Jet 1642 VS NOVA 1624-44 Wood Lathe

[Rick Cicciarelli]

Just considering picking something up to work with. I am a total beginner, but I like getting quality, middle of the road priced equipment. I am curious about the pros and cons of each. Any input from you folks between the two of them would be greatly appreciated. Opinions are welcome.

[Don Carter]

Rick:
I don't think you will go wrong with either of these lathes. It is a matter for you to decide on cost , shop space, and what you intend to do. I have the Nova and I really like it. I've had some problems but Teknatool and Craft Supply (retailer) have been great to fix the problems. It is less expensive than the Jet but does not have variable speed. You must change the belt to different pulleys.
Both are very capable lathes and I think you will be happy with either. Tell us more what you plan to do with the lathes and many others will comment.

All the best.

Don

[Rick Cicciarelli]

Not even really sure really. Turning bowls, banjo rims, chair parts ect. Really though I am curious...how often do you need more than 24" of length? Even when doing chair legs?

[Steve Schlumpf]

Rick - like Don said - it really depends on what you want to turn. I have the Jet 1642 EVS and I use the entire length of the bed more times than not because I turn mostly hollow forms and use a captured system - which takes up a lot of room.

[alex carey]

keep in mind with the nova you will probably have to make a stand. Just a thought.

[John Gornall]

Actually the Nova 1624-44 comes with a good stand - cast iron top sections and heavy steel tube legs with leveling feet.

[Kyle Iwamoto]

I think either of these two lathes is NOT middle of the road. They both are solid lathes, and should be servicable for a good long while. To me, the Minis or Midis are more middle of the road stuff. You should not to have to upgrade to anything, unless you really get into turning. I would like to move UP to either of those lathes.:)

[Rick Cicciarelli]

That is a question...does the Nova tend to 'walk' more than the Jet? Seems like the stand on the Nova is a bit less sturdy than the Jet.....

[Bill Bolen]

I've spoken with a number of folks who own that Nova and never a bad word about it. As far as walking around with a big off balance piece just put some bags of sand under it and that will help a bunch. I have a jet 1442 and would take the 1642 over the Nova anytime. The VS and mass of the Jet bring that machine real close to top of the line. Not and 800 pound $6K monster machine but it is a "wannabe" for that class. Either will serve you quite well...Bill...

[Ryan Baker]

I have the Jet 1642 and absolutely recommend it very highly. It's a solid performer at a good price. I think it is a nicer machine than the Nova. Variable speed is not optional in my opinion, and I wouldn't consider a lathe without it. I would opt for the 2HP motor if you can afford it. That said, you can get by quite well with the Nova too.

[Chris Haas]

take it from me, ive owned both of the lathes.

i started with the nova, and it is awesome, but the jet is much beefier, longer bed, seems to run quieter, and the most important thing..... VS

the nova is great like i said, but a couple months on it and you'll want a little beefier machine, at least i did, now a bonus to the nova is the outboard tool rest, i turned an18 inch bowl on my nova, cant do that on the jet without an standalone tool rest. anyways, my vote is the Jet. pm me with any specific questions.

[Paul Douglass]

I have the Nova because at the time the VS wasn't worth the extra money to me. And it still isn't. However if money is easier for you to come by, go with the VS. Changing belts isn't bad but it would be nice to not have to. The Nova Is a great lathe and I'm sure the Jet is also.

[Richard Madison]

Rick,
As a beginner, electronic variable speed would be your best friend, enabling you to turn at modest and controlled speeds while you learn. As you work your way up the learning curve, your turning speed will increase and EVS will help that happen as gradually or as fast as you need it to.

A great feature of a 42" bed (am I the only one who has noticed this?) is that you will not be whacking your elbow on the tailstock all the time. My right elbow has permanent divots from the tailstock of my previous (36" bed) lathe.

And finally, a year from now you will never miss the extra $$, and you will have had the pleasure of using a 1642EVS for a year. For ref. have never seen a Nova, but am sure it is a fine machine also, as many owners have praised it highly.

[alex carey]

true, it does come with a stand, it just never seemed as sturdy as the one that the jet comes with. You would definitely have to modify it to add a ballast. Modding the Jet for a ballast will be much easier also. My vote is the jet.

[Steve Schlumpf]

As a beginner, electronic variable speed would be your best friend, enabling you to turn at modest and controlled speeds while you learn. As you work your way up the learning curve, your turning speed will increase and EVS will help that happen as gradually or as fast as you need it to.

I have to agree with Richard on his recommendation of EVS. A lot of folks will tell you that it is no big deal to change the belts to regulate speed - and they are right, it is no big deal and it doesn't take very long. The one major advantage that EVS has over fixed speed lathes is that you can adjust the speed a few rpms and eliminate any vibration problems you may experience. You can not do that with a belt drive lathe. Now that I have been using an EVS system for a little over 2 years - I believe it is that ability to eliminate vibration which makes the EVS so important!

[Rick Cicciarelli]

So is the 2 horsepower version of the Jet really worth $400 over the 1.5 horsepower version??

