View Full Version : an interesting lathe review ex US
hughie
14th January 2010, 05:42 PM
A lathe review from the US including prices
http://www.teknatool.com/products/Lathes/1624/Downloads/Fine%20Woodworking%20Heavy%20Duty%20Lathe%20Test_April%2007.pdf
wheelinround
14th January 2010, 06:02 PM
TY Hughie will have a good read later
SRH
14th January 2010, 08:27 PM
The article is very timely, thankyou. I am thinking seriously about buying the Nova 1624-44 in the next few weeks. The price I see locally in Adelaide has dropped $200 to $1495 in recent weeks. I would be interested in comments from those that have used the Nova. It sits in my price range and is a big upgrade from my second hand Delta Midi.
Regards.
Manuka Jock
14th January 2010, 10:08 PM
One thing that the reviews fail to mention , re the Nova lathes , is the tool rest itself .
The banjo is great , but the tool-rest is lacking .
It needs to be cut away at the ends , and have the the profile scalloped , in the traditional manner ,
The existing one is, apparently , a patten-makers style .
I am on the lookout for the old style rest with the right post diameter for mine.
Its' amazing how rare a spare is :rolleyes:
wheelinround
15th January 2010, 07:51 AM
One thing that the reviews fail to mention , re the Nova lathes , is the tool rest itself .
The banjo is great , but the tool-rest is lacking .
It needs to be cut away at the ends , and have the the profile scalloped , in the traditional manner ,
The existing one is, apparently , a patten-makers style .
I am on the lookout for the old style rest with the right post diameter for mine.
Its' amazing how rare a spare is :rolleyes:
Make one :roll:
Pat
15th January 2010, 08:50 AM
Well, the "Rikon" is the Woodfast M910 in different colours. I can see how the tool rest handle could be annoying, I'll have to spend more time with it. I'll have a look at the banjo travel, whilst locked down. I agree that it doesn't want to walk anywhere, I haven't bolted mine down yet:)
Very interesting article, Hughie.
AFAIK, Woodfast has partnered with Rikon for the American market, as Rikon has brand exposure.
BTW I am still happy with the Yellow Peril :U
Jim Carroll
15th January 2010, 09:27 AM
One thing that the reviews fail to mention , re the Nova lathes , is the tool rest itself .
The banjo is great , but the tool-rest is lacking .
It needs to be cut away at the ends , and have the the profile scalloped , in the traditional manner ,
The existing one is, apparently , a patten-makers style .
I am on the lookout for the old style rest with the right post diameter for mine.
Its' amazing how rare a spare is :rolleyes:
This is what you need Toolrest (http://www.cws.au.com/shop/item/toolrest-300mm)
wheelinround
15th January 2010, 09:33 AM
Well, the "Rikon" is the Woodfast M910 in different colours. I can see how the tool rest handle could be annoying, I'll have to spend more time with it. I'll have a look at the banjo travel, whilst locked down. I agree that it doesn't want to walk anywhere, I haven't bolted mine down yet:)
Very interesting article, Hughie.
AFAIK, Woodfast has partnered with Rikon for the American market, as Rikon has brand exposure.
BTW I am still happy with the Yellow Peril :U
No proof as yet of how happy a pic is worth a thousand words:;
Manuka Jock
15th January 2010, 10:30 AM
Make one :roll:
Out of a good hardwood scotia moulding eh :U
wheelinround
15th January 2010, 11:00 AM
Out of a good hardwood scotia moulding eh :U
:doh: not a welder eh :roll: maybe a good hearted kiwi welder you know
slharder
15th January 2010, 11:37 AM
I would be interested in comments from those that have used the Nova. .
I live in the states and have had my 1624 for 6 months. Love it.
I added a ballast box between the legs to bring total weight up to 600#. It handles rough out blanks weighing 50#. And speed changes are pretty easy once you do a few of them.
I plan to eventually convert it to variable speed by changing out the motor. But for the time being I feel I'm getting the most bang for the buck with the Nova.
Manuka Jock
15th January 2010, 11:42 PM
:doh: not a welder eh :roll: maybe a good hearted kiwi welder you know
I know some exellant welders .
But no one can weld hardwood to steel .
:rolleyes:
rsser
16th January 2010, 08:17 AM
I actually like the design of the DVR XP rest: rigid, tilted forward for better trailing clearance inside a bowl, and a single plane. You could get more clearance by relieving the bottom corners with an angle grinder.
As for the casting quality, was prob done by drunken elves on a moonless night.
Manuka Jock
16th January 2010, 11:41 AM
Aye Ern , for bowl work they are fine (with the bottom corners lopped off ), but for spindle turning , I miss using the scollop as a gauge for planning cuts .
The quality of mine is ok , musta been cast by Patupaiarehe (Kiwi Elves) :U
rsser
16th January 2010, 11:50 AM
and they don't drink??
Yes, a cove under the edge is nice. I have a 150mm version of the unit that Jim's posted a link to above, and used to have a 300mm version that came with the Stubby. Worth the dough. Think you'll also find them on the Woodfast site.
ps they're bit bulky tho for a tied underhand grip when rolling beads with a skew
rsser
16th January 2010, 12:46 PM
ps the locking lever on the banjo got a +ve comment in the review.
It's a sliding rod
I found it a distracting irritant, to have to find and push it to the right side to use, and replaced it with a captive spanner thingy
pps the Stubby folk in the US were outraged that the black beast wasn't included in the test