Am I the only person who is disappointed to hear that Teknatool has
discontinued the $850 Nova 3K in order to concentrate on the $1900
DVR? I don't know about the rest of you, but for me 1000 extra bucks
to get into a Nova isn't chump change. That's a lot of bowls, pens
and candlesticks. _Is_ there a domestic (US) lathe comparable to the
Nova 3000 for a similar price? Seems that Teknatool is shutting out a
lot of potential customers who might be inclined to buy a less-pricey
"entry level" lathe and have something to move up to in the future. I
mean, if I had 2 grand to spend on a lathe I'd probably wait a little
longer and just save up for a Oneway. AAMOF, that's probably what I
will do, now.

That's like GM saying, "We make so much selling Hummers, per unit, and
they're just such a better machine that we're going to drop the Chevy,
GM and Saturn lines and just concentrate on the Hummers."

Maybe I don't know much about business, but it seems like a big ol'
"duh" to me.


--
Chuck *#:^)
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"Chuck" wrote in message
...
Am I the only person who is disappointed to hear that Teknatool has
discontinued the $850 Nova 3K in order to concentrate on the $1900
DVR? I don't know about the rest of you, but for me 1000 extra bucks
to get into a Nova isn't chump change. That's a lot of bowls, pens
and candlesticks. _Is_ there a domestic (US) lathe comparable to the
Nova 3000 for a similar price? Seems that Teknatool is shutting out a
lot of potential customers who might be inclined to buy a less-pricey
"entry level" lathe and have something to move up to in the future. I
mean, if I had 2 grand to spend on a lathe I'd probably wait a little
longer and just save up for a Oneway. AAMOF, that's probably what I
will do, now.

Why? Powermatic is a real great lathe at half the bucks.

The 3000 had a lot of problems and some modifications along the way. Not to
mention that a variable speed motor with controller kicks it up to a grand
and a half. At that price, I guess they prefer to chance the DVR.

Not many pulley-driven lathes available any more. Everyone else has made
their decision, now it's time for Teknatool to do it.

just to react to one piece of this commentary - every high end lathe I am
familiar with is belt driven - that includes Axminster, Oneway, Stubby,
Nichols, and so on - I guess I don't understand then, with one NZ company
making a "stepper motor" driven lathe, how that means that "everyone has
made their decision" - did I misunderstand?
snip

Not many pulley-driven lathes available any more. Everyone else has made
their decision, now it's time for Teknatool to do it.

Right Bill, they are all belt-driven except the Poolewoods which are direct
drive. Apparently there was a rift between Poolewood and the actual
manufacturer of the lathe, so they are both coming out with different
models.

"william_b_noble" wrote in message
news:1121215876.bc235573498041381b17ff4f3656791f@t eranews...
just to react to one piece of this commentary - every high end lathe I am
familiar with is belt driven - that includes Axminster, Oneway, Stubby,
Nichols, and so on - I guess I don't understand then, with one NZ company
making a "stepper motor" driven lathe, how that means that "everyone has
made their decision" - did I misunderstand?
snip

Not many pulley-driven lathes available any more. Everyone else has made
their decision, now it's time for Teknatool to do it.




Look at market share of the step pulley types are out there.

Then tell me how many have come on the market in the last five years.

Now do you understand?

"George" George@least wrote in message
...

"william_b_noble" wrote in message
news:1121215876.bc235573498041381b17ff4f3656791f@t eranews...
just to react to one piece of this commentary - every high end lathe I am
familiar with is belt driven - that includes Axminster, Oneway, Stubby,
Nichols, and so on - I guess I don't understand then, with one NZ company
making a "stepper motor" driven lathe, how that means that "everyone has
made their decision" - did I misunderstand?
snip

Not many pulley-driven lathes available any more. Everyone else has
made their decision, now it's time for Teknatool to do it.
-----------

Look at market share of the step pulley types are out there.
Then tell me how many have come on the market in the last five years.

Now do you understand?
==========================
Yep,
Seems like the Reeves drive is the new default drive system. However, it is
limited in it's speed ranges ( usually approx 500-2000 RPM) unless you also
have some step drive pulleys and belts to use in conjunction with it. But
putting a jack shaft into a Reeves system would be a real bear to engineer,
especially if it's a swivel head.

Ken Moon
Webbeville, TX.

Did I miss the press release? Where did you get this info?

