This bankruptcy is terrible news. At least it's chapter 11 (reorganization) and not chapter 7. Although terminating all of the knowledgeable employees doesn't seem to be the best way to get the company back on its feet?
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Nova Nebula with bed extension inbound
- Thread starter Phil Hamel
- Start date
I definitely will have to think hard (and quickly...) on what to do next. I did just today note that a Harvey T-40 is also a pretty close fit to my needs. I hadn't looked at the options heavily, but it has both cast iron legs and a bed extension as options. That brings the T-40 pretty close to what I was going for with the Nebula. I'd lose 2" of swing vs my old Galaxi, but that just means there's a greater range of stock that I'd have to turn outboard using the pivoting headstock; not worried there. I'm more concerned that my modest collection of existing tool rests would be too tall; not a deal breaker, just a potential annoyance. Likewise, there are mixed reports of 1" tool rests from other companies fitting in Harvey's "1 inch" banjo.
Fortunately I have 220v in a few places in the shop, including specifically for the lathe, which keeps options open.
It just occurred to me this won't just effect lathes and drill presses, but chucks, jaws and other accessories. Now there are identical chucks and jaws under other brand names, but none of these have any bricks & mortar presence that I've seen.
Called and canceled this morning. Sucks after waiting all this time!
Had an electrician in this morning. He says I can get 220 off of my well switch.
Looking at a Harvey T-60 pro if and when I get my money back.
Had an electrician in this morning. He says I can get 220 off of my well switch.
Looking at a Harvey T-60 pro if and when I get my money back.
One former employee on reddit said they cut it down to a handful of people.
Edit: In a later post you quoted the person I was referring to.
Did you look at the Rikon 70-1824? I don't recall if we discussed.
I think that is the lathe I would go with if I was buying a new one.
Vicmarc VL240.
I placed order for Nebula in June 2024
Have not receive it yet
What to do now?
Have not receive it yet
What to do now?
Phil
Who did you cancel thru?
I bought mine thru Rockler and canceled there.
Thank you
Just make sure it won’t trip when the lathe is running and the pump kicks on.
No problem. We hardly ever use the well now. Had it for our pool that's been gone for over almost 20 years. House is on municipal water. Might just shut it off.
Quick update. My money was returned during the night. I am now done working with this chapter!
Great news. Glad to see you didn’t have to fight to get it back.
New Harvey Turbo T-60S on order. Should be in around the end of April.
Customer service already coming thru for me. A simple phone call saved me a thousand dollars!
Sale ended March 1st but they honored it for me today!
Customer service already coming thru for me. A simple phone call saved me a thousand dollars!
Sale ended March 1st but they honored it for me today!
This is great news Phil. I have been following your story all these months. Glad it is going to work out for you.
They have awesome customer service. I called to order my table saw. I told the guy I was concerned because I was seeing the price change every couple of days and I didn’t want to buy one and see it cheaper a week later. We talked for a while and he said he would send me a quote in my email. When I looked at the email he quoted me a price that I had never seen that low online or haven’t seen that low since. I had a problem with a couple of small parts when I was putting it together and he had to me in two days. I can’t wait to see what you think of the lathe.
Looks like a super lathe and great value. It’ll hold you for decades.
For what it's worth...there's a Teknatool FB owner's site and there's a Teknatool representative as a member. He's typically very responsive and can give anyone the latest and greatest. That said...I don't blame anyone who cancels their order, the process of supply and demand has been extremely frustrating.
If you’re thinking of Rich Bolduc, he’s still a group member but was laid off with almost all of the Teknatool USA staff related to the bankruptcy. That said, I understand that a Teknatool International customer service rep, who is now handling the USA, (apologies, their name escapes me) is also a member of that group.
Yes...I was sad to see Rich go. He was of great help when my Nebula was stuck in parts unknown.
Yes...there is a new rep, though I cannot recall his name either, he's been helpful to others.
Yes...there is a new rep, though I cannot recall his name either, he's been helpful to others.
To my great surprise, I just came to the same decision and pulled the trigger on a T-60S myself. Between the refund, and word from Teknatool support that it would be (at least?) July before a Nebula could be had in the USA, my long-tested patience came to an end.
I made up a comparison spreadsheet with key features and specs (esp. footprint length, in my case). On a lark, I decided to add the T-60S only to realize that it was much closer to working than I’d realized. My Galaxi’s footprint length was a whopping 73”, but the T-60S is only 55” or so. (Reminder: photos on the internet LIE.
) That was still a little too long, but as it happens there was also more wiggle room in that corner of the shop than I’d realized. I only needed about 7” more to hit my target clearance for the adjacent workbench area, and it turns out I can get that by moving my bench grinder a little further down.Interestingly, it was really the swing-away tailstock extension that really did it in my specific case. The plan for the Nebula (or a T-40, had I gone that way) was to use the bed extension to gain extra length for long spindles, but only when needed. A swing-away that folds completely around is just perfect; no hassle of mounting and unmounting an extension bed required.
Pretty much my thoughts as well! Was going with the 40 but the 60 is so much better. Let's hope we get them quickly!To my great surprise, I just came to the same decision and pulled the trigger on a T-60S myself. Between the refund, and word from Teknatool support that it would be (at least?) July before a Nebula could be had in the USA, my long-tested patience came to an end.
I made up a comparison spreadsheet with key features and specs (esp. footprint length, in my case). On a lark, I decided to add the T-60S only to realize that it was much closer to working than I’d realized. My Galaxi’s footprint length was a whopping 73”, but the T-60S is only 55” or so. (Reminder: photos on the internet LIE.
Interestingly, it was really the swing-away tailstock extension that really did it in my specific case. The plan for the Nebula (or a T-40, had I gone that way) was to use the bed extension to gain extra length for long spindles, but only when needed. A swing-away that folds completely around is just perfect; no hassle of mounting and unmounting an extension bed required.
I'm sure you are already aware but one of the drawbacks of the Nebula, one that has me scratching my head over, is the Nebula does not come with a swing away. Maybe Teknatool will recognize and rectify this mistake but I was told there were no plans in the future to make one.
For my part, yes I was completely aware of this. It's a nice silver lining to this whole mess that I'll get a swing-away out of it and not have to figure out bed extension storage.
On the Nebula you could pivot the head thus eliminating the tailstock being in the way. Just slide it as far as it would go.
I think the swing will be nice though.
I think the swing will be nice though.
That was a nice “feature” of the Galaxi: it’s so long, I found I could just shove the tailstock all the way down to the end and work unimpeded at the headstock end. A swing-away system would have felt pretty redundant on that lathe.
I don't think the galaxi came with a swing away. It was an add on, just like it is with most manufacturers. It's not hard to understand why it's not included, it would increase the cost of the lathe.
Just received this from Teknatool.
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[td] over the past few years, the world has changed in ways none of us could have predicted. Global shifts in trade, the economy, and supply chains have challenged businesses everywhere—including ours. But at NOVA, we see change as an opportunity! To ensure we continue bringing you the best tools at the best value, we’re making a big move: we’re opening up direct sales! This means better access, more control, and a stronger NOVA for the future. And that’s not all—we have some exciting new products on the horizon that we can’t wait to share with you. Our commitment to this craft and community remains as strong as ever, and we’re here to support you for many more years to come. Thank you for being part of the NOVA family. We’re just getting started. Your team at NOVA [/td] |
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I bought the bed extension for my Rikon for exactly that reason, despite the lathe having a rotating headstock. For me, it is well worth the $250 for the bed extension for this reason alone (and the $250 included the outboard turning kit).
Unfortunately a swing away is not available as an ad-on either...as of a year ago, they have NO intentions of making one.