Amazon.com Review

To woodworkers who know the reputation of Jet products, the merit of this 12-inch variable-speed lathe should come as no surprise. Start with the guts of any tool, the motor. Prewired for 115 volts and fully encased in a metal housing for longer life, its 3/4-horses turn material at 500 to 3,000 rpm, depending on which of the six speeds you select. The cast-iron lathe bed, headstock, and tailstock provide superior vibration dampening and durability, while the heavy-gauge steel components and stand give rigid support. Pivoting 90 degrees for outboard turning of up to 16-1/2 inches on larger projects, the MT-2 headstock protects a Reeves drive pulley system with which we made quick and easy speed changes. Down on the other end, the hollow tailstock allows for longer hole bores and houses a live center, a luxury standard on all Jet lathes not found in much of the competition.

You'll love the versatility that comes with 34-1/2 inches between working centers and a 12-inch swing capability over the bed (8-3/4 inches over the tool-rest base). All adjustments, whether extending the ram its full 2-1/4 inches or sliding the 12-inch tool rest, move fluidly and clamp down tight with little effort. Designed for use over the long haul, this tool has all the qualities professional woodworkers demand. --Justin Paul ... Read more

Features

• Pivoting headstock for outboard turning
• 3/4 hp single phase motor
• Six speed 550 to 3,000 RPM
• 34-1/2-inch work distance between centers
• Reeves drive plley system for quick speed changes

Reviews (11)

Best lathe for the money
After a great deal of research, and speaking to countless people in the wood turning community, I decided to purchase the Jet 1236. I'm extremely happy with nearly every aspect of the lathe from it's quality, to it's easy of use. It's a pleasure to work with and it's very stable. Admittedly, I built a very solid base to attach the lathe to, but I'd rather be safe than sorry. The instruction manuel, without a doubt, is the weak link in the system but easily gotten around. The switch could be in a better location but, in my opinion, not a big problem.

The beginners "Pen Turning Kit", with two tools, was an added feature which was very nice to have. Again, for the money, you can't go wrong with this lathe and you also have the well respected JET name.

Another Great tool form Jet
I purchased my Jet lathe when it went on sale at Woodworkers warehouse before they closed, And as many other have just for the fun of it I had no jobs line up for it at first but boy it was a great buy. As a starter on the lathe I cant not find one complant with this product. Do you have to weigh it down? well that is all on how much you are turning but when you have to place wood across the supports and toss what every you have that has weight on it. no problem. I have to say for the money Jet did Good on this one. (to any one who is thinking about turning, try it you wont be sorry ) As for your Turning Set besure to shop around the best price is not always the best package. I got my lathe with the Turning chisels and face sheild which in the long run ran me cheaper to get as a package. it may be cheaper for you as well. 4 stars being I got what I paid for.

A good value, "some assembly required"!
The lathe is an execelent value at $399. The manual leaves a lot to be desired. The lathe stand needs to be reinforced. I used four eight foot long 2"x 6" lumber and a bunch of plywood. What to do to make it more stable:
1 Go to the wmhtoolgroup.com website and look up the manual for the 1236's replacement, JWL1442. It will give you much more information than whats in the 1236 manual;
2 Build a shelf on the brackets with two 2x6s;
3 Bolt the bottom of the stand to two 2x6 stringers on the floor with cross bracing between the stringers ;
4 Build up the the sides with plywood;
5 Add weight to the stringers with either sand, cement, or bricks; (There is a photo of the 1236 lathe in R. Raffan's book TURNING WOOD, second edition. It has six bags of concrete on the shelf to stabilize it.)
6 You will need a bunch of 1/4" or 5/16" bolts or lag bolts the fasten all the reinforcements together;

Once you have stiffened up the stand you will have a very good lathe. The motor does not draw enough electrical current to compromise your home's wiring. It also includes a pen making kit including two tools, pen kits, wood, glue, finish, and a book on making pens. You can start turning as soon as you put the lathe together.

