Thread: Nova dvr xp

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

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.

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

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 !

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.

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 .

Originally Posted by ticklingmedusa

Interesting discussion.
I agree with most comments already posted .
I like mine.
I find it easy to operate.
But that's just me.
I've been using it a lot for a few weeks
If it had the sliding headstock it would be on another level.
Hint Hint .
Technatool are you listening ?
Probably not.
I think some of the Laguna brand machines have that option.
The Company is close to where I live here but I read a thread
a long time ago about a customer service nightmare a user had.
For now a Nova will do.
There a lot of good lathes being made and sold
and it gives one pause to think.
I'm history, back to the shed.

I'm not sure but due to seismic activity & settling earth the crack in my slab is wider.
Where's the level ?

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

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

I like mine
but expect to really put it through it's paces in about 7 weeks and on into the future