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Jet vs Nova vs Laguna

B

Brett Walker

Joined
Feb 22, 2025
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Location
Conway, AR
I'm going to bite the bullet and purchase a new lathe. Want something 16/18' swing and 36/48" bed and 2 hp.
Is there a huge difference in quality between the Jet 18/40 and the Nova Galaxi 16/44 or the Laguna 18/36??
Trying to stay below $4000.
 
The Nova DVR lathes, Galaxi and Nebula (18”), have definite torque advantage over the vfd lathes. I have a Galaxi. The pivot headstock has major ergonomic advantages over a sliding HS, the Galaxi outrigger is very compact if floor space is a concern. I like the 8 speed presets a lot, use them constantly. No belt/pulleys to change for speed ranges, 100-5000 rpm.

Quality is similar among those mfrs. Some seem to have various issues with Laguna, some don’t.
 
I would recommend test driving each one before you buy. As far as quality, I think all three are very similar. What do you intend to turn? A lot of people really like the sliding or pivoting headstock, I don't, but that is my preference. Do you plan on doing any bowl coring?
 
I was a Niva user for years. When I looked at upgrading I looked at the Nova DvR lathes. It scared me having a proprietary motor. If the company died who would repair that lathe. Fortunately Nova has hung in there. There was a lathe like it made in Europe abd that company died. Nova is fortunately a great company with good factory service.
I bought my Powernatic because there isn't anything on that lathe that can't be replaced with aftermarket parts or rebuilt by a machinist.
Laguna. They make good kathes and if you get a good one youvwill be happy. If you need factory service it's really hit or miss. One of my close friends bought a kathevfrom them sbd it had a problem from the start. He went round abd round with them abd they finally sent an email saying some customers you can't please. My friend was not asking for anything unusual or being my an ass. He simply wanted it to work. I forget what finally happened but he has a working lathe. I've heard too many stories about problems with them.
 
It's hard to know what to recommend....... The JPW group (or is it JWP), Jet, Powermatic, Wilton. Powermatic and Wilton have a long history, compared to those two Jet is practically an unknown. I followed Jet in its early days in Tacoma, it was a complete disaster. But things change as brand name ownership changes and manufacturers change..

The scratch and dent center for JPW south of Seattle now sometimes carries Laguna. Who knows, are they now part of JPW?

I tend to agree with John Lucas, go with a brand that has components that can be easily replaced if (and when) they go out of business. Motor drive systems are the best example of something to be aware of.

Customer service is a biggie. Try calling all the name brands in consideration and ask about getting a replacement part like a banjo. Their response might be of interest.
 
On a side note for Laguna - they have a discount page and sometimes have their bigger lathes for sale. Either they were displays or demos. I saved around $700 for my 2436. I started with a Jet 1221vs and then the Laguna. Customer service is about the same for both. I have had great service, adequate service and so-so service with both.
 
Brett Walker said:
I'm going to bite the bullet and purchase a new lathe. Want something 16/18' swing and 36/48" bed and 2 hp.
Is there a huge difference in quality between the Jet 18/40 and the Nova Galaxi 16/44 or the Laguna 18/36??
Trying to stay below $4000.
Click to expand...
Brett, I think the Galaxi has the best festure set of those 3 lathes. Nova stopped making the Galaxi a couple of years ago when it brought out the Nebula. There may still be new stock on hand, or the used market. Also, you should know that Nova (Teknatools) filed for chapter 11 last week. There are some other threads talking about it.
 
I have had a Laguna 18/36 for several years. I had the need to contact them not long after purchasing; I was able to speak to a technician only after it was confirmed that the tool was under warranty. I had to send the invoice from the shop I purchased from. They did end up sending a replacement lock for the indexing mechanism.
 
Jet and powermatic are the same company. They started producing Jet as a less expensive alternative to Powermatc. I taught turning to the engineers at powermatc. One of them was a turner and had taken a class from me. The others were skilled woodworker but not turners. 2 of my friends helped and we put them onn3 different brands of lathes and then swapped up so they could learn the pros and cons of the different lathes. Was only a few years after that they introduced the new jet 18" lathe which is a great lathe. Of course Nick Cook has had a lot of input over the years. Rude Osolnik was the one that gave them the idea for the 3520. Rude was one of the top turners and ran the woodshop at Burea College. The first model was made in McMinnville Tn. Just down the road from me. They invited member from our club to come to the factory and try it out. I wanted one that day but could not afford it. Then they moved the manufactur to Taiwan and then it was more affordable but took me a few years to raise the money. Best purchase I have made.
 
I would opt for the Jet after having a 3520A for a number of years. The A model is my favorite of the series. I do not like the cone off of the headstock on the Laguna. It extends things too far off of the headstock tower. If you buy it new, for sure, within a month after you buy it, some one will have one for sale.... Oh, Jet does go on sale a couple of times a year.

robo hippy
 
extremely happy with my Nova DVR=XP.... now the galaxy. love not having belts to mess with. love the speed presets and the pivoting headstock. I have no complaints.
 
Mark Jundanian said:
Nova stopped making the Galaxi a couple of years ago when it brought out the Nebula.
Click to expand...
I believe this is incorrect; I've certainly heard nothing of the sort, and have been paying attention to Nova's line what with selling my Galaxi and getting stuck 'on hold' waiting for my Nebula. Do you have a source for the Galaxi being discontinued? I note that the Galaxi is still listed as a current model on the Teknatool website, and I cross-checked that against various retailer sites which likewise still list the Galaxi (albeit with the current "pre-order" status that all Nova lathes are suffering from).
 
Wyatt Holm said:
I would recommend test driving each one before you buy. As far as quality, I think all three are very similar. What do you intend to turn? A lot of people really like the sliding or pivoting headstock, I don't, but that is my preference. Do you plan on doing any bowl coring?
Click to expand...
Yes I will be coring bowls. That’s why I’m wanting at least 2 hp motor
 
I used one a friend had. Very similar to a Powermatic 3520. It was a nice machine, if the price is good, gi for it. I really think that some Grizzly machines are made in the same factory as Powermatic. Besides paint color and decals, they look the same to me. I have used other Grizzly machines in a cabinet shop quite a bit. They seem to be good, but if you ever need to get parts, they are very good at getting replacements.
 
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