Best Under $1000 Lathe
I got this lathe just in time to take advantage of the Thanksgiving Day weekend and had a blast. This is my second lathe, and it is head and shoulders above the earlier one. Solidly built and very heavy. Due to lack of space in my shop, I mounted the lathe to a large bench rather than the included stand, so I had to remove the power switch from the leg of the stand and mount it on the bench leg.

I am amazed at how smooth and quiet this lathe runs. Due to the type of turning I do, I was concerned that the slowest speed was going to be too fast, but the lathe is rock steady spinning a very unbalanced turning blank at the slow speed.

Though the instruction manual could have been clearer, setup was quick, easy, and straight forward.

If I could change anything about this lathe it would be to add a detent to the speed control between the slowest speed and the next faster one. I would also add an electromagnetic power switch for safety and place it in a more convenient location.

Oh, and I split it into two boxes for shipping. Since it was easier for me to pick it up from the freight company than to arrange a delivery time with somone home, I had them hold it at the loading dock for me to pick up. They used a pallet jack to load it onto my truck, and I had to unpack the box to unload it. I was, however, able to lift it up onto the bench alone.

Misleading Ad
I ordered my lathe from the current Toolcrib catalog which offers a bonus which states "Includes a wood turning set, a $99.99 value". This implies that a set of chisels are being offered. Do not believe it. When my order arrived I found a pen turning kit,which was of little value to me. Chisels I needed and had to order a set costing $103.89 .Jet apparently does'nt know the diffence between a set and a kit. Now you do. ... Read more

Features

• Two-year limited warranty on machines, parts and accessories
• Heavy duty 3/4 horsepower induction motor
• 40 inches between centers for turning spindles
• Extra long tool rest base control handle for easy positioning
• Complete with steel stand for stability and ease of use

Reviews (16)

Best Value
This is a great lathe, and a bargin for the money. All the features you could ask for and more in this price range. Sturdy frame, solid motor, and quality hold-down levers. The ability to rotate the headstock is great, and the ability to slide the headstock down the bed for small work allows you to use large tools with small bowls. With the added arm for the tool rest you can work up close to a bowl without losing the distance the "banjo" or tool rest base usually takes. This allows for a full 7" radius (14" diameter)
Speed adjustment is great (just remember to slow it down before you turn it off so it is set properly for next time!). Spindle lock feature is a nice necessity, and the 24 position segmentation feature is nice as well.
Get this lath - you won't be sorry!

Okay, but problems to know
I have been using this lathe for approximately 1 year and this is what I have found.
I bought the lathe as a first lathe. I was inexperienced and on a budget. With those things in mind, it did well for the first few months. All the items were there, it shipped fast and was not difficult to assemble without assistance from anyone else, though I recommend getting a friend to help with some of the lifting.
I noticed a rattle and some vibration, but it was very minimal and it didn't seem to affect performance. I satisfactorily turned several bowls and a lot of spindle work. The motor gets a lot of bang out of the 3/4 horses. The mobile headstock is very versital. The tool rest is quite good. For a starter lathe it is a nice tool.
Now to the problems.
1) The base is not heavy or rigid enough. That is an easy fix and not a real detractor.
2) The tailstock base does not lock down well enough and I find myself retightening it frequently.
3) The biggest problem now is the constant worsening of the rattling and the vibration it causes, which translates into the spindle and handwheel. It makes it impossible to rechuch anything accurately and vibration is extreme, even with small loads. One of the pulleys is definately mis-machined and has both horizontal and vertical displacement while running. Delta has the pulleys on back order from their overseas supplier. I therefore took it in to the local authorized dealer and have yet to hear back. A wobbley handwheel and spindle movement make turning unenjoyable.

Searching the web and the message boards, I have seen about an even number of people saying they have had no problems as those who have had worse problems than I have. Most seem to revolve around the reeves drive and quality control...Perhaps the overseas manufacture of this lathe is at fault, I don't know.

If Delta could fix the problems with the drive and pulleys, this could be a great mid range lathe. With the mechanical difficulties I am having now with only moderate use (1-2 weekends a month), I could not recommend this lathe unless you test the specific one you are buying to make sure it is in good working order.

