Nova DVR vs. Jet 1642 lathe

[vireo]

I am trying to decide between a Nova DVR and a Jet 1642 1.5 hp. I would use the DVR swiveled 22 degrees for hollowing to avoid leaning over the bed. I am concerned the lightweight bed would not stand heavy work swiveled. Also wonder about reliability of a computer-run lathe. And getting it repaired.
I haven't seen a Jet. Sounds like a good basic lathe. It's $600 less. And heavier, more stable.
Any experiences with either?
Thanks. Frank.

 

[john lucas]

I've turned on both and I've owned a Nova 3000 and now own a Powermatic 3520. When I upgraded I looked at all of them. What I didn't like about the Nova was the motor being part of the headstock. If it should go bad and they happen to discontinue that model how would you get it fixed. With most other lathes you can simply replace the motor.
Another thing I didn't like about the Nova was re-aligning the headstock after you turn it. I had the double morse taper but it was a hassle. There were some little things about the electronics on the DVR that bothered me.
The Jet 1642 is an excellent lathe. It's heavy. The sliding tailstock makes it easy to hollow bowls and vessels off the end. It never gets out of alignment because it doesn't rotate. It does have a 3 phase motor and variable frequency drive but either one can be replaced with after market stuff if necessary.
The DVR is a good lathe and many people like it. I just personally like the Jet better.

 

[Ron Sardo]

Have you looked at this lathe?

http://www.lagunatools.com/platinumlathe1.htm

 

[n7bsn]

Frank
Two years ago I faced the same questions you did. My final call was the DVR-XP.

First, I would not try a large vessel, on the Nova, off-axis. The tool support, etc is simply not up to the task (and I have the out-board tool rest).

Second, if you are really worried that Teknatool will stop marketing the motor (they don't make it, someone else does), there will be 3rd party support, but it will (probably) not be cheap.

Third, if space is an issue, the DVR-XP is the clear winner

Fourth, the DVR-XP produces more power on 220, without swapping out the motor (Teknatool says 2HP, no it's not a myth or mere marketing)

Fifth, if you need a different height, then the factory height, the DVR-XP lends it self to a custom lathe stand more.

For me, and my needs, the Nova came out ahead, and I think it still would.

 

[Jerry Hall]

Here is a good discussion on your question

from this forum last December:
http://www.aawforum.org/vbforum/showthread.php?t=4259&highlight=nova+1642

 

[Richard Baker]

Valid point by N7 about the height of the Jet. After laboriously installing the screw-in (height adjuster) feet, I laboriously un-installed them. Am 5'-8" tall and the Jet is at about the right elevation for me without the funky feet. Have the 2hp (220v) version, but doubt if there is much difference between it and the 1.5hp (110v) version.

 

[MichaelMouse]

Over the bed is the way to go for leverage, certainly. The way to cut your lean is to bring the lathe bed to the front of your stand, using only the slant of the legs to resist the torque. Unless you're strongly left-handed this puts you within five-six inches of centerline with an arm that already extends out from your body at the shoulder. Unless you have an extreme pear-shape, it's pretty easy to work that way. Looking inside sucks, of course.

NB Don't look and blow sawdust at the same time.

The captive tools are the way to go if you're a wooden pottery type, and they give you a bit more lateral separation on the handle.

For other work, you get the versatility of the DVR with its high reliability motor. VR motors are simpler than induction, run by more complex electronics. There's the weak point.

 

[robo hippy]

I had a couple of my tools rewired so 1 hp and a 1 1/2 hp motor ran on 220. There was a big difference in how they ran. While I am not an electrical engineer, everything I have read says that any motor, 1 1/2 hp and above should run on 220. There was a thread at Google's rec. woodturning about a guy trying to rewire his DVR to 220. Apparently is isn't the same as a standard motor for the wiring. He said that the Nova is 1 1/2 at 110v, and1 3/4 at 220v. Personally, more hp is better, even if you don't turn many bigger things, the extra power just maked everything easier/less effort. Personally as far as the sliding head stock vs the pivoting headstock, I have never trusted the pivoting ones due to allignment problems (however minor) and the estended tool rests (it makes the tool rest borderline overextended). To me, ergonomically the slider just makes more sence. I have had the PM for 8 years, and am stepping up to the Robust. The main deciding factor in the Robust over the Oneway is the sliding headstock.
robo hippy

 

[john lucas]

Having had 2 lathes with rotating headstock and now one with sliding headstock, I prefer the sliding. Everything is just more solid and the you don't have the compromise of the tool rest issue which can be a real pain. the downside of sliding headstock is the floor space needed to really use it properly.

