Nova with a 24" swing? [long]

Re: Nova with a 24" swing? [long]

Sean Troy

>I don't know if it would work, but I love to hear the wheels turning, Best of luck, Sean

Re: Nova with a 24" swing? [long]

John Trant (aka Boxes-n-Bowls)

>May this will help visualize what I am thinking about (or maybe not!).

John

Re: Nova with a 24" swing? [long]

Rick R, So Cal

>John,

Nice graphics. The pictures are exactly what were in my head after reading your description. I have the same Nova 3k. I thought of doing a similar mod, but ended up buying a PM3520 instead. You might take a look at the Powermatic bed extension and banjo since they are much less expensive. Last time I checked, the PM short extension was under $200 and the banjo was under $100. The PM3520 banjo should be fine at 24" when used with a longer tool post. As for the capabilities of the Nova: since you have been turning 18-20" blanks on it, you're in the best position to answer that question. I say go for it.

Rick

I have had same idea

steve antonucci

>I also have the 3K, and I thought about buying and extension for the Nova bed. I would build another frame (2X6 boxed plywood, sand for ballast) and deadbolt that to the front of the lathe stand at the appropriate height (replace your oneway bed with a big heavy box with a Nova bed on top.)

By doing this, you could use the existing banjo, and only need to get a longer toolrest post. One of those modular systems would likely work, or you could get someone to make one up.

My only concern would be that the motor is barely enough to spin a big blank at low speed. I can stop mine pretty easily, even after roughing out.

Saving for a VB.

Steve

Re: Nova with a 24" swing? [long]

John Trant (aka Boxes-n-Bowls)

>You may be right about getting away with the use of a 20" rig. I had focused my search on 24" and saw that the Powermatic and Oneway 24" rigs are both $550.

John

Re: I have had same idea

John Trant (aka Boxes-n-Bowls)

>That was also my first idea but I feared busting the banjo due to the extra leverage from the long tool rest post. It definitely is the cheapest way to go.

Thanks for your comments,

John

Oneway is the first step down the slope.

Richard Allen

>Hi John

One of the great things about going the Oneway route, in a couple of years when you buy a 2436 you will already have the outboard shortbed attachment!

Thanks

Richard

Hmmm, I wonder....

Dominic Greco in warming Richboro PA

>if the Powermatic extensions will fit my Jet 1642. I guess it really wouldn't matter if I put it at the end of the existing bed, and offset the new extension so that it is lower to the ground. I would just need some type of support.

Now you have me thinking!

See ya around,

Dominic

Re: Nova with a 24" swing? [long]

Larry

>I did just that only with a Delta Mini bed extension ($50). I have a wooden bench tied into 2 4X4 posts in my barn wall so the bench is stable. I built a rest for one end of the extension on the stand and put a 4X4 leg under the other end. I use a bar clamp to attach it at the lathe end so I can move it and change the angle to the Nova bed. The rest is rock solid. I used Delta Mini because it had the same bed gap as the original lathe I had. Now I have 2 banjos and don't have to move the one off the Nova to use the auxilary bed. It makes the Nova into a kind of Mini/Micro Stubby. If you want, email me and I'll take some digital pics and send them to you. (it should be obvious what to replace in my email address)

Re: Nova with a 24" swing? [long]

Barry Turner

>What you need...........and probably really want is a Oneway 2436.............

Yep, but baby needs new shoes!

John Trant (aka Boxes-n-Bowls)

>I have started saving my pennies it will be years before I can afford a "big iron". It may be equally difficult to convence the SWMBO of my NEEDS but I will worry about that when the time comes. Of course, if someone gives me the winning lottery ticket, then I may buy two.

Actually, I would like to keep the Nova for spindle work and get a 24" bowl lathe. In the meantime, I will continue to make do with what I have and dream of monster lathes.

John

Re: Nova with a 24" swing? [long]

Gary Evans

>Hi John,

I see what you are after here, but I wonder if that bed extension is going to be in your way when you go back to your original configuration? I know that I have to stand right where that extension will be living when I work on the headstock end of a spindle. I would think you might need to make the extension easily removable from the Nova stand.

Good luck with your project,

GE

Re: Nova with a 24" swing? [long]

John Trant (aka Boxes-n-Bowls)

>Hi Gary,

You are correct about the hinderence of the new bed. Maybe I need to mount the bed 180 degrees or 135 degrees to the original bed to keep it out of the way. Or as you suggest, design it so that the extension bed can be easily removed and replaced. The best answer, of course, is to have two lathes but that will not happenany time soon.

John

Re: Nova with a 24" swing? [long]

Gary Evans

>Hey John,

I would suspect that perpendicular to the original bed would give you the most stable ride. Those big pieces can be heavy.

Maybe you could fit some kind of footrest so that you could comfortably throw your leg across the auxilary bed while you were turning on the original. There should be an easy way to make your idea work.

GE

PM owners: Please help

John Trant (aka Boxes-n-Bowls)

>With everyones' help (on-line and email) My thoughts are coming together and I am stating to get excited about this "24 inch Nova bowl lathe". I have decided to mount the extension bed 180 degrees to the Nova bed and move the lathe to the middle of the room so that I can work from both sides. I would like to use the banjo from a PM 4224 ($90) but I cannot decide which extension bed to use. The extension bed for the 4224 is way too expensive.

My viable options:

1) The extension bed for the 3520 is affordable ($205) and the banjo for the 4224 can be modified to fit it. Unfortunately, George Moore (thanks George!) thinks that the end of the bed is not 90 degrees to the ways thus making it difficult to mount squarely. This may not be a hugh problem.

2) The 20" long extension bed for the Nova is cheap ($155) and has flat ends with four holes and 2 alignment pins. Unfortunately, it may not be compatable with the PM banjo.

My requests to PM owners:

1) Is there at least one flat end to the 18" extension bed for the PM3520?

2)Can the PM4224 or the PM3520 banjo be readily modified to fit the Nova bed? The Nova bed's ways are made from 13/32" thick metal with a gap of 1-31/32". The gap underneath the ways for the hold-down clamp to travel is 2-15/32".

Thanks for everyone's help

John