No problems!
I purchased my Delta 46-715 lathe from Amazon.com. It and the free goodies that were promised were delivered promptly. This is my first lathe so I have nothing to compare with the Delta but thus far, I've nothing to complain about. Assembly and set-up was easy, the machine works exactly as advertised, it's heavy (and thus stable) and now, I understand why woodturners are always grinning.

Not Pleased with Delta Quality
I'm in the market for lathe. Considered buying the 46-715 due to price and features - and then I remebered my frustration with my Delta machines. My 6" jointer came with a fence that was badly misaligned. Customer service told me to ship it back - not an easy thing to do, especially when it's already been assembled in my shop. Called local repair centers - they said it would be months before they'd be able to get to it. So, I fixed it myself with some shopmade shims. Works fine now. My 14" bandsaw with riser block was so terribly misaligned that my blade popped off the wheels. Sent it back for another. Pain in the neck! Went ahead and ordered table shim kit and upper wheel alignment shims from Iturra Designs knowing that I'd have to use these on the replacement bandsaw. Seems like Delta would fix these problems. So, with this in mind I'll spend the extra money to steer clear of Delta. Sorry Norm.

Many manufacturing and design defects in this lathe...
My neighbor got a Delta 46-715 as a birthday present. After setting it up, he and I were checking it out and discovered that the variable speed mostly didn't work. Total change was perhaps 500 RPM, if that. After a lot of head scratching and several calls to Delta Service (who basically said "ship it back") we figured out that the pulley was binding on the shaft. After taking the whole variable drive assembly apart we found a manufacturing defect on the drive shaft. Fortunately my neighbor has access to a machine shop and we were able to turn the defect out of the shaft and now the lathe changes speed fine. A year later, we decide to take apart the tailstock because the quill was binding. We find that the key way for the quill was completely torn up (it looked as if the key way had been badly cut, then brazed, then recut), that the quill itself was badly out of round, the design for the hand wheel relies on friction alone to turn the quill (just a single set screw pressured against the threads of the spindle bolt), the end of the quill locking bolt was completely out of round, and the mechanical drawing of the tailstock shows a long key holding the quill in place (the correct way to keep a cylinder in a sleeve from rotating) which certainly isn't how the tailstock was manufactured. Basically the entire design is pretty cheap and the manufacturing process that released the parts and assembly was definately defective. It took us a year to notice the tailstock problems because I've mostly been doing facework and have only recently (the last few weeks) been doing a lot of center work. So the tailstock fell apart basically after 3 weeks use or so.

Essentially a lathe only has two parts, the headstock and the tailstock and on this lathe both have had major defects in either manufacturing or design or both. I give this lathe only one star, for ease of assembly. For the price it certainly isn't worth it.

For the record. I bought one of these for light production work on my farm, but I bought it used and got a clean one for very little money. If it gives me too much trouble I can always just scrap it or donate it to a school and take the deduction. I would certainly never buy one of these at retail prices. Spend a little more money and go with any of the other major tool manufacturers.

Some further data is now in. I ordered replacements for the quill and the screw that moves the quill. I was told that both parts were in stock, so I sprang for the next day shipping. The quill arrived the next day, without the screw, which had been backordered. I called the next day and was told the screws would be back in stock and shipped the following Monday (3 days), it's been nearly a month now and I'm still dead in the water. Delta service really bites. I certainly wouldn't buy this product (and, at this point, any Delta product) unless I was forced to. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Turning is great fun--try it once, and you'll be hooked. This is the perfect lathe to feed your need to turn. Durable cast-iron construction houses a powerful 1/2-horsepower motor with access to six speeds from 500 to 3,700 rpm for a variety of materials. This Midi-Lathe offers a 14-1/2-inch distance between centers, which is perfect for smaller projects such as pens, candlesticks, bowls, and other vessels--but buy the bed extension accessory and you've got yourself a full-size lathe for turning objects as long as 37 inches. Even without the accessory, you get a 3-inch faceplate and a 6-inch cast-iron tool rest. This lathe is a great way for the home woodworker to get into turning--and the nice part is, it's the only lathe you'll ever need to buy. --Kris Jensen-Van Heste ... Read more