[Alan Trout]

I personally have the Nova DVR. It is in the same price range as the jet 1642 and in many ways I like it better then the Jet. The Nova DVR has some unique features. It can be used with 220 or 110v. At 110 it is 1.75HP. at 220 they say it is 2hp but when you dig into the manual it is really 2.3HP on 220V. It has the option of a swing away bed segment that gives you a longer bed then the Jet but can fold up behind the lathe so it does not interfere with anything. It also has a unique feature that can be programed is if you have a bad catch it will shut the machine off. Real nice feature for a newby. It will keep from slinging that chisel across the room. It has a rotating head stock with an optional outrigger that is nice for larger pieces and keeps the same compact footprint. They are also very smooth running lathe. Far as stands go you can go as mild or wild as you want. I built a very heavy and stable stand for mine the entire setup weights a lot more than a 1642 and is more stable than a 1642. Of course you have to build the stand but for me it was the right choice because I needed a compact footprint with good capacity. Here is a thread I started on mine. http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=99001

I Personally have used the Jet, PM3520, and the DVR. I am still very happy and satisfied with my decision.

Good Luck

Alan

[Richard Madison]

Rick,
It's a toss-up. Have never seen any complaints from folks with the 1.5 Jet, and/but I believe (just one person's opinion) it was offered for folks who could not provide 220v service for the 2. And it's a $$ and emotional thing. If you get the 2, you will never have to wonder if you shouldagot the 2 instead of the 1.5. That was the basis of my decision a few years ago when I had more $$. Today I would seriously consider the 1.5, as the $$ are fewer and farther between. How about some opinions from the 1.5 owners out there.

[charlie knighton]

How about some opinions from the 1.5 owners out there.

i really like it, i moved up from a 3/4 horsepower so the difference from 1.5 to 2 hp was not a big deal, 3/4 to 1.5 is a big deal, also the low speed for out of round blanks is important

the ability to move the speed slightly up or down to get rid of vibration is good but i had that with the 3/4, evs over reeves drive is great, and i have not had this lathe in shop

i like the 42 inch bed because i use elbo tool for hollow forms mostly

i followed directions and ballasted the jet 1.5 with 250 lbs of sand, covered in plastic which shavings are easy to sweep off and still have room to use the tool basket

i am trying to get up the courage to use outboard turning stand

[GLENN THOMAS]

I bought a Nova 1624 last April and cant find a bad thing to say about it. The only time it ever danced around with me was when I had a really large blank and it was really out of ballance. If you can cut your larger blanks on a band saw and center them real good you shouldn't have any problems. Changing speeds by moving the belt is super easy, but a few time with really large pieces I have found the one speed may be a little too slow while the next is too fast. You will also have to learn through experience how fast you can turn any given blank before starting since you can't increase your speed gradually untill your at a comfortable RPM. If I were going to do it all over again I would have given more consideration to the Jet.

GT

[Reed Gray]

A word about motors. When I first started woodworking, I read everything I could find about machines. One common thread was that any motor, 1 hp and above runs better on 220 current. I did have a couple of my machines rewired, and they did work better. I can't pinpoint exactly what is better, but there was improvement. Variable speed is a feature that I will not be without again. While changing belts isn't too much of a problem, it is a convenience, unless you do production work. Then it is a necessity, it saves time. Looking back, there were a lot of times when I would turn some thing at a higher speed than I should have because of the inconvenience of changing the belt. Some times I was turning too slow for the same reason. As far as needing a longer bed, if you ever need to turn a table leg (I assume you do some flat work) then you need the extra length. The sliding headstock on the Jet gives you a bowl lathe and a spindle lathe. There is never any reason to bend over to turn as long as your lathe is at the proper height. The rotating headstock does a similar thing, but not as well. I never liked the idea of an extended banjo.
robo hippy

[Michael Mills]

I am fairly new to woodturning (less than a year) and I have the Nova 1624. My old lathe was an old jet (early 80's) when I did only flat work. So far I have not had a problem with my Nova "walking" with no additonal weight added. You can also purchase the bed extension to make it 44". The thing I like best is the headstock being moveable. I have only made bowls and always adjujst it out to the 22.5 degree or better angle from the bed. This gives you lots of room to work with the inside of the bowl without leaning across the lathe. I usually start about 800rpm and only round my blanks with a chain saw. The first few times changing the belt was clumsy (my short pudgy fingers?) but now it takes less than a minute. I am not familiar with the Jet but all things equal it would seem to be a question of variable speed (jet) or rotating headstock (Nova).
Mike

[Michael Mills]

