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NOVA lathes come from Teknatool, the New Zealand company best known in many shops for its four-jaw chucks. Its lathes have a reputation of their own: quiet direct-drive motors with no belts to change, smart speed controls, and headstocks that slide and swivel. If you are searching for a NOVA lathe, you are probably comparing a compact Comet with one of the newer digital direct-drive machines, or looking at a used Saturn, Galaxi or 1624.
The lineup has changed. Teknatool's current lathe page lists five machines: the Nebula, Neutron, Neptune Max, Neptune and Comet II DR. The Saturn, Galaxi, Voyager and 1624 now appear only in NOVA's parts section. This review covers the current NOVA lathes you can buy new, with the specs Teknatool publishes, and explains what to know about the older models.
Quick picks
- Best Overall NOVA: Neptune. Best for a 15-inch direct-drive benchtop lathe with a swivel-and-slide headstock.
- Best Compact NOVA: Comet II DR. Best for pens, spindles and small bowls on a bench at the lowest NOVA price.
- Best for Longer Spindles: Neptune Max. Best for the Neptune's motor with 28 inches between centers and a floor stand.
- Best Full-Size NOVA: Nebula. Best for 18-inch bowls with a 2.5 HP (220V) direct-drive motor and safety sensors.
- Best First Chuck for a NOVA: NOVA G3. Best for the huge NOVA jaw range on lathes up to 16 inches of swing.
The current NOVA lathe lineup compared
| Lathe | Best for | Swing | Between centers | Motor | Speed range | Spindle thread | Weight | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Comet II DR | Compact | 12 in. | 16-1/2 in. | 3/4 HP | 250–4,000 RPM | 1 in. x 8 TPI | About 77 lb shipping | Check price |
| Neptune | Overall | 15 in. | 18 in. | 1.5 HP peak, direct drive | 100–4,000 RPM | 1-1/4 in. x 8 TPI | 145 lb | See options |
| Neptune Max | Longer work | 15 in. | 28 in. | 1.5 HP peak, direct drive | 100–4,000 RPM | 1-1/4 in. x 8 TPI | 145 lb (as listed) | See options |
| Nebula | Full-size bowls | 18 in. | 25 in. | 2.5 HP peak at 220V, 2.0 HP at 110V | 100–4,000 RPM, plus 50 RPM drying mode | 1-1/4 in. x 8 TPI | Over 530 lb | See options |
Specs come from Teknatool NOVA's product pages and, for the Comet II DR, from NOVA and retailer listings. NOVA lists M33 spindles on European models only. The Neutron (17-inch) was listed as upcoming when we checked, so it is not reviewed here.
The NOVA lathes, reviewed
1. NOVA Neptune: Best Overall NOVA
Who it's for: turners moving up from a mini or midi who want more swing, a quieter drive and modern speed control without going to a floor lathe.
The Neptune (SKU 55700) is a 15-inch benchtop lathe with 18 inches between centers and a 1.5 HP peak direct-drive digital motor. NOVA credits the motor to Striatech and says there are no belts or pulleys, so no power is lost to transmission. Speed runs from 100 to 4,000 RPM on a knob, with four programmable presets and coarse or fine adjustment. The motor monitors load and adjusts power to hold your set speed.
The headstock swivels 360 degrees and locks anywhere, with detents at 0, 22.5, 45, 90 and 180 degrees, and it slides along the full length of the bed. That is a real advantage for bowl turners: you can stand closer to the work or swing the headstock out. NOVA adds a Normal ramp mode and an Extra Large mode for heavy or unbalanced work, adjustable electronic braking, a chisel jam sensor with automatic shutdown and 24-division on-screen indexing.
The box includes a 9-inch tool rest, a live center, a 2MT spur center, a 3-inch faceplate and a knock-out bar. NOVA offers an outrigger for up to 20 inches outboard and a 16-inch bed extension. The warranty is 10 years on the digital motor and five years on electronics and mechanical parts, with wear items excluded.
