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Thread: Nova dvr xp
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15th September 2010, 11:11 AM #1New Member
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Nova dvr xp
Hi there,
I'm a novice turner looking to purchase first lathe for my home workshop. Would be interested in views on the NOVA - durability and reliability plus after sales service. I have used same in classes and like the feel of it and convenience of electronic speed control.
many thanks
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15th September 2010 11:11 AM # ADSGoogle Adsense Advertisement
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15th September 2010, 01:14 PM #2
If the budget is ok its a good place to start, many start out with a Chinese knock off and then move onto such as a Nova etc
Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working. — Pablo Picasso
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15th September 2010, 03:06 PM #3Hewer of wood
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EVS is available on a range of lathes.
The DVR XP has a suberb motor/driveline. Very powerful and smooth.
IME the machining and castings don't match that by some distance.
If you're wanting to do a lot of bowls and platters, the geometry of the swivel head/outrigger is limiting. And the lack of an available remote control and the absence of electronic braking make it a dangerous machine in my view for that application.
After sales service? Buy from a good retailer; don't expect much from the factory.
Anyway, welcome to the forum Skip.Cheers, Ern
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15th September 2010, 04:07 PM #4Senior Member
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I have turned on one a few times, and think it is good, but it wouldn't be my lathe of choice. Mostly I turn bowls, from green wood, and the pieces are never balanced, except in rare instances of dumb luck. I use the full speed range of my lathe because every blank is different. The variable speed on the DVR can be set to 5 predetermined speeds, and you have very slow ramp up and down between those speeds. Too slow for me. I prefer the 3 phase motors with the electronic converters, and infinitely variable turn a knob type. Much more efficient. Another draw back for me is that the slowest speed used to be about 200 rpm. Since I turn green to final thickness, and then let them warp before sanding, when I remount to sand, that would be way too high of a speed. Outside of that, it is a nice lathe. I do prefer a sliding headstock to a pivoting one. If you core, the only coring system you can use if the headstock is pivoted would be the McNaughton. For me, that isn't a problem as that is the coring system I prefer. I would get the 2 hp model as well, for the added torque.
robo hippy
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15th September 2010, 04:21 PM #5
I have had a DVR for 10 years, and would not think of going back. I dont think you can beat the DVR for price and performance.
Before I purchased mine I investigated all of the available VS Lathes on the market at the time..
The current purchase price for a new DVR is about $600.00 less than I paid 10 years ago !I try and do new things twice.. the first time to see if I can do it.. the second time to see if I like it
Kev
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15th September 2010, 04:41 PM #6Hewer of wood
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Yeah, there's possibly a reason for the price drop.
At a guess yours Kev was made in NZ.
I bought mine at close to RRP of 3.5k and now Carba-tec have them for 2.9.
But that's just for the lathe with 50cm bed. Not stand, bed extension, outrigger etc. If you need those, the $$ add up and other options come into play. Like a Vicmarc 175.
Actually if coring is what you expect to do a lot of, the DVR XP has power to spare and would be a good option.Cheers, Ern
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15th September 2010, 04:47 PM #7Banned
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The lowest speed for the DVR XP is 100 rpm. , forward and reverse .
It would be great if they could come down lower . Maybe its just a case of them making circuit boards to that effect.
If the older DVR was 200 , and the XP is 100 , who knows what the next generation Nova will run at .
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15th September 2010, 05:19 PM #8Senior Member
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15th September 2010, 11:04 PM #9
Hi Skip,
I started as a novice on a DVR XP a few years ago and still have it. It is a fantastic lathe and the biggest deal for me was that it gave me (and still does!) confidence to improve my skills. The variable speed is not the quickest to change I admit, but who's in a hurry when learning? The 5 programmable speeds are enough to give you your most commonly used speeds. What I find great though is the fact that the revs just don't slow down as you work your tool on the piece and it's always quiet. I have turned some big natural edged platters - no problem. I have turned some small stuff - no problem - steady as a rock. Head stock is dead easy to rotate and saves a dicky back on a lefty especially when hollowing. Ern's comment about the outrigger is true. I don't have one as I realised that if you want to hollow anything longer that 20cm mounted on a chuck you need more distance than the outrigger can offer. (I use a free standing support - works for me). I have never used it to turn anything as slow as 100 rpm or as fast as 3500rpm or whatever the max speed is (haven't needed to go over 2800rpm). I use reverse quite a bit for sanding.
All the programmable stuff about torque etc you can just forget about - can't see any reason to change it from the defaults.
Anyway, that's my experience with the beast over the last couple of years and I should qualify that mine is a NZ made unit and to be honest the castings on the more recent ones look rougher to me but whether that makes a difference . . . .?
What's important for me looking back? Variable speed, rotating headstock, quiet and smooth running motor, solid construction.
Other lathes I looked at - VicMark VL175 and Stubby (prototype with the rotating head) but both cost more.
Hope this rambling helps,
Cheers,
FrankG
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16th September 2010, 01:57 PM #10New Member
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Nova dvr xp
Thanks heaps everyone for your thoughts, advice and other offerings, much appreciated. Lots of things you discussed I've not yet had a go at, but it gives me confidence I'm on the right track with lathe choice.
regards
Skip
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16th September 2010, 08:58 PM #11
I like mine
but expect to really put it through it's paces in about 7 weeks and on into the futureregards
Nick
veni, vidi, tornavi
Without wood it's just ...
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