Features

• 2-year limited warranty on machines, parts, and accessories
• 1/2-horsepower induction motor for plenty of turning power
• Six speeds from 500 to 3,700 rpm to match a variety of applications
• All cast-iron construction for provides stability and durability
• Optional extension bed (sold separately) increases capacity to 37 inches

Reviews (4)

Way disappointed
Saw the engineering original of this lathe at a show before initial production units were available. Looked very impressive. Bought one as soon as available. Very disappointed. Made in China and showed it. Drive and center points didn't line up, bearings ground loudly, the tailstock locking handle and belt cover were plastic. Both headstock and tailstock handwheels wobbled which created vibration when running, even after trying to align and tighten them better. I checked a number of other Delta's on display at three different retail stores in my area. All showed the same problems. I returned the Delta and bought a Jet. Wonderful machine in comparison.

Get What You Pay For
The unit was shipped and received as promised. It only took a few minutes to unpack and put everything together, and within the half of an hour I had wood in it and was turning. It is a little underpowered for a lathe (I can stop it with a piece of sandpaper on the wood), but this was expected. I bought it mostly for sanding and small jobs knowing I might have to get another bigger lathe later, but this is a great starter. Well built and stable (especially with the bed extension installed), a very decent quality machine. Considering that you can expect to spend another few hundred dollars on a chuck and some other tools to get started, the low cost of this quality lathe helps ease the burden. If you want to seriously turn large items this is not the correct machine to invest in, but for smaller spindles and sanding it is excellent.

This is my first lathe and the buying decision was difficult. The nightmare with me is always that I will pay for a machine or a tool that doesn't quite do the job and end up with more machines than I wanted. Just realize before you buy this one that there are always trade-offs between cost and purpose. Decide what you want to do first, and if you are doing smaller projects or need a starter machine this is a good one to get.

Great intro lathe
I wanted to get into turning so I couldn't decide between this lathe and the equivalent JET model. The Delta was a tad bit cheaper so I went with it. I would mostly be turning small objects but some long objects so I bought the bed extension.

I must say that I was impressed when I pulled it out of the box. It was simple to set up. It has plenty of power for any project. I only wish that it came with some more chucks. I ended up buying the Talon chuck from Oneway along with some other accessories.

In the end, I couldn't be any happier with this lathe.

Just started turning
Have to be honest and say I have never turned anything. Got the lathe out of the box, fairly simple set up, as that is about all there is to it.

Seems to be operating great, no noise, or vibration. Got the free chisle kit with mine and they are fine for me.

Local store told me not too much difference between the Delta and jet, only the color as far as specs go. However the jet did cost about [$$$] more. The Delta also has more speed, don't know if that will make a difference.

Well see how I did on my purchase, so far so good. Had to get the Delta as I am a die hard Deltaboy and have had good luck with them (Knock on wood). I intend to turn some pens soon. ... Read more

Features

• Quickchange gearbox
• MT-2 tailstock taper
• 1-1/2-inch x 8-thread-per-inch spindle
• One year warranty

Product Description

Why this combination? The 2" jaws are a given (they come with the chuck!). Pin jaws are extremely useful for small turnings, and also act as a small spigot jaw. The Cole Jaws are our most popular selling jaw - designed for refinishing the bottom of a bowl up to 10". The 45mm Spigot jaws (my personal favorite) are just the ticket for long unsupported (i.e. no tail stock) spindle work - goblets, candle holders, etc. This is a great starter package - these are probably jaws you will buy eventually - buy them with the chuck and save! Upon ordering, please be sure to email us to confirm the insert size you require to fit your lathe (contact info is under "shipping rates and policies - seller help."). ... Read more