Pros
- Direct drive, no belts to change
- Swivel and sliding headstock with five detents
- 100 to 4,000 RPM with presets and ramp modes
- 10-year motor warranty
Cons
- 100 RPM low end, not as slow as some floor lathes
- 18 inches between centers without the extension
- Input voltage not stated on NOVA's page; check the manual
NOVA 55700 Neptune 15 in. Digital Direct Drive Benchtop Lathe
by Teknatool NOVA
Currently unavailable on Amazon
2. NOVA Comet II DR: Best Compact NOVA
Who it's for: pen turners, spindle turners and anyone short on bench space who wants NOVA quality at the lowest price in the line.
The Comet II DR is NOVA's compact midi and the only belt-driven lathe still in the lineup. It has a 3/4 HP motor with electronic variable speed from 250 to 4,000 RPM, a digital readout and a forward/reverse switch. Capacity is 12 inches over the bed and 16-1/2 inches between centers, and NOVA sells a bed extension that takes it to 42 inches.
The spindle is 1 in. x 8 TPI, the most common small-lathe thread, and the tailstock is a hollow MT2, so you can drill through it for lamps and long holes. The 4,000 RPM top speed suits pens and finials. The 250 RPM low end is fine for spindles and small, balanced bowls but too fast to start large out-of-round blanks; for those, a lathe with a lower start is safer. Our best midi wood lathes guide compares it with JET, RIKON and Laguna midis.
Pros
- 250 to 4,000 RPM with reverse and digital readout
- Standard 1 in. x 8 TPI spindle and MT2 tapers
- Hollow tailstock for drilling through
- Bed extension available to 42 inches
Cons
- 3/4 HP is modest for bowls
- 250 RPM minimum limits big blanks
- Belt drive, unlike the newer NOVAs
3. NOVA Neptune Max: Best for Longer Spindles
Who it's for: turners who like the Neptune but need more bed length and want a matching floor stand in the package.
NOVA describes the Neptune Max (SKU 55710) as the floor-standing version of the Neptune. It keeps the same 15-inch swing, the same 1.5 HP peak direct-drive motor and the same 100 to 4,000 RPM range, and extends the distance between centers to 28 inches. A heavy-duty floor stand is included. NOVA notes that speeds below 100 RPM are for drying or sanding only.
The rest of the specification matches the Neptune: 1-1/4 in. x 8 TPI spindle, 24-division digital indexing, 9-inch tool rest, live and 2MT spur centers, a 3-inch faceplate, and the 10-year motor and five-year parts warranty. NOVA's page lists the weight at 145 lb, the same as the Neptune, which may not include the stand; confirm the shipping weight with your dealer.
Ten extra inches between centers moves the Neptune from bowls-and-boxes to a lathe that also handles chair spindles, rolling pins and lamp bases. See our guide to spindle turning for what that length lets you do.
Pros
- 28 inches between centers
- Floor stand included
- Same direct-drive motor and controls as the Neptune
- 10-year motor warranty
Cons
- Premium tier for a 15-inch lathe
- Weight with stand not clearly listed
- Amazon availability varies; check dealers
NOVA 55710 Neptune Max 15 in. Digital Direct Drive Lathe with Stand
by Teknatool NOVA
4. NOVA Nebula: Best Full-Size NOVA
Who it's for: bowl and hollow-form turners who want an 18-inch lathe with the most advanced speed control and safety features in the NOVA line.
The Nebula (SKU 55600) swings 18 inches with 25 inches between centers. NOVA rates its direct-drive motor at 2.5 HP peak on 220V and 2.0 HP on 110V, and lists 115V for the US and Canada SKU. Speed runs from 100 to 4,000 RPM with a separate 50 RPM drying mode, eight programmable presets and three ramp modes: Small Diameter, Normal and Extra Large for unbalanced work.
