Oneway Live Center vs. Nova Live Center?

[Jason Anders]

I'm looking to upgrade my stock lathe live center and would like to hear from owners of the Oneway and Nova live centers. What are some of your opinons, is one better than the other etc? Does anyone own both? I'm leaning towards the Oneway but I've seen some good prices on the Nova center. What I'm leary about on the Nova is the insert tips and how well do they fit, wobble, run-out etc. I've tried the Woodcraft brand live center with interchangeable tips and was not impressed and returned it. I don't have any places to shop and comare around here so the purchase must be made online. I've searched the forums but haven't found any direct comparisons to each other.
-Thanks

[Gordon Seto]

I have the Nova, Oneway and Sorby revolving stebcenters. Both Nova and Oneway run true. I like the Nova better because it is more versatile. It is easier to attach a non-marring custom cone for reverse turning. You can do that with the Oneway, but you have to tap a 3/4" X 10 TPI thread on your wood blank. The Sorbys do not run true; but I use them for off-center turning. It is not critical.

The cone on the Sorby system is too small to be useful. The cone on the Nova is an optional accessory. The cone and 60º point on the Oneway are aluminum; they are soft. The tip on the Oneway is also removable. Both are high quality products; I have no problem with any of the points (from Oneway and Nova) not seating true.

To be honest, it is a coin toss. Both have very good track record. I think you will be happy with either one.
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o83/gbseto/livecenter002.jpg

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o83/gbseto/livecenter001.jpg

Gordon

[Keith Burns]

I have the oneway and it is great. Hartville Tool has them on sale for 20% off. Have no experience with the Nova.

[George Tokarev]

My NOVA runs true. Or did until I dropped it on its nose, after which I had to do some fettling to get the dent out. Good at what I use it for, and especially for the ease of installing disks and cones for oddball shapes. I use regular bolts rather than the hanger bolts for my work.

[Jason Anders]

Thanks Gordon its great to hear from someone that owns both. I would like to buy both but I am blessed as it is to be able to buy just one. This vortex thing is getting rather costly with little results thus far. :D

Woodchips seems to have a good deal on the Nova (NLC) but that Oneway (OLC) deal at Hartville is sounding good. From the searching I've done it seems there are more posts, reviews etc mentioned for the OLC. Maybe the OLC owners are just more vocal :). My worries for the Nova though are still those slip in tips how firm laterally they are and how easy they fall out etc vs. the screw on accessories of the OLC. I did finally find a NLC review at More Woodturner magazine that describes the NLC pretty well and I understand the tips are short MT#2 so I would hope they are accurate as some of you have mentioned.

Thanks everyone for the replies thus far... keep em coming.

[John Shuk]

I have the oneway and love it. It has definately made my life a little easier.
No experience with the nova.

[Gordon Seto]

Woodchips seems to have a good deal on the Nova (NLC) but that Oneway (OLC) deal at Hartville is sounding good. From the searching I've done it seems there are more posts, reviews etc mentioned for the OLC. Maybe the OLC owners are just more vocal :). My worries for the Nova though are still those slip in tips how firm laterally they are and how easy they fall out etc vs. the screw on accessories of the OLC. I did finally find a NLC review at More Woodturner magazine that describes the NLC pretty well and I understand the tips are short MT#2 so I would hope they are accurate as some of you have mentioned.
Jason,

You are right about the Oneway fans. Wait till you say something about their chucks. No doubt, the OLC is more popular.

The Nova accessories won't fall out or mis-align. You need to use the short knock-out bar that came with the system to remove the tips. Both Oneway and Nova have excellent service. I won't trade one for the other.

Its your money. Can't help you decide.

Gordon

[George Tokarev]

Not to worry Jason. The same taper that holds the center to your lathe holds the insert to the center. That's how things center, as well. If you bend the leading edge of the nose you have a bit of work on your hands to move the metal out of the way, but a #2 reamer will clean up your handiwork.