Features

• 4" Self Centering Woodlathe Chuck w/4 Jaw Sets
• Also includes 2" (50mm" jaw set, 45mm Spigot Jaw set, 25mm Pin Jaw Set, 10" Cole Jaw Set, woodworm screw, and insert of choice.
• Holds in both contraction and expansion modes
• Large range of accessories available
• Made in New Zealand

Features

• Chuck also comes with 3/4-inch screw center
• Original Nova chuck
• Four-jaw chuck
• Standard 2-inch external collets
• Expands into 2- to 3-inch dovetail recess

Reviews (3)

Great chuck
After having a 3 week wait for the insert for my lathe, I put the chuck together and made a little goblet with it to give it a little test. Being kind of new to turning, any woodturner would appreciate my hesitance at turning a piece of wood being only held at one end. But I found that once I tightened down the jaws, I could grab the piece of wood and lean back on it, and that piece of would was NOT going to come out or even loosen! I was able to turn the whole goblet without ever adjusting the chuck or even paying it any attention at all. The instructions for putting it together were great, and is really easy to use. My only thought (regret) would be that if this chuck performed this good, how much better is the Supernova chuck? GREAT value for the money, especially if you have a less powerful lathe where getting a bigger scroll chuck may be too taxing on your motor. Would definately get this guy. Comes with all the tools you'll need to use it, plus a heavy screw for screw chucking.

Great chuck but what about LH threads?
Conspicously missing from this product is the availability of LH thread inserts. Most bowl turners turn on the outside of the lathe. Unless you have a reversing motor (IE a newer lathe) you need LH threads. Some of Nova's competitors do offer the LH thread.

Nova does offer a blank insert so you can cut your own thread but you have to have a metal lathe or a left hand tap.

Nova Chuck Review
I have been working with this chuck for 8 years. I bought the chuck when it was first introduced into the UK where it is more expensive than here. I liked the precision and the way it emmulated metal working chucks in its versatility. It is well made and has never given me any problems. Although it may have competition, I like the quality; I would definitely buy it again. ... Read more

Features

• Includes carrying case
• Includes 8 popular styles of tools for performing a variety of operations
• High grade alloy steel maintains an edge longer
• Precision ground for smoother cutting
• 14" hardwood handles for better control

Reviews (2)

Excellent basic turning set
I bought this set to replace the tools when I sold my Shopsmith. I have lathe chisels made by Sorby, Henry Taylor, Woodcraft, and Delta. I use the Delta for the majority of my turnings, mainly pens. These are High Speed Steel tools with excellent handles. I sharpen them on a Delta vertical water cooled sharpener. They hold their edge as well as any of the others. They are definately NOT Carbon Steel as the previous reviewer claims. I have been very pleased with these tools and would recommend them to anyone doing spindle turning.

The tools seem to be of carbon steel.
Carbon steel for lathe tools have be mostly replaced by high speed steel. Carbon steel needs to much more frequently sharpened. Sharpening carbon steel on a high speed (greater than about 400 rpm) grinder is very tricky. Is is very easy to overheat the carbon steel and ruin its hardness. Amazon.com should consider adding high speed steel turning tools to it's tool selection. ... Read more

Product Description

There's never been a better time to get into metalworking--or a better price on a professional-quality Grizzly metalworking lathe. The Model G4000 is precision crafted by one of our most trusted factories for superior accuracy and long-lasting dependability. You won't find a better combination of price and performance on a full-featured 9" x 19" lathe anywhere! ... Read more

Features

• Distance between centers: 19"
• Motor: 3/4 HP, 110V
• Range of speeds: 130, 300, 400, 600, 1000, 2000 RPM
• Spindle bore: 3/4"
• Swing over bed: 9"

Features

• Also fits the Delta Midi-Lathe
• For use with JET Mini Lathe
• Adjustable height accommodates all wood turners
• V-style leg design provides greater stability
• Comes with adjustable rubber feet for leveling to uneven floors

Reviews (1)

