The Woodturning Forum - Woodturner's Resource - Thoughts on lathe to purchase

Steve MItchell

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Nova

Thoughts on lathe to purchase
Mar 23^rd, 2017 at 10:26pm

I am sure this has been brought up many times on the forum. but gong to ask. I have a delta 46-701 and I enjoy it but I am limited, obviously. I want to upgrade. I would really like opinions. Best bang for buck. Honestly maybe 1000.00 to 1500.00 range. of course if something out for less that would do well than great. Thanks in advance!!!

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Bill Moschler

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Nova

Re: Thoughts on lathe to purchase
Reply #1 - Mar 24^th, 2017 at 8:25am

I was in your shoes a few years ago and I bought the belt drive Nova 16/24 when it was on sale from Woodcraft for about $900. I have been very happy with it. You still need to add $200 for a bed extension if doing spindle work and about $40 for the hand wheel on the headstock.
My other choice would be to jump to the top range of your budget or maybe a little more and look at Jet and whatever is in that class of lathes.

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Ed Weber

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Wilton
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JET 1642
Grizzly G0584

Re: Thoughts on lathe to purchase
Reply #2 - Mar 24^th, 2017 at 8:36am

Steve MItchell wrote on Mar 23^rd, 2017 at 10:26pm:

I have a delta 46-701 and I enjoy it but I am limited, obviously. I want to upgrade.

How are you limited?
Is there something you want to turn and can't, or do you want a "better" machine to turn the things you already turn?
What features are you looking for, capacity, power, variable speed, reverse?
A little more info would help narrow down the choices.

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Steve MItchell Full Member Offline WR Rocks! Posts: 78 san diego California USA Gender: Nova	Re: Thoughts on lathe to purchase Reply #3 - Mar 24^th, 2017 at 9:37am Would like a better machine to turn what I already turn.
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Grant Wilkinson WR Addict Offline Posts: 783 Ottawa Ontario Canada	Re: Thoughts on lathe to purchase Reply #4 - Mar 24^th, 2017 at 9:52am The beef with that lathe in other forums seems to be the Reeves drive. Is that what you are looking to improve on?
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Ed Weber WR Administrator WR Patron Offline Posts: 8,939 Wilton California USA Gender: JET 1642 Grizzly G0584	Re: Thoughts on lathe to purchase Reply #5 - Mar 24^th, 2017 at 5:08pm Woodcraft has the Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!! You need to or on sale right now.
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Anthony maida Active Member Offline WR Rocks! Posts: 161 Port Chester New York USA Gender: nova 1624-44 Pennstate 10''var speed	Re: Thoughts on lathe to purchase Reply #6 - Mar 25^th, 2017 at 9:15am I just paid off for my 1624,will get it in about a week. After shopping around,the nova gives you more for the money swiveling head,16''swing all for 849.00 when on sale.
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Steve MItchell Full Member Offline WR Rocks! Posts: 78 san diego California USA Gender: Nova	Re: Thoughts on lathe to purchase Reply #7 - Mar 25^th, 2017 at 10:03pm The 1624 looks like a great bang for the buck
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Steve Doerr

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Rikon 70-050VS
Jet 1642 EVS 2HP
Robust American Beauty

Re: Thoughts on lathe to purchase
Reply #8 - Mar 26^th, 2017 at 9:18pm

My concern with the Nova lathes are what appears to be a lack of stable leg support. I have never owned one but from what I have seen at Woodcraft and other places, they do not look to be a substantial as you might want. You might want to look at the Laguna & Grizzly lathes as well. You might also find this video of help or interest Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!! You need to

or

Good luck,
Steve

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Steve MItchell Full Member Offline WR Rocks! Posts: 78 san diego California USA Gender: Nova	Re: Thoughts on lathe to purchase Reply #9 - Mar 28^th, 2017 at 11:05pm Steve Thanks so much for the impute. Thoughts on limiting myself from 220 to 110? Both Jet and Grizzly sound great.
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Steve Doerr

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Joplin
Missouri
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Rikon 70-050VS
Jet 1642 EVS 2HP
Robust American Beauty

Re: Thoughts on lathe to purchase
Reply #10 - Mar 28^th, 2017 at 11:33pm

Steve,
Glad you found the video helpful. I thought it was pretty interesting and I'm not even in the market for a lathe. I personally prefer 220. Based on what I have read, you get a better motor and thus machine with the 220. Most/all of your larger lathes are 220. Both of my lathes are 220. However, 110 will do the job. I was able to do my own wiring for 220 and thus did not have to worry about the additional cost of having an electrician come in. It will be a decision you will need to make based on your needs/desires and available funds.
Good luck.

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John Grace

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Re: Thoughts on lathe to purchase
Reply #11 - Mar 29^th, 2017 at 7:16am

Steve Doerr wrote on Mar 26^th, 2017 at 9:18pm:

My concern with the Nova lathes are what appears to be a lack of stable leg support.

While an issue to be resolved, it's not as insurmountable as it may sound. Before I was able to find a set of the cast iron legs for my NOVA DVR XP, I had access to an old solid maple wood kitchen table. I mounted my lathe to the table and then affixed the table to a wall in my garage finishing it off with four sandbags on the back side. All in all, it was very stable and worked quite well while I saved my pennies for the cast iron leg set.

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Gary D Baker

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Re: Thoughts on lathe to purchase
Reply #12 - Mar 29^th, 2017 at 7:00pm

For that kind of money I would get the Nova. I have turned about 3,000 bowls on mine. It has 16" swing and is stable enough to handle all but REALLY out of balance pieces. Lack of speed control is not that big a deal. I can change my nova speed in less than 10 seconds. I have just gotten a Powermatic 3520b used. I am keeping my Nova. In fact, I just walked in from the shop and a bowl is spinning and drying on the nova right now.

For about 1,700 or 1,800 you can get the Grizzly 076. It has great reviews ... and may be as big a lathe as you will ever use. For the difference, I'd probably get the Grizzly. I have only turned on one for about 10 minutes, but was impressed.

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