Safety features are the headline. NOVA lists chisel jam and excess vibration sensors with automatic shutdown, an emergency stop on a wired remote with RPM display, and a PIN lockout. The headstock has locating detents at 0, 22.5, 45, 90 and 180 degrees. Included are a 12-inch tool rest, a heavy-duty 2MT live center, a 2MT spur center and a 6-inch faceplate. NOVA's page describes a cast iron stand as part of the design; confirm with your dealer whether it ships with the lathe.
The warranty is shorter than the Neptune's: five years on mechanical parts and two years on the motor and electronics, per NOVA. The weight is over 530 lb, so plan delivery and placement before you order.
Pros
- 18-inch swing with 2.0 to 2.5 HP direct drive
- Vibration and jam sensors with auto shutdown
- Remote control with emergency stop
- 50 RPM drying mode
Cons
- Shorter motor and electronics warranty than the Neptune
- Over 530 lb to move and place
- Stand inclusion not clearly listed
NOVA 55600 Nebula 18 in. Smart Direct Drive Lathe
by Teknatool NOVA
5. NOVA G3 Chuck: Best First Chuck for a NOVA
Who it's for: anyone buying a Comet II DR or Neptune who needs a four-jaw chuck.
A four-jaw chuck is the first accessory almost every turner buys, and NOVA's G3 is the natural match. NOVA sells it in 1 in. x 8 TPI direct thread, 1-1/4 in. x 8 TPI, M33 and an insert version, so you can match the Comet's 1 in. spindle or the Neptune's 1-1/4 in. spindle. It comes with 50 mm (2-inch) jaws, a woodworm screw and a one-handed T-bar key, and NOVA designs it for lathes up to 16 inches of swing. For the Nebula's 18-inch swing, NOVA's larger SuperNOVA2 is the better fit.
The G3 accepts all NOVA accessory jaws except Titan III and Discovery jaws, which covers pen jaws, pin jaws, Cole jaws and large bowl jaws. Our guides to wood lathe chucks and lathe chuck jaws cover the options.
Pros
- Thread versions for every current NOVA lathe
- Huge range of accessory jaws
- One-handed T-bar key
- 10-year limited warranty
Cons
- Sized for lathes up to 16 inches of swing
- One jaw set in the standard package
- Pick the right thread version carefully
Older NOVA lathes: Saturn, Galaxi, DVR XP, Voyager and 1624
Search results and classifieds are full of older NOVA lathes. Here is how to think about them.
- NOVA Saturn DVR and DVR XP (16 x 24 in. class): direct-drive lathes that Teknatool now groups together in its parts section ("Saturn / DVR XP Parts"). The DVR XP was listed with a 1.75 HP DVR motor and 100 to 3,500 RPM on Amazon. Confirm any used Saturn's specs from its manual, since listings rarely give them.
- NOVA Galaxi DVR 1644: a larger direct-drive lathe. Some retailer listings remain, but it is not in Teknatool's current lineup.
- NOVA Voyager: a direct-drive drill press, not a lathe, though it shares the DVR motor family. It appears in NOVA's parts list alongside the lathes.
- NOVA 1624 II and 1624-44: belt-drive floor lathes. Teknatool still lists 1624 parts and sold a DVR upgrade motor for both models, which makes a sound used 1624 a reasonable buy.
Buying used? Our used wood lathe buying guide lists what to check: cracked castings, damaged spindle threads, a bent spindle and worn bearings. On direct-drive models, also ask whether the controller and keypad work in every mode, because electronics are usually the costliest repair.
Buying guide: choosing a NOVA lathe
Direct drive vs belt drive
The Neptune, Neptune Max and Nebula use direct-drive motors, where the spindle acts as the motor rotor. There are no belts to move between speed ranges and nothing to slip. The controller adjusts power to hold speed under load, and NOVA claims energy savings of up to 80 percent compared with regular AC/DC lathes (a maker's claim we have not verified). The Comet II DR uses a conventional belt drive with electronic variable speed, which is simpler and cheaper.
