Any woodturners out there?

[dragoneggs]

I am readying to buy a wood lathe. Looking at a mid size 16x24 Possibly a Nova Saturn DVR. Not sure I need/want a full size lathe for say, table legs as I plan to do more bowl turning type of work. Question... do you think I will kick myself for not splurging for a full size? I guess the question is how many of you turn long pieces vs. short for the various projects you do?

 

[bunyip]

I do a bit and have a Record short bed with outboard turning, I find it a bit tedious after a while and cannot get into pen turning but sometimes wouldn't mind something bigger.
I tend to turn replacement parts for furniture such as finials for clocks which I collect.
Don't know how much you have turned but I use gouges for most work and have a white wheel on a grinder next to the lather for sharpening which takes a few seconds once you can sort your angles and get it right each time, a 4 jaw chuck.
The downside of Record is that it uses #1 morse taper, almost everyone else uses #2 which is cheaper and more common.
Good steel for makes life easier too as it holds its edge, cheap sets are generally next to useless.
Nova is a good brand but there are a lot of others too and look at 2nd hand as a lot of people invest and lose interest quickly.

 

[dragoneggs]

I’m pretty efficient at knife sharpening and have a nice Tormek for that. I have never owned a lathe but took a class recently and the bug bit me. Am looking 2nd hand but really like the direct variable drive feature of the newer machines.

 

[wheelbuilder]

I've got a cheap long lathe and am on the lookout for an inexpensive or used lathe that would give me 18-20 between centers. I thought I'd be doing things like table legs, but that hasn't been the case. I think if I'd started with a shorter lathe, I'd simply turn what I could and dowel and glue up into something longer.
The upside is I've got a fair idea of what I'd like. If you go for a long work, be aware that thin and long require stabilizers, and there is a point that you can't exceed.

 

[4570Man]

I’ve got a Jet 16-42 and a Powermatic 35-20. I don’t use the length very much ( other than sliding the tailstock out of the way) but I think you’d miss the weight and power of a full-size lathe.

 

[bunyip]

If you go for a long work, be aware that thin and long require stabilizers, and there is a point that you can't exceed.

Although I know one person who makes flagpoles up to 80' long, but there are a lot of stabilisers and it is slow turning compared to short beds.
Also, a short log can be character building when it jumps off the lathe, I have had that happen a couple of times.

 

[dragoneggs]

Weight is definitely nice. Being able slide the tail stock out of the way seems a plus.

I used two lathes in a class. One a full size I definitely liked better because of the weight and power and low vibration.

I don’t see me doing table legs but maybe pool cue sticks, I don’t know.

 

[Billrog]

Full size for the weight if you wish to turn anything of any size & having the tail stock out of the way is a plus.The variable speed is nice as well.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

My wood lathe is a full size Rockwell, I like having the option to turn what I want, a bowl or a leg.

SR

 

[bunyip]

Another plus is lever adjustments on everything, tightening and loosening nuts becomes very tedious and time consuming especially when you need to make minor adjustments.

 

[goeduck]

I would love to have one, but floor space required vs actual use gives me qualms.

 

[dragoneggs]

I would love to have one, but floor space required vs actual use gives me qualms.

Yes for sure... I am already maxed out on floor space and I am thinking of a lathe before my shop build. My dad always said my priorities were backward.

Yes, levers vs. nut adjustment I get it. Need to be looking for that feature!

 

[Threepoint]

I am readying to buy a wood lathe. Looking at a mid size 16x24 Possibly a Nova Saturn DVR. Not sure I need/want a full size lathe for say, table legs as I plan to do more bowl turning type of work. Question... do you think I will kick myself for not splurging for a full size? I guess the question is how many of you turn long pieces vs. short for the various projects you do?

Mark, I have two full-size wood lathes and do a fair amount of turning. Mostly bowls, but many little things as well: wine bottle stoppers, ice cream scoops, salt shakers, pens, pendants, etc. As you probably know, you can easily turn small things on big lathes, but not vice versa.

The Nova Saturn DVR is a nice lathe, but you sacrifice motor power, lathe mass, and of course bed length. 24" between centers is pretty short. These things will become more important to you if you continue your enthusiasm for turning, and they don't call it "the vortex" for no reason. :laughing: Even if you don't plan on doing long spindle work, sliding the tail stock out of the way without have to remove it is a big plus.

If you're already considering spending $2,000 on the Nova, I'd take a serious look at the Grizzly G0766 for $250 more. Very beefy cast iron bed, headstock and legs. 22" swing, 42" between centers. The 3hp motor and the Delta Electronics VFD M-series drive are a nice combination. It also now comes with a larger, redesigned banjo, and slightly shorter legs to reduce overall height than at initial roll out in 2013.

Also have a look at the Grizzly G0733 for $1,950. 18" swing, and 47" between centers. 2 hp motor. I hear that it now ships with a handwheel, which it hasn't had in the past.

 

[dragoneggs]

Thanks 3pt. I am now visualizing the Nova 16x44 Galaxi DVR in my shop. Found it tax free and shipping free direct from the Nova warehouse via Tools-Plus.com for $2349 delivered! All other sites (Amazon, Woodcraft, etc) I would be in for about $2950 or more due to state tax and shipping fees. One thing I do like is the 110/220v convertibility. In my current shop I am hampered for power and need my single 220v for my compressor. I also like the 360deg swiveling head stock allowing larger than 16in work, and the direct drive motor with instant stop.

Although not quite as beefy as the Grizzly G0766, I think it will have the weight (436lb) and power (2.3hp at 220v) for my needs. Also a much better warranty and no belts! So ready to pull the trigger.

NOVA GALAXI DVR LATHE (SKU 55214) - NOVA

 

[4570Man]

I’m not sure that no belts would be a bonus. That’s sorta like having a single speed HST tractor. I doubt you’d ever use the swiveling head stock. Maybe if you’re into turning serving platters but anything of any weight would be asking a lot of the lathe. I doubt you’d have any problem running the lathe and air compressor at the same time on the 220 volt circuit especially of it’s a 30 amp one.

 

[dragoneggs]

I’m not sure that no belts would be a bonus. That’s sorta like having a single speed HST tractor. I doubt you’d ever use the swiveling head stock. Maybe if you’re into turning serving platters but anything of any weight would be asking a lot of the lathe. I doubt you’d have any problem running the lathe and air compressor at the same time on the 220 volt circuit especially of it’s a 30 amp one.

Actually I was thinking the swivel would be great for better access inside taller bowls. But I am a novice so at this point, just shootin' my mouth off.

As far as my 220v service to my garage... I'm embarrassed to admit I am running a heavy duty extension cord from my dryer outlet (not needed because I have a gas dryer) from my house to the garage! :ashamed: My welder and plasma cutter also share that line.

:smiley_aafz: Yep, need a new dedicated shop!

 

[4570Man]

It might if it didn’t compromise the tool rest stability. Or of you had a sliding headstock you could just slide it almost to the end. Btw I’ve got a supernova chuck and a Oneway stronghold and the oneway is by far the better one.

 

[bunyip]

Yep, need a new dedicated shop!

Don't we all, I thought I was in heaven when I moved out of a 1 car garage to a 6x12m shed, 12 years later it is overflowing and I suspect if I had an aircraft hangar it wouldn't be any different.
I put in 15a outlets so I can use a welder and a plasma cutter, our outlets are generally 10a and no regrets there but we only run 220v or 3 phase (I don't have 3 phase).
The plugs are identical but the 15a has a big earth pin and won't fit into a 10a outlet, a lot just file down the pin.