On Tue, 12 Jul 2005 17:00:06 -0400, "George" George@least wrote:


"Chuck" wrote in message
...
Am I the only person who is disappointed to hear that Teknatool has
discontinued the $850 Nova 3K in order to concentrate on the $1900
DVR? I don't know about the rest of you, but for me 1000 extra bucks
to get into a Nova isn't chump change. That's a lot of bowls, pens
and candlesticks. _Is_ there a domestic (US) lathe comparable to the
Nova 3000 for a similar price? Seems that Teknatool is shutting out a
lot of potential customers who might be inclined to buy a less-pricey
"entry level" lathe and have something to move up to in the future. I
mean, if I had 2 grand to spend on a lathe I'd probably wait a little
longer and just save up for a Oneway. AAMOF, that's probably what I
will do, now.

Why? Powermatic is a real great lathe at half the bucks.

The 3000 had a lot of problems and some modifications along the way. Not to
mention that a variable speed motor with controller kicks it up to a grand
and a half. At that price, I guess they prefer to chance the DVR.

Not many pulley-driven lathes available any more. Everyone else has made
their decision, now it's time for Teknatool to do it.

OK guys, pay attention. I think what George is trying to say that it
is time for Teknatool to "step up to the pump" and make a more
proprietary, unrepairable, and more disposable lathe and charge too
much for it along the way. Then they WILL be like General Motors.

There will be no more of this nonsense of buying a belt, replacing a
motor or controller yourself if these and those like them have their
way. You will ship a broken machine to them or take it to their
trained monkeys at their "authorized" (read: those who paid for the
license and big bucks for someone in the shop to be trained by the
manufacturer) for repair.

Wanna upgrade the motor? Too bad. Wanna better controller? Tough.
Like Bogart said, "oh yeah? Well I"ll tell you... you'll take it and
you'll like it".

On the other hand, I think those on this group actually make up a small
percentage of the average turners. Many here, like myself are
inverterate tinkers, never leaving well enough alone. Always
experimenting, always tweaking, always trying something new. Making
tools, making finishes, trying new techniques or projects. I think of
my woodshop as Dr. Frankenstein's lab.

However, in my local woodturning club of about 60 people, there is only
one other like me. They are all bowl/platter/vase turners, and that is
it. So the machine that they buy is made for that, and that is all
they do. They are a timid lot, and don't want to take a chance at
"messing something up". So they will do nothing to change or modify
their lathes. The DVR may or may not be a valid step up for the $$$
for people, but it is probably just as good for most since the machine,
like most today, is all it will ever be when they get it. They have no
sense of exploration or Frakenstein gene, and don't care.

I think that getting rid of a mid range lathe as nice as the Teknatool
(one of the galleried turners in our club still swears by his old one)
is stupid. I am sure this is just about making more $$$ per unit, and
not a statement on the quality or drive system of lathe.

After all, others down under (I know, I know, Teknatool is in NZ and
the others are in AUS) didn't get George's memo that the decision had
been made. In addition to the lathes mentioned by Mr. Noble, there are
the wonderful Vicmarc, and the great Woodfast lathes that are still
belt driven.

Robert

On Wed, 13 Jul 2005 01:08:56 GMT, Walt & Jenne Ahlgrim
wrote:

Did I miss the press release? Where did you get this info?


First from a Woodcraft rep then directly from a Teknatool rep, via
email. "Yes, the Nova 3000 has been removed from
production." ....was the actual line.




--
Chuck *#:^)
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Chuck wrote:
: will do, now.

: That's like GM saying, "We make so much selling Hummers, per unit, and
: they're just such a better machine that we're going to drop the Chevy,
: GM and Saturn lines and just concentrate on the Hummers."


Well, they probably would, if it weren't for federal gas mileage
requirements. The profit margin on traditional (truck-based) SUVs is
gigantic compared to typical sedans.


-- Andy Barss

On Wed, 13 Jul 2005 00:31:04 +0000 (UTC), Andrew Barss
wrote:

: That's like GM saying, "We make so much selling Hummers, per unit, and
: they're just such a better machine that we're going to drop the Chevy,
: GM and Saturn lines and just concentrate on the Hummers."


Well, they probably would, if it weren't for federal gas mileage
requirements. The profit margin on traditional (truck-based) SUVs is
gigantic compared to typical sedans.

They didn't do it _before_ the nanny-state mileage requirements, why
would they yearn to do it afterward? It doesn't make sense, if you
want your company to be huge and make big profits to only cater to the
upper echelons of car (or any other big ticket items) buyers. Look at
BMW, Mercedes and other traditional luxury car manufacturers. Many of
these car makers have introduced various "entry-level" models as well
as "certified pre-owned" units to meet the tastes and slightly smaller
pocketbooks of those aspiring to grander things in the car market.


