marks with respect to no vibration and torque at all speeds. Weight is a factor in lathes, especially one that will turn over the bed to the size this one is rated for. Figure on a solid mounting on a solid stand (I'd build something out of large pipe and angle iron welded up) and movable ballast weight on the stand. I've had pieces start moving my 950lb Powermatic when in the rough so don't skimp on the weight. Power doesn't seem to be too big a problem with it, though. Even the little 1/2 horse Delta I started with could take the gouge out of your hand if you weren't careful!

   Dennis in Bellevue WA

   [email protected]

1. 
   Atcheson2 | Oct 25, 2002 07:53am | #2

   The Nova midi lathe in FWW is smaller than the one I'm looking at.  That one is about $300 compared to $1700 for the Nova 3000 DVR.  It has a new kind computerized inline motor, no belts.

   Here is the website.

   http://www.teknatool.com

   Check it out, it seems really interesting.

   Pete

2. 
   BarbaraGll | Oct 25, 2002 01:03pm | #3

   This lathe has been discussed at length on rec.woodturning. Go to http://groups.google.com/groups?oi=djq&as_ugroup=rec.crafts.woodturning and do a search.

1. 
   Atcheson2 | Oct 26, 2002 06:00pm | #11

   Thanks for the link to that discussion on the nova, I learned a lot of pros and cons about this machine. 

   Pete

3. 
   GeeSeaWhy | Oct 25, 2002 07:51pm | #4

   I was thinking about the DVR until I watched a demonstrator use one at the AAW Symposium this year. Every time she turned the lathe off, it took *forever* to stop. Useful if you do heavy/unsupported work which is likely to spin itself off the spindle but it would drive me nuts.

   Graeme

1. 
   Trees2dust | Oct 25, 2002 09:42pm | #6

   Graeme,

   You said "...it took *forever* to stop".  With all its high-tech claims, I would expect the DVR to have electronic braking.  I wonder if the operator either didn't know how to use the feature or was intentionally not using the braking to keep the work from spinning off.  A handwheel would help, but for the money they want for that lathe, I would expect more.

   Rick

2. 
   DennisS | Oct 26, 2002 05:00am | #9

   > ....likely to spin itself off the spindle but it would drive me nuts.

   Any lathe with a reversing option or one with electrical breaking should have a set screw to lock face plates or chucks to the spindle to prevent such things.

   Dennis in Bellevue WA

   [email protected]

4. 
   gpwest | Oct 25, 2002 08:30pm | #5

   Atch.

      A publication I recently subscribed to, More Woodturning,(http://www.morewoodturning.com) had a recent 2 part review of the DVR 3000.  The reviewer seemed very knowledgable and unbiased, listing a few plusses and some minuses.

     One of the advertised features on this lathe that seems to me more of a detraction, is the fact that it is guaranteed to never slip, no matter what the load.  In some situations I think it is safer to be able to set the belt under low tension so the lathe will slip to avoid a catch.    GP

5. 
   JeffKurtz | Oct 26, 2002 12:22am | #7

   Could you please satisfy my curiosity?  Why would anyone shell out that kind of money for a relatively light weight lathe when for the same kind of money one can buy a Powermatic, General, etc.?

   Jeff

1. 
   Atcheson2 | Oct 26, 2002 01:53am | #8

   I'm just looking around for whats the best buy in that price range.  I haven't made any decisions.  What do you think is the best lathe for $2000 or less?  Anyone who wants to give their opinion on that I'd like to hear it.  Guess I should open another question on that.

   Pete

1. 
   JeffKurtz | Oct 26, 2002 03:18pm | #10

   Pete,

   Not sure.  Can't really say I've heard/read anything negative about any of the big boys, and always assumed they were all good machines.

   Jeff