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Customer
Testimony
"The 1624-44 is an
excellent basic lathe and the author’s choice for best value."
Fine Woodworking, Apr
2007, USA
"I
recently purchased your 1624-44 lathe and I am very pleased with the
price and quality of the tool. I make bagpipes and needed more accuracy
and torque for boring deep holes. The new lathe gave me this and more.
Thank you for a great product!"
X. Favre, Canada
"I am a happy user
of a Nova 1624 Lathe and several of the Nova Chuck systems and
accessories. Your products are first rate and I couldn't be happier with
them."
G. Ingle, USA
"The
DVR (inset) has an excellent electronic speed control."
"The Nova
DVR,...., had no significant speed loss even with the maximum 40 lb. of
weight on the brake lever."
"By contrast, the
unique Nova DVR integrates the motor and headstock; it has no drive
pulleys. This makes for an extremely rigid spindle and very smooth,
quiet operation."
Review, Fine Woodworking Heavy Duty Lathe
Test, USA, April 2007
"A
truly superb machine, lathe worked hard for the last 3yrs no trouble
whatso ever."
B. Wade,
Scotland, 2007
"I
have had the DVR for approximately two (2) years now and it has
performed wonderfully and has helped take my turned pieces to a higher
level of quality.
It is easy to operate and in combination with the Super
Nova 2 chuck allows me to handle wood of varying shapes and sizes.
Thanks"
A.
Napoli,
USA, 2007
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Most
woodturners after they have used a swivel head lathe do not want to go
back to a fixed head machine. Here’s
why:
-
 Ergonomics.
Traditional fixed head lathes require you to hunch
uncomfortably over the bed.
Swivelling the head allows you to turn in a more comfortable
position.
-
This
eases back strain – a common turning complaint.
-
Also
allows you to position the turning to give clear visual of the
cutting face. Tool
handles are unobstructed away from the bed of the lathe.
-
You
can even turn the head away from you to back turn bowls.
-
Space
Saving.
Fixed head lathes require a lot of space away from the wall
to allow for outboard turning.
The swivel head lathe turned 90 degrees to the bed allows all
the outboard turning to be done in front of the lathe – this is
clear workshop space where the operator stands anyway.
This allows the swivel head lathe to be positioned close to
the wall and take up minimum workshop space.
With the trend to smaller workshops this is an important
consideration.
-
Same
Fixtures.
With fixed head lathes you need to duplicate all your thread
fixtures – faceplates, chucks etc for a left hand thread.
This can be quite an extra expense.
-
A
swivel head lathe uses all the same fixtures for larger outboard
work.
-
Same
technique.
Fixed head lathes require you to learn and use a different
Left hand cutting technique.
With a swivel head lathe you use the same inboard cutting
technique and tools.
 You
can see on the illustration, the turner in the first picture is not
balanced , and is having to crane over the bed, this effect stability
and chisel control and for anyone that ’spends long hours at a lathe
this is just not good for the back.
The
second problem is that often the bed gets in the way when taking a
sweeping cut with the chisel, it is common to see this tell tale
transition mark in the bowl sweep even amongst skilled turners.
In
the ergonomically designed, 1624 and DVR XPs , it is simple to swing the
work to a position that makes turning comfortable.
You can see in the second picture the turner is in a comfortable
position. His centre of gravity is directly over is feet, it’s a
comfortable position to turn at all day.
The chisel has complete freedom of movement.
You
save your back – save workshop space – save on extra chucks &
faceplates – use same techniques – why wouldn’t you want a swivel
head lathe?
All
swivel head lathes offer these advantages but not all swivel head lathes
are created equal. The
Nova 1624-44 & the Nova DVR XP offers the best Swivel Head options
on the market, here’s why:
-
Precision
swivel head – locks back to precise center alignment to the bed.
-
Many
swivel head lathes do not have precise alignment.
-
Easy
to swivel – just undo the lock pin and depress the detent pin
lever.
-
Some
swivel head lathes have an awkward or inaccessible swivel lever.
-
Can
lock the head at any position. Many
swivel head lathes can only be locked at the 90 degree position.
-
Detent
Pin lock for extra security and precision.
You can lock the head at 22.5, 45 and 90 degrees for heavy
work.
MYTH:
Swivel
Head lathes are less rigid than fixed head lathes.
FACT:
There
is no difference between a well built swivel head such as the
NOVA
1624
locked properly to the bed, and a fixed head lathe.
Rigidity is important but there are many aspects that contribute
to this such as stand design, bed design, alignment, cast components
etc.
MYTH:
Swivel
head lathes are not accurate.
FACT:
True,
some are not accurate. Then
again some fixed head lathes are not accurate either.
But well built lathes like the Nova 1624-44 & the Nova DVR XP
have precision alignment of the Head & Tailstock. Also the Nova
1624-44 & the Nova DVR XP has an adjustable tailstock for fine
alignment – a feature not found on any other lathe.
MYTH:
Fixed
head lathes are the traditional design – surely that’s stood the
test and is the best way to make lathes.
FACT:
Traditional
turning mostly was around spindle turning for chair/table legs and the
like. Modern turning is more
concerned with bowl or free end turning.
Fixed head lathes were never designed for more than occasional
bowl work. The swivel head
allows the turner to position themselves
where they are most comfortable.
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