MY LATHE QUESTIONS

[PaulDoug]

I saving for an upgrade to my HF lathe. I have been really studing the Nova 1624-44. Some reason it impresses me for that price range, which is about as high as I want to go. Does anyone here have that lathe and if so, how do you like it? And, does it have a hand wheel? Doesn't look like it and I don't read about one at the teknatool site. A hand wheel is important to me for pen work.

 

[TellicoTurning]

Paul,
I don't have the Nova, but like you was interested in it and went to local Woodcraft store to look at one... they didn't have one on the floor and the owner (actually his wife) told me that they had only sold one in the entire year and the guy who bought it returned it after breaking the head shaft twice... one of the sales reps said it was a direct drive motor and not his cup of tea... that's only one opinion.

There is a review on the internet that spoke well of the lathe. I can't find it right now, but think it was on a TeknaTool sight.. maybe since Teknatool is the mfr out of NZ. You might look at one of the Grizzly's in same price range... you'll get better stand.. i.e., cast iron vs the folded steel. I ultimately went with the Jet 1442.

 

[PaulDoug]

That is the first bad I have read about that lathe. Fine Woodworking scored it best value. Guess I don't understand the "direct drive" statement. The 1624-44 uses belt(s) like Jet and the rest. The DVR is direct drive to my thinking and I've read great stuff on it. Just too expensive for my blood. Hmmmm, you never know. I have never seen one, sure would like see one sitting next to a Jet so a person could compare. Thanks for the input.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Originally posted by PaulDoug

That is the first bad I have read about that lathe. Fine Woodworking scored it best value. Guess I don't understand the "direct drive" statement. The 1624-44 uses belt(s) like Jet and the rest. The DVR is direct drive to my thinking and I've read great stuff on it. Just too expensive for my blood. Hmmmm, you never know. I have never seen one, sure would like see one sitting next to a Jet so a person could compare. Thanks for the input.

The Nova DVR is a different animal. Difficult to compare. About all they have in common is that they are both lathes. The Nova has an excellent reputation. But they are a mechanical thing and can have problems. Consider cost of shipping the head stock back and forth three or four times for repair as happened to a friend of mine. Also read specs carefully. The Nova is a rather light machine and has a short bed. Optional legs and stand, bought or built, and bed extension can run initial cost way-way up.