 

[David Somers]

I had a chance to use a Nova DVR for a day and was not impressed with the build. I also did not like the head realignment deal.

Our Honolulu Woodcraft has a number of the Nova's for use as student lathes and they are not happy with the quality either. To be fair, students are tough on equipment, but still, these things are not used much at all compared to the use even a hobbiest woodturner will put on them.

I own a jet 1642 2HP 220V and am very happy with it. I slide the head to the tail end of the lathe to hollow and do outboard turning. Very stable and convenient and physically comfortable. I do need some extra space at the end of the lathe to do this however, a disadvantage to this approach. I have not purchased an outboard tool rest yet, but am seriously considering the VicMark bolt on model that others have described here as fitting the Jet with a little bit of futzing.

For what it is worth.

Dave

 

[Bill Blasic]

I have a DVR that I've used for over three years without a single problem including turning the head and having it line up when returned to the original detent. It has been a solid lathe and I run it on 220. When I purchased the lathe it came with a Super Nova chuck and the price was about the same as the jet with 2 HP of today. Would I make the same choice given same circumstances - definetly!

 

[vireo]

I have a DVR that I've used for over three years without a single problem including turning the head and having it line up when returned to the original detent. It has been a solid lathe and I run it on 220. When I purchased the lathe it came with a Super Nova chuck and the price was about the same as the jet with 2 HP of today. Would I make the same choice given same circumstances - definetly!

Bill, Do you turn large bowls, say 14", with head swiveled? Is it stable?
Frank

 

[MichaelMouse]

Bill, Do you turn large bowls, say 14", with head swiveled? Is it stable?
Frank

Not Bill, but I turn up to 400mm, the true capacity of my 3000 (15.74") over the bed, where I can use the tailstock. Your stand would have to be designed as the factory one, with bidirectional splay to stabilize it in the outboard turning mode, and you lose your extra hand.

Don't have it on my antique, but the 16-24 will reverse. I'd be inclined to get the locking insert for the chuck and turn using the stock banjo and rest with rotation reversed. You have to be a bit ambidextrous, but we used to turn "outboard" on the 9 o'clock side a lot.

That way your out-of-balance has more stand leverage to work against, rather than a single leg.

 

[Kevin McPeek]

Bill, Do you turn large bowls, say 14", with head swiveled? Is it stable?
Frank

Not Bill either but, I have a DVR XP and am very happy with it. I have turned bowls up to about 17" (starting) outboard and never felt unsafe in doing so. I have a home built stand that is very solid and pretty heavy. Lots of steel and sand.
I sometimes do as MM said but it takes a little getting used to.
There isn't much realignment issues for me but I have the double MT thing that I use when I am doing pens or something that it really matters.

IMHO the two downfalls of a DVR are the lack of a good commercially available stand and the bed is a little short of you want to use a captured hollowing rig.
It has lots of power even down at low RPMs. I have cored bowls as big as would clear the ways.

 

[Charlie Knighton]

lathe

Have you looked at this lathe?

http://www.lagunatools.com/platinumlathe1.htm
__________________
Ron

has anybody turned or seen this 1847 yet

 

[MichaelMouse]

has anybody turned or seen this 1847 yet

Overall, I'd say anyone who's used the 1642 has turned on that lathe.

 

[Jake Debski]

Overall, I'd say anyone who's used the 1642 has turned on that lathe.

Yep, looks like a cross breeding of the 1642 and 3520.

 

[Bill Blasic]

I myself cannot say that I've turned bigger bowls than 14" off the side, but as with any out of balance piece you have to find the sweet spot to get the vibration to where you want it. This means that the stand you use or constructed has a part in the action.