DVR3000

I have only had mine about 3 months, but I love it. It is well made and does everything it says it will. My only problem was with the vacuum adapter. It is for a shop vac style system and I like a vacuum pump so I had to make a new one which was no big deal.

Hi Charlie...I bought my DVR 3000 about a year ago and love every inch of it. Excellent response and customer service from the manufacturer. It is a bit light and vibrates some when turning out of balance stock (problem solved by building a stout lathe stand and using about 200 lbs of sand to increase the weight. Do a search on the newsgroup and you will get alot of input.

good hunting,

Joel Crabbe Temple, Texas USA

Hey Vernon,

I've just ordered a Nova DVR, should be here next week. I have not yet ordered the vacuum adapter. I was wondering if you thought it was worthwhile when used with a shop vac ( Fein mini-turbo), or should I just invest in a pump system?

Thanks, Carl McCarty

vern>I have only had mine about 3 months, but I love it. It is well made and

I've been using my DVR for about a year in a production environment. Works great. The only thing that bugs me is the time it takes to change speeds. As a production turner, 10 seconds is WAY too long to change speeds.. A twist of a knob would be so much faster.

Other than that, it has served me quite well.

Peter Teubel Milford, MA

Hello Charlie,

I've had a Nova DVR 3000 for two years now. It doesn't get heavy production turner type of use in my shop, but it has done everything that I've wanted it to do. I had a Nova 3000 for about four years before getting the DVR. I had built the wooden stand in the manual with some exceptions: I used 2x6 stock, I built a box in the base and filled it with iron scrap, I made the top from two 2x6's that were spaced apart a bit to allow the chips to fall through.

I believe that the Nova DVR 3000 is the best buy for the money on the market, it may not be the best lathe, but it is the best lathe for under $2000.

It will take a bit of adjusting to if you've had a lathe with variable speed that changes with a twist of a knob, but you soon adjust to it. It has a nice feature, a big catch will cause it to shut down and therefore do less damage to your project in process.

Fred Holder

Charles, the DVR 3000 is an excellent lathe. I'd suggest you check or join the MSN Nova Owners Group. You will find over 212 Nova/Teknatool users that can offer you verified user experience. Check it out. Link is listed below.

A few months ago I too was looking for a new lathe and the Nova DVR looked really good on paper. I visited the local Woodcraft store and got a hands on look a the DVR. I was not impressed, it seemed very light to me and I could not justify the $900 additional cost of the variable speed motor over the Nova 3000 lathe. In my opinion there are a lot better lathes on the market than the DVR and for less money. I bought a Jet 1442 Lathe and have not been sorry, and It will do anything the DVR will do and for less money. To answer your question "more importantly,

If you want to spent in the $2000 range look at a Vicmarc VL200. If you want to spend in the $900 range, look at the Jet 1442. Bet you won't be sorry if you buy the Jet.

Just my opinion, hope this helps.

Lem Bledsoe

importantly,

There are also a few DVR owners here.

I've had m> Charles, the DVR 3000 is an excellent lathe. I'd suggest you check

Personally I do think so. I've got 2 EVS and 2 Reeves drive lathes. The reeves drive requires far more maintenance than EVS, plus it doesn't have a really slow speed for large, out-of-balance pieces. Again, I've been using my DVR for 100's of hours and its rock solid.

Peter Teubel Milford, MA

I generally concur with Peter. I've had my DVR for well over two years now, have used it for working with everting from massive 22in bowls,

19x10 inch hollow forms, and miniature work and it has never failed me but for a bend spindle lock that was easily corrected.

It is true that the very early models, say made in the first 3-4 months, had some failures, and that a tiny number of models with essentially prototype boards have seen some failures, but the overwhelming majority of DVRs have been entirely trouble free, as has been mine.

Almost as important as overall reliability is what a manufacturer will do if there are problems. Teknatool has shown very direct and, if necessary, continuing involvement whenever any problems have cropped up in problematic DVR units. In the last year or so, they have established their own independent service center in West Virginia, and Tim who runs it has developed an outstanding reputation for exemplary service.

There are lots of reasons to prefer one lathe over another, but long term reliability with respect to the DVR isn't one that you will likely need to be concerned with in making your determination.

Lyn

Peter Teubel wrote:

reeves drive requires far more maintenance than EVS, plus

I've been using my DVR for 100's of hours and its

What would be the torque of an Electronic Variable Speed at 200 RPM. I am lead to believe that at low RPM the EVS torque may not be as powerful as in High RPM. Having two EVS for a while maybe you could comment of this. TIA

reeves drive requires far more maintenance than EVS, plus

Again, I've been using my DVR for 100's of hours and its

Charles,

I am in the same boat you are in. I have settled on the DVR, primarily for a couple of reasons. First, the majority of my turning is bowls in the 10-18" diameter range. If I need to turn long spindles (have yet to do so) I can expand the bed length when I need it. The relatively small footprint of the lathe is also ideal for the size of workshop I have. The lathe has been on the market for 3 years now. Reliability complaints in the past couple of years have been very hard to find so what problems there were, they have been resolved by Teknatool. I was concerned about supportability here in Canada, but the national rep has an excellent reputation and West Virginia, if required, isn't that far away. In the UK, I believe Sorby is the rep for the DVR and has an equally excellent reputation from what I can read. I think my turning abilities will be consistent with the lathe's capabilities for a considerable period of time. In other words, I can't see the need for an upgrade for a very long time, if ever. I have looked at the Jet lathes, but for some reason, they are hard to come by in Canada. I have also looked at the Poolewood DVSL, but there doesn't appear to be any stock available in the UK (never mind here in Canada and none have been sold on this side of the pond). Have also looked at the new General International lathes that are about to be released in November. One is a reeves drive which doesn't interest me, and the EVS model is too large for my shop. The only complaint I have with the DVR is the lack of a stand as standard equipment. For you, Sorby apparantly manufactures a stand for the DVR in the UK.

Ordered my DVR this week and expect it here some time next week. Anxiously awaiting its arrival. Good luck with your decision.

DD

"charles jones" wrote in message news:...

Peter Teubel Milford, MA

This is impressive, thanks for the information concerning the DVD torque. With sheaves, pulleys,2HP motor driving a two inches shaft mounted with two pillows blocks in line my friend's lathe only gets down to 226 RPM. This is enough for him to handle large heavy burls. Changing the belt is accomplished with the assistance of a foot pedal and loading the burl is done with a mechanical hoist.

RPM, but then again its got a 3-step pulley to compensate.

it by grabbing the handwheel. Add the fact that you don't

put the DVR against any other 2hp lathe at low RPMs (with

So Doug, who did you order it from and what are the freight charges like? I'm in Welland On. and I am pretty sure that the DVR will be my next lathe.

Hey Vernon,

I've just ordered a Nova DVR, should be here next week. I have not yet ordered the vacuum adapter. I was wondering if you thought it was worthwhile when used with a shop vac ( Fein mini-turbo), or should I just invest in a pump system?

Thanks, Carl McCarty

vern I have only had mine about 3 months, but I love it. It is well made and does everything it says it will. My only problem was with the vacuum adapter. It is for a shop vac style system and I like a vacuum pump so I had to make a new one which was no big deal.

Thanks

Charlie