Replies

1. 
   zolton | Jan 16, 2008 06:28pm | #1

   I bought a new Jet 1236 lathe last summer and am reasonably pleased with it. So far I  have not rotated the head outboard to turn anything, but it is easy enough to do, and seems to snap back into line with the bed quickly and accurately. I've done that a few times and have experienced no alignment problems.

   As a tyro turner, I don't have much background to compare lathes with any scholarship. But this appears to me to be a relatively light duty machine. The stand, especially, is lightweight, though it can be improved vastly by adding weight to it. I've got a couple hundred pounds of patio blocks sitting on the shelf on mine. It is also quite low; I blocked mine up about 7 inches to get the spindle at a comfortable working height. This, of course, does nothing to add to its stability, though I took a lot of time to build sturdy riser blocks. It will help, in the spring, when I attach them to the floor.

   The variable speed device works all right, but could be smoother. I have to yank on it pretty hard to change speeds, though it helps to first back the speed down before ramping it up to a higher one. I haven't taken it apart to see if it can be improved, but might do that when the weather turns warmer and I'll have more patience in dealing with it.

   The 12 inch tool rest that came with the lathe does not have an edge that is close to the work. The top is rounded, so the tool you're using rests a little back from where it might if the rest were better designed, with a "sharper" edge close to the work.

   The quick-adjust mechanism on the banjo is a great feature. I once owned an older lathe that required using a wrench to secure the nut that held the banjo in place. Now it takes just a second to flip the lever and move it - and I often do it with the lathe running. I do worry about the screw that holds the tool rest in the banjo though. It does not seem very heavy duty, and the post on the rest itself could be a little longer. I often find myself wanting to raise the rest higher than it is able to go and still be secured by the screw.

   So, for the price, it's probably not a bad entry level machine. And for my moderate needs, it works well. If you're going to be turning larger objects, however, you might want to start with something heavier duty.

   Zolton 

    

   * Some people say I have a problem because I drink hydraulic brake fluid. But I can stop any time I want.

1. 
   johnlill | Jan 17, 2008 02:56pm | #2

   I agree with Zolton about adding weight - that will improve the performance considerably - especially for turning bowls. I added a shelf on my Jet 1236 and put seven 50 pound bags of sand on it. I mainly turn bowls and the extra weight is really necessary.

   Have fun! Get some green wood if you can - I get a lot along the side of the road - especially after an ice or wind storm :)

   John L

2. 
   flairwoodworks | Jan 18, 2008 02:03am | #3

   I would buy a OneWay chuck.  Choose the model based on which size of bowls you plan to turn.

   Chris @ flairwoodworks

    - Success is not the key to happines.  Happiness is the key to success.  If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer

3. 
   turnertoo | Jan 18, 2008 03:43am | #4

   Find yourself a local turning club and attend one of their meetings which are always open to everyone, they'll give you the best advice,  have lathes on hand,  and have sources for the best prices. If you can't easily find one,  go to the American Association of Woodturners web site http://www.woodturner.org

   Happy Turning !

    

    

4. 
   RussB2332 | Apr 20, 2008 05:43am | #5

   I bought a grizzly G0462 with some of the same thoughts as you in mind. The gotcha in this and the Jet is the variable speed will not go SLOW enough for turning large bowls and platters. The Jet will turn outboard to 16.5” but the minimum speed is 550 RPM. The spec on my Grizzly is about the same and even with a 12” diameter blank that is slightly out of balance the machine walks all over the shop. In Craft supplies current catalog on page 4 they give some information about spindle speed as related to diameter of the work piece their formula is “diameter X speed = 6000 to 9000” plugging in the diameter of 16.5 and dividing it into 6000 gives a lowest speed of 363 RPM and useing 9000 gives a maximum speed of 545 RPM for a 16.5" blank.

    

   I am looking at if I can install some sort of jackshaft with step pulleys to slow it down to a usable speed for very large bowls.

    

   However if I had it to do again I would look a little higher in price range. One candidate might be the Jet JWL-1642—2EVS the minimum speed here is 30RPM because of the electronic speed control

    

   Russ

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   Edited 4/19/2008 10:47 pm ET by RussB2332

   
   

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   Edited 4/19/2008 10:49 pm ET by RussB2332

5. 
   frenchy | Apr 20, 2008 05:49pm | #6

   ohcomeon.

      I looked all over for a lathe and found mine at Sears.  Of all places!  They have a 16/43 with swivel head that turns as slow as 360 RPM..   Instead of that flimsey stand I clamped mine onto a workbench with a big heavy cast Iron top. But I plan on making a heavy wooden base for it because it's just a little too high for comfortable work for me..

    It's heavy enough cast Iron that you can do some decent work with it..

     As to price you need to take advantage of all of their deals in order to make it affordable..

     First buy it during one of their sales. that's 20 to30% off the listed price, second take the floor model which is an additional 10% discount and third sign up for one of their credit cards which may get you another 15% off.  (don't use the damn thing!  Bring it home, cut it up, and toss it in the trash!) 

    If you want to get slower than 360 RPM you are going to have to spend way more than the $4-500 the lathes everybody is talking about..  The guys making those really big bowls all have either really big lathes or custom/homemade  lathes.

6. 
   DavidSL | Apr 23, 2008 01:46am | #7

   I purchased a mini and regretted it three weeks later. I outgrew it really fast. I decided to purchase a full size lathe.

   I went through the same process as you when deciding on a new lathe. I wanted to buy something that I would not need to replace in six months when I advance past the lathe's capabilities and wanted to turn larger bowls. After a ton of research I opted for the Jet JWL-1642EVS and a One Way stronghold chuck.

   So far I am really loving it!

   That said, you need to figure out what your going to turn and what your likely to want to turn in the future. Good luck.

7. 
   BruceS | Apr 23, 2008 04:17pm | #8

   Jet has not had the gold series for about 5 years now.   Jet Gold series tools were just the same tool with an option or two thrown in.   Like a fence for a bandsaw or Nova chuck for a lathe.

   Work Safe,  Count to 10 when your done for the day !!

   Bruce S.