Are we talking apples and oranges?
I have the Nova 1624-44. (belt drive)
I tried to find a Jet 1642 (online and did not find one) that DID NOT have variable speed.
At Woodcraft the Nova 1624-44 is 1,199; the Jet 1642 is 2199.00
Maybe Jet makes a 1642 that does not have variable speed?
The Nova DVR XP (variable speed) at Woodcraft is 2199.00 exactly the same as the Jet.
My Nova 1624-44 was rated by Fine Wood Working Mag as the best buy in its class. That class is not variable speed!
So...maybe there is a Jet 1642 belt drive that I did not fine.
When you go from belt to variable add $1,000.
Yeah they say 20 seconds to change the belt speed...with short, clumsy, pudgy fingers add 1 minute 40 seconds. Still not bad for $1000.
Do you want to compare the Nova DVR XP and the Jet 1642 EVS
If so then it seems the question is..
Pay $150 to have a welder build a base for the Nova ( if you can't do it) and have the advantage of swivel head stock. I use mine every time on my Nova 1642-44 for bowl hollowing. Watch any videos on leaning over the bed to hollow a bowl to see why. The "24" can also be extended to 44".
Mike

[Skip Spaulding]

Rick, I have the 1624-44 with outboard rest and have done some large out of round pieces. I keep talking about adding a little ballast but most of the time my blanks are under 16" and I round them on the band saw first.
I use the McNaughton bowl saver and it would be nice to have a little more HP. No doubt about it VS would be nice. I'm sure the Jet would be fine but like someone mentioned it is a lot more money.
I set a price I wanted to spend for the features I wanted and the Nova has been great. I turn for fun but if I was thinking business, I would be looking at Powermatic, Oneway or that new Robust!
What ever you decide, remember the lathe is only the beginning! The "VORTEX" will pull you in!! Good Luck, Skip

[Chris Haas]

good point mike, i got rid of my nova because i was able to sell it for more than i bought my used jet 1642 for, pretty sweet if you ask me, but if i was at woodcraft, i dont think i would pay the extra $1000 bucks for the jet, there are just too many other things i could spend the cash on.

[John Gornall]

The Nova 1624 is what I recommend as a starter lathe instead of one of the little ones. I had a little one and was bored in about 2 months. I'm having a lot of fun with the Nova. I have it well set up with chucks, rests, centers, vacuum chuck, and more and it does all I currently want to do. I'm building a captured hollowing tool and planning to add a threading attachment. Turning is not my main woodworking interest and this lathe gives me all I need at a low cost. The Nova comes with a stand that is far heavier than most people realize. The top part is heavy cast iron and the legs are steel tubes about 2 inches square with screwed leveling feet. If you want to add shelves or ballast or whatever it would be simple to drill and tap the legs. I have a 20 inch extension for mine which takes me to 44 inches but I've been playing with mounting the extension on my workbench and moving the lathe so I can turn any length - I want to try 8 feet. It's just a matter of alignment - I'm using a laser. To have fun with my lathe I spent 1000 for the lathe and another 1500 or so for accesories and tools. A lathe is no fun by itself.

[Harvey Schneider]

You don't have to lean over the bed with a Jet 1642. Just slide the headstock down towards the tailstock end of the bed and remove the tailstock. You now have a bowl lathe.
I consider the controls on the Jet more convenient than the DVR (just my opinion).

I love working at my Jet.

[Fred Floyd]

When I went shopping for a lathe, I considered the Nova and the Jet.
I am another happy owner of the Jet 1642. Mine is the 2hp version. I've been turning for 5 years and done some larger bowls, but only one tested the 16-inch swing limitation. There are not many pieces of wood that big. The 42 inch bed gives plenty of room for any spindle work. My two favorite features are ELECTRONIC VARIABLE SPEED and REVERSIBLE. Most folks I know recommend turning in reverse for sanding. My wife asked if I felt the need to upgrade this lathe. The next step up is the Powermatic 3520 and it has the same 2hp motor I have now.

This was my first lathe and I don't think I will grow out of it. About 2 years ago, I picked up a Jet 1014VS mini lathe, which is fun for small projects and portable. This gives me a big powerful lathe for bowls and long spindles and the small lathe for lidded boxes and other small stuff.

[Paul Douglass]

I think Mr. Mills is correct. We are discussing lathes with a $1000 difference. So the only question is, is EVS worth $1000 to you. It would be for me if money was easy. I would have to assume money is easy enough to add all the chucks and tools also. I've bought some nice chucks and a few more tools and still. Haven't spent that extra $1000. But again, if I had the money, I'd have gone for EVS, but if I had the money, it would be a oneway or similar.

[Dean Thomas]

That is a question...does the Nova tend to 'walk' more than the Jet? Seems like the stand on the Nova is a bit less sturdy than the Jet.....
Two or three bags of sand will curb a lot of walking. :D

[Harvey Schneider]

I have the 1.5 hp version, and I have turned bowls up to the capacity of the lathe (15.5" x 3.5"). Others may cut more aggressively than I do, so when I say this has enough torque to turn large it is for my style of turning.
At the other end of the spectrum, I have had the lathe snap a scraper handle in half when the burr on the scraper caught. This stalled the lathe and tripped the overload safety.
I don't feel that I need any more power than I have in my lathe.

[Mike Lipke]

I have the Jet 1642 EVS 1 1/2hp, love it, and am ALWAYS on that speed control, especially when sanding and finishing.

Reverse is also sweet.

[Clancy Courtney]

Woodcraft has the Nova 1624-44 on sale for $899 and the DVR for $1699..