--
Chuck *#:^)
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Chuck wrote:
: On Wed, 13 Jul 2005 00:31:04 +0000 (UTC), Andrew Barss
: wrote:

:: That's like GM saying, "We make so much selling Hummers, per unit, and
:: they're just such a better machine that we're going to drop the Chevy,
:: GM and Saturn lines and just concentrate on the Hummers."
:
:
:Well, they probably would, if it weren't for federal gas mileage
:requirements. The profit margin on traditional (truck-based) SUVs is
:gigantic compared to typical sedans.

: They didn't do it _before_ the nanny-state mileage requirements, why
: would they yearn to do it afterward? It doesn't make sense, if you
: want your company to be huge and make big profits to only cater to the
: upper echelons of car (or any other big ticket items) buyers.


I'm not sure I understand your point here. Maybe you're talking only
about Hummers (and I'm not convinced that they are such better machines
than, say, a Saturn). I was taking your point more broadly, i.e. about
large, truck-style SUVs vs. passenger cars.


And citing GM as a company making huge profits maybe isn't the best
example, nowadays!

-- Andy Barss

"Andrew Barss" wrote in message
...
I'm not sure I understand your point here. Maybe you're talking only
about Hummers (and I'm not convinced that they are such better machines
than, say, a Saturn). I was taking your point more broadly, i.e. about
large, truck-style SUVs vs. passenger cars.


However, given a few of the responses, there seems a "Hummer" mentality
contingent here.

Stubbies and VicMarks and Oneways, Oh my!

On Thu, 14 Jul 2005 01:21:15 +0000 (UTC), Andrew Barss
wrote:


I'm not sure I understand your point here. Maybe you're talking only
about Hummers (and I'm not convinced that they are such better machines
than, say, a Saturn). I was taking your point more broadly, i.e. about
large, truck-style SUVs vs. passenger cars.

My point is, when you have a proven widget that you can sell to 10
million people and develop a Widget that sells for 10x the $$ to 1000
people, it's silly to drop the widget to exclusively sell the Widget.
How can you hope to develop a customer base whom you want to aspire to
the _top_ of your product line, if you have no introductory line?
Very simple business practice, really. Why else would turners "waste
time" turning $1-$2 geegaws at shows, when they can make SO much more
selling just their $300 bowls?

And citing GM as a company making huge profits maybe isn't the best
example, nowadays!

Just the one I'm most familiar with. Call it Bob's Widget's, if you
want.
--
Chuck *#:^)
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It probably comes down to a higher profit margin. If they can dedicate more
mfg space to equipment to make the more profitable lathe, they can be yet
more profitable. Plus with more volume they may lower their motor costs
significantly. Maybe they want to raise the standard for an introductory
lathe. An introductory motorcycle or snowmobile can be $3000-6000 for an
adult so why does a lathe need to be $900? I suspect the sales volume for
the DVR is not 10% of sales for the Nova but rather 70% or better.

One smart thing about the Nova line is their light weight/price. So
shipping can be included in selling price without the seller losing such a
high percentage to shipping. The Nova DVR makes this ratio even better.

On Thu, 14 Jul 2005 16:22:57 GMT, (Chuck)
wrote:

On Thu, 14 Jul 2005 01:21:15 +0000 (UTC), Andrew Barss
wrote:


I'm not sure I understand your point here. Maybe you're talking only
about Hummers (and I'm not convinced that they are such better machines
than, say, a Saturn). I was taking your point more broadly, i.e. about
large, truck-style SUVs vs. passenger cars.

My point is, when you have a proven widget that you can sell to 10
million people and develop a Widget that sells for 10x the $$ to 1000
people, it's silly to drop the widget to exclusively sell the Widget.


So why isn't Ford still selling new model Ts?



How can you hope to develop a customer base whom you want to aspire to
the _top_ of your product line, if you have no introductory line?
Very simple business practice, really. Why else would turners "waste
time" turning $1-$2 geegaws at shows, when they can make SO much more
selling just their $300 bowls?

And citing GM as a company making huge profits maybe isn't the best
example, nowadays!

Just the one I'm most familiar with. Call it Bob's Widget's, if you
want.


Maybe some executives are sick of seeing there company's good name
trashed in this form and others, when the motor shaft brakes
repeatedly and the engineers cant seem to find a inexpensive solution.