Must have for mini lathe
Unless space isn't an issue, you'll want this stand. Since I use the lathe less frequently than the other tools in my shop, it's nice to throw a dust cover over the set and roll it out of the way without giving up counter space. ... Read more

Features

• Includes #2 Morse Taper Spur Center
• 1/2 HP, 5 speed 500-3200 RPM
• Cast Iron Construction - weighs 78 lbs
• Includes 3" Faceplate, Live Tailstock Center
• Includes 6" toolrest & spare drive belt

Product Description

Nova has reworked the extremely popular Supernova chuck, and reintroduced it as the Supernova 2. The biggest changes are replacing the keyed pinion with a fixed pinion & Allen key opening/closing mechanism, a closed back, and faster action. Check these specifications: -Hard-wearing heavy duty, composite indexing backing plate. -Captured pinion with rotation arrow (like the Titan chuck). Makes it easier to use the Allen key as it seats easier and faster. Also helps with easy opening and closing. -Ball nose Allen key with easy grip plastic handle. -Fully backwards compatible with SuperNova & Nova Chuck Accessories and inserts. This means previous purchases hold their value. Every chuck comes complete with new display box & CD box has space to display and pack extra accessory jaws, inserts etc. Great for organisation! Faster Action than the original SuperNova. -Price includes the chuck body, 2" jaw set,1" (25mm) pin jaw set (very popular accessory), woodworm screw, T-hex wrench for opening and closing chuck, and insert of your choice. UPON PLACING ORDER, PLEASE EMAIL US (You can access our contact information under "shipping rates & policies" which takes you to "seller help.")WITH THE INSERT SIZE REQUIRED TO FIT YOUR LATHE (Provided at no extra charge). Normal shipping time to most US addresses is 7 - 14 days. Please read our shipping policies before ordering. ... Read more

Features

• 4" Self Centering Woodlathe Chuck w/2 Jaw Sets
• Includes 2" jaw set, 25mm pin jaw set, woodworm screw, and insert to fit your lathe
• Holds in both contraction and expansion modes
• Large range of accessories available
• # Made in New Zealand

Features

• 410 Pounds
• 1 1/2 HP
• Variable Speed Control
• Cast Iron Head, Bed and Legs
• High/Low Speed Change Lever

Product Description

Without a doubt, this 1/2 HP, all ball bearing lathe beats all the others when it comes to quality and value. If can be used for spindle turning, or the headstock and tool rest can be rotated for convenient faceplate turning. The Model G1067Z offers a full 14" of swing over its precision-ground cast iron bed and 40" between centers â plenty of room for most turning projects. Six speeds, ranging from 600 â 2,100 RPM offers plenty of flexibility. Comes with live center, spur center and faceplate. An extremely versatile machine! ... Read more

Features

• 1/2 H.P. TEFC motor, 1720 R.P.M., 110V, 8 Amps
• 1" x 12 T.P.I. RH spindle
• 14" swing over bed
• 40" between centers
• 6 speeds: 510, 810, 1200, 1630, 2100, and 2800 R.P.M.

Features

• Tubular steel bed and cast-iron headstock and tailstock provide stable operation
• Accurately index every 15? in both inboard and outboard operations
• Hollow head spindle for use with brass center punch-out
• Both CSA certified and CE compliant models available
• Includes 6" (152mm) and 12" (305mm) tool rests, spur center, bearing center, 4" (102mm) faceplate

Product Description

If you need a rugged and durable medium-duty lathe with its own stand, then this Model G8691 is for you. It can handle 40" between centers and up to 14" diameters, perfect for table legs or stair railing posts. ... Read more

Features

• 1/2 H.P., 110V brush type motor
• 14" swing over bed
• 40" between centers
• Includes adjustable tool rest, live center, spur center and 6" face plate
• Shipping weight approx. 70 lbs.