Swing and bed length
Swing sets the largest bowl. The Comet's 12 inches suits small bowls; the Neptune's 15 inches handles most household bowls; the Nebula's 18 inches is for serious bowl and vessel work. Bed length matters for spindles: 16-1/2 inches on the Comet (42 with the extension), 18 on the Neptune, 28 on the Neptune Max, 25 on the Nebula. If you are unsure which class suits you, read our benchtop vs floor lathe comparison.
Low-end speed
The AAW advises starting unbalanced work at the lathe's lowest speed and increasing only while it runs smoothly. The direct-drive NOVAs start at 100 RPM for turning, with lower modes NOVA reserves for drying or sanding. The Comet starts at 250 RPM. Both are fine for balanced work; big out-of-round blanks favor the lower start. Our wood lathe speed chart gives the AAW's suggested spindle speeds.
Spindle thread and accessories
The Comet II DR uses 1 in. x 8 TPI. NOVA lists 1-1/4 in. x 8 TPI for the Neptune, Neptune Max and Nebula. If you are moving from a 1-inch lathe to a Neptune, a chuck with an insert lets you keep your jaws and change only the insert. See our lathe spindle thread size chart.
Warranty
NOVA lists a 10-year motor warranty and five years on electronics and mechanical parts for the Neptune and Neptune Max, and five years mechanical with two years on motor and electronics for the Nebula. Wear items such as bearings, keypads and cam locks are excluded. Check the current Comet II DR terms with your dealer.
Availability
Several NOVA lathes were listed on backorder or as upcoming on Teknatool's site when we checked, and Amazon availability for the larger models is patchy. Check Teknatool's dealer list as well as Amazon before you plan around a delivery date.
How we chose
We did not test these lathes ourselves. We built this review from Teknatool NOVA's current product pages, its parts listings for older models and major retailer listings, and we compared the specs against AAW guidance on lathe speed and chuck use. Where NOVA does not publish a figure, such as the Neptune's input voltage or whether the Nebula's stand is included, we say so rather than guess.
FAQ
Are NOVA lathes any good?
Yes. Teknatool NOVA has made lathes and chucks for decades, and its current direct-drive lathes stand out for very quiet, belt-free drives, smart speed controls and long motor warranties (10 years on the Neptune's digital motor, per NOVA). The Comet II DR is a well-regarded compact midi. Check US dealer support in your area before buying a larger model.
Is the NOVA Saturn or Galaxi still made?
Neither appears in Teknatool NOVA's current lathe lineup, which lists the Nebula, Neutron, Neptune Max, Neptune and Comet II DR. Teknatool still lists parts for Saturn, Galaxi, Voyager and 1624 lathes, so used machines can be maintained. Some retailer listings for the older models remain online.
What is a NOVA DVR lathe?
DVR is NOVA's name for its direct-drive, computer-controlled motor technology, now credited to Striatech. The spindle is driven directly without belts or pulleys, and the controller adjusts power to hold the set speed under load. Older DVR XP, Saturn and Galaxi lathes and the current Neptune and Nebula all use direct-drive motors.
What spindle thread do NOVA lathes use?
The Comet II DR uses 1 in. x 8 TPI. NOVA lists 1-1/4 in. x 8 TPI for the Neptune, Neptune Max and Nebula, with M33 on European models only. Confirm the thread for your exact model before ordering a chuck or faceplate.
What about the NOVA 1624-44?
The 1624-44 is an older belt-drive NOVA floor lathe. Teknatool still lists 1624 parts and sold a DVR motor upgrade for the 1624 II and 1624-44, so a used one can be a good buy if it is in sound condition. It is not part of NOVA's current new-lathe lineup.
Verdict
The NOVA Neptune is the NOVA lathe most turners should look at first: 15 inches of swing, a quiet direct drive, a swivel-and-slide headstock and a 10-year motor warranty. The Comet II DR is the budget-friendly compact choice for pens, spindles and small bowls, the Neptune Max adds bed length and a stand, and the Nebula is the full-size option for big bowls. Whatever you choose, add a NOVA G3 or SuperNOVA2 in the right thread.