[Dick Strauss]

Has anyone thought of using a metal working live center set? Are the angles wrong for wood? I can live with 2000 rpms max since I don't turn many pens. I've been looking at this LC set that costs $53.95 (even though it shows $61.66) from Enco...

http://www.use-enco.com/ProductImages/0009502-11.jpg
http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INPDFF?PMPAGE=368&PMITEM=251-3020

Any thoughts?

Dick

[George Tokarev]

I don't think much of the idea. The cup center is so much more secure for woodworking than a simple point, which can slide along the weak earlywood with a minor catch. Of course, if you don't catch, it's just a center you have to keep snugging that can run to the side with each tightening. Still not worth it.

[Dick Strauss]

Geroge,
There is a cup center included... (see the middle item along the bottom).

Thanks in advance,
Dick

[Jason Anders]

That one looks similar to the other cheap import multi-tip live centers. I've tried the Woodcraft model and it was loose and sloppy, sent it back. For an extra $30-$40 I will stick with choosing either the Oneway or the Nova... just can't decide which one yet. Hedging towards the Nova after reading the review from More Woodturning mag.

[Curt Fuller]

This topic is pretty similar to the "which chuck" topic. No one ever posts complaints about the high end chucks like oneway and nova. Some people have great luck with the cheaper ones and some don't. And then there's the cheapest that usually draw nothing but complaints. I think you'll find the live centers to be about the same and you'll never wish you would have spent a little less money and bought a cheaper center.

[Ted Baxter]

I have the Nova and am very happy with it. I also have a SuperNova2 and a Nova Titian both good chucks that sever me well so far.
I think the has three berings.

Do a youtube search for Mike Peace's channel and search for his review on the Nova tlive center system he did a nice job demo. it good luck with your search.

Don't do like I do and drive myself crazy looking for the very best of whatever it is I am planning to buy.

[Jamie Straw]

Can't help with comparison, but I have the Nova set. The first one I got, it seemed the smallest point wasn't rock solid. I called them, and they immediately sent out an entire new set. I asked if they were sending an RMA, and "nope, keep it for extra parts." I got the new set in just a few days, and it's been great. To summarize: great customer service.

[John Keeton]

This thread is 9 years old.

[Brice Rogers]

I have a few live centers. Most work fairly well. But I took the one that came with my Grizzly G0766 and machined a longer tip for it. (The tip can be removed). I like the longer tip because it allows me better access to work on the foot of a turning. But the Griz center has a single bearing and is a bit sloppy. With the 2" extension on it, the end could wander about +/- 0.10 inches. Sometimes it is nice to have everything on the real center line rather than a tenth off. I got a replacement and it wouldn't turn. Then I got a second replacement and while better, it was sloppy too. But the 2nd replacement didn't have a replaceable tip. Then I bought new bearings on ebay for my original center and .... (drum roll) they were sloppy too.

I have come to the conclusion that if a person was going to add an extension tip, that they would want a live center with TWO or THREE sets of bearings. The reason is that the typical bearing is made to best handle radial loads and does only so-so on thrust (axial) loads.

On my metal lathe I have a live center with no play. It has at least two sets of bearings. But it has a pointed cone center rather than a cup center (which I prefer for wood).

If one of the two live centers you mentioned comes with two sets of bearings, that is what I would select.

[Darryl Hansen]

I have had the NOVA since they came out. No wobble nor loose ;as noted you must use a knock out bar to remove a tip. I like the Nova since they also have a threaded item that fits my chucks. I return my bowls and take the chuck off with the bowl still attached. I put the threaded unit into the NOVA live center put the bowl (which my now is reversed) up to my vacuum chuck and don't have to worry about centering it. Works slick. I have run over 300 bowls with the NOVA center and it is still as tigh as when new.

[Kyle Iwamoto]

Wow 9 year old thread? That's the record resurrection as far as I know!