Reviews (2)

Excellent value for money
I'm no expert when it comes to lathes. The only ones I've used before this were when I was at high school. I was not expecting much from this due to the incredibly cheap price, but decided to take a chance. Much to my surprise, it works great! As the previous reviewer has mentioned, it is pretty basic in terms of how you make adjustments etc., but all the features that I need are there. I have just made four table legs which came out great. I don't know how durable the motor is, but I haven't noticed any problems in terms of lack of power. I like the variable speed control.
It comes with a live tail center for spindle turning and a faceplate for bowl turning. You can also get different chucks from the Grizzly website if you want them.

Tage Frid says that the quality of the lathe is less important than the quality of your turning tools. After using this lathe I'd say he is right.

If you want to turn wood for a living, this lathe is not for you. But for occasional use/hobbyists or for beginners not sure whether they'll like wood turning, I wood highly recommend this lathe.

Adequate but basic...
To sum it up, you get what you pay for. I've owned this model for over two years and it works fine for my occasional turning projects. The 1/2 H.P. variable speed motor has proven to be sufficient, it runs smoothly, and offers good power. The bed is made of two pieces of stamped sheet metal, formed in pattern of channel iron. Each piece is turned on edge with the channels facing inward. The tool rest and tail stock slide along the top of the channel and each has a bolt that drops between the two pieces of channel. On the bottom side, the bolt is fed through a flat piece of cast iron and a nut tightens against the flat iron to clamp it to the bed. Needless to say, adjustments are slow and somewhat crude, machining is rough on the cast pieces, edges are sharp... but it works. The 40" capacity is beneficial and even with the stamped steel bed, vibration has not been a problem. Overall, I've found the lathe to be worth the $149 price. ... Read more

Features

• 4" face plate, Baldor variable frequency drive and wrenches
• 2HP, 230V single phase, 60hz motor
• 0-3000 Varaible speed
• Spur center, live center, knock-out bar
• 12" tool rest and base

Features

• Live Center
• Three piece chisel set
• Safety goggles
• Knock-out tool
• Tool rest

Reviews (2)

Great little lathe but limited manual
I am very pleased with the quality of the Mini Pen Lathe by Jet and other than the obvious limitations of a machine that is a small version of the larger ones, it performs well. I am disappointed that the paperwork with the lathe does not include information to order replacement or accessory parts. Also, it is listed as a two-speed lathe but the manual does not describe how to achieve those two speeds. It appears to operate on the higher of the two RPMs. If you have any interest in future lathe work that might require a slightly larger lathe, you should consider it at this time. Upgrading can get expensive, as I have found out.

Excellent Value
This pen lathe is the perfect tool if all you want to do is make pens and maybe a small box. you cannot turn anything larger than about 2" diameter but that's not the point of this little marvel.
Setup is trivial but the integrated wrenches for adjusting the toolrest and stop are clumsy to use. A wing nut would be better! (OK, kidding a little). Changing speed is a belt change that is easy to do but there is no hand wheel for manually turning the mandrel. This is a problem during finishing and sanding but is minor since you can turn it at the housing due to it's small size and inertia.

Don't but this lathe for the crummy tools in the box, however. Get a "real" set of chisels with this. What do you expect, though, when you can get these as low as $99 at times (on sale)?

You will need to clamp this down (and it has mounting holes if you prefer) but I use two 3" spring clamps and that's all the holding power it needs. ... Read more

Features

• 3/8" gouge, 1/2" skew, and 1oz. Insta-cure & pen glue
• Contains everything you need for pen turning
• Includes two 24K gold pen kits and two 24K gold pencil kit
• Also one Mont Blanc pen style kit and Mont Blanc style letter opener
• Pen mandrel, 7mm drill kit, Hut finish, Wood blanks (set of 5), Pen turning book

Reviews (1)

Jet disappointed me.
After recieving my 1442 Jet Lathe with a very good instruction manual, I really expected the same with other products I rec'd from Jet. However, for this kit, Jet purchased an instruction manual from a book store and the manual does NOT show how to use the items in the kit! Plus the manual uses jigs and other things to drill and press parts that aren't in the kit. The mandrel is not the same either. You would think a company as large as Jet could afford to have their own manual printed with the equipment as shown in the kit. I expected better! ... Read more