Advise? Please!

[Greg Stanford]

I've only recently (2 years off & on) added turning to my woodworking w/ the purchase of a Delta mini lathe. I also have a 14 month old son so my time is somewhat limited. I'm not very happy w/ the delta & am looking to upgrade. I've looked at several models but keep coming back to Jet's 16" x 42" model. I'd like to think I'm buying the lathe that I will be happy w/ for some time -- I also have financial constraints to think about & this one dosn't quite burst my budget -- so I'd like to get the most "bang" for my buck.
Any advise would be appreciated greatly.

Greg

 

[Bill Grumbine]

Hi Greg

I was all set to buy a Jet 1642, but ended up buying a Vega bowl lathe because of size constraints. I have done a fair amount of turning on it though, and I think it is an excellent machine. It is well built and well thought out from everything I have seen. Hopefully some actual owners will offer up some opinions as well.

Bill

 

[john lucas]

Greg I've turned on a lot of machines in that price range give or take a few hundred and I think it's the best machine for the money. I have the Powermatic 2035 which is it's older brother and love it. Probably the only thing I don't like is the funny handwheel but that's a pretty minor thing. My next choice below that would be the Jet 14. I think it's a good lathe for the money but not in the same league as the 16. The oneway 1018 is also excellent but obviously a lot smaller. I've only turned on the oneway 12" version once and it's a really nice lathe but again it's smaller than the jet also. Size isn't everything but sometimes on a lathe it sure is nice. The mass of the 1642 jet is also nice to have.

 

[Chris Wright]

I have a PM3520 and a Jet Mini and have turned on both the middle children. They are good machines and can take alot of abuse...I'd recommend it, and as was said before, the extra size is nice when you want/need it...then again so is variable speed if it's in the budget.

 

[gary7]

1642

Hi Greg, I just got my Jet 1642 (1-1/2 HP) in April and I love it. It was less money than some of the others and I plan to use it a long, long time. I do recommend it but as in all things, you have to be the one to decide. Think of your interests, the available space in your shop, your time you have to spend turning and your wallet. Does the cost of a bigger machine and the space it occupies justify having one if you are only going to turn small bowls or spindles? Ask yourself that kind of questions and then you will figure it out. You may want to keep your mini too so consider that as well unless you really need to sell your Delta to make your step up to a larger lathe. Remember many of us start out with a smaller lathe only to move up later so you will likely get a larger one. Give your self plenty of time to think it over, read reviews about different machines (you can always look up reviews here on this web site) and shop around for your price range. You will eventually make your decision and be happy turning like the rest of us. Gary7

 

[MichaelMouse]

Why is everyone treading around it? Look at the DVR ad in the "For Sale" section. Not a bad price for what's offered, and a dandy lathe to boot. I've the poor man's pulley-driven version, which is about as complicated as I can handle, but the DVR has digitals and electrons of all sorts, like the JET.

If you want to go long, you'll have to get an extension, of course. If you can't get there, see who can. Kids bound back to college brought mine here.

 

[pencheff]

Upgrading costs

Greg

I also have the Jet 1642 and can recommend without hesitation. As many have stated before it is comparable in construction and features to the PM 3520, just smaller. Got mine from Amazon with free shipping, delivered right into my garage shop. The PSI midi lathe I started with has been disassembled and put away in case I ever need two machines. At this point I don't see why I ever would.

Unfortunately for me the chucks I had for the 1" 8tpi midi lathe did not offer 1 1/8" spindle adapters for the Jet so besides buying the new lathe I also laid out $$ for a couple new chucks and jaws. Just a heads up in case you find yourself in the same boat. What starts out to be a $1500 purchase can inflate into a $2000 price tag in no time.

 

[hockenbery]

The 1642 is a good machine. A 16" lathe is a good size for bowls up to 14". Generally you can turn 14" bowls on a 16" machine and still be able to slide the tool rest under the work.

Jet has finally decided to price the 1642 more than $400 below their Powermatic. With a $400 difference it was hard for folks to resist spending the extra $400 and getting what they percieved to be twice the machine.
If they make it $1000 below the powermatic they won't sell many Powermatics since then 1642 is more machine than the average turner needs.

I've had occasion to turn on at least 4 of these machines and they are pretty much a shrunken powermatic painted white. Solid performer. lighter than the powermatic, more vibration. The 1642 is however a lot heavier than the competition and a better choice for big work.

Happy Turning,
-Al

 

[David Somers]

Greg,

I also have the 1642. Very pleased with it. I added 8 bags of concrete (wrapped in plastic so they don't get wet) to a shelf under the unit and it is rock steady. (and I have a place to store a few bags of concrete for those midnight concrete mixing urges!) It is a really solid lathe, simply constructed, nice speed control, and I like the fact that I can slide the head stock to the end of the lathe for outboard turning or easy access for hollowing. It was also a great price. Even out here in Hawaii

Dave

 

[jimbob91577]

How about a Grizzley...

I don't have any qualms against the JET, however I haven't heard anything bad about the Grizzley G0462.

For the price and the capacity, I haven't seen anything even in the ballpark...

I'm personally considering this lathe, and unless I hear anything on the contrary, I'll probably purchase it.

 

[hcbph]

I have the 2 HP Jet 1642. I can only speak for spindle turning, Now it's all the lathe I need. I added the 18" bed extension so I can now go 60", and I've used it all. I made some splayed chair legs that ended up being 14" on one end and 60" long, and it performed flawlessly. I've also added a stebcenter, and that's a good one too. One big downfall is the lack of an indexing system, but I just picked up something this week to start setting one up.

Paul

 

[John Abt]

In response to jimbob91577. I have a Grizzly G0584 (I bought it about 3 months before the G0462 came out - for the extra $20 it would have been a no brainer). I have several other Grizzly tools (dust collector, band saw, jointer and jig saw). I've always had good luck with their tools.

I can't directly comment on the model that you're thinking about, but I can tell you my experience. The lathe is indeed less expensive than anything else with similar features. However, in my case, the drive belt wears quickly using the speed selection system (I don't know what the design is called). I have several bags of sand on a shelf, but I still get some vibration. The headstock housing also vibrates making sound similar to chatter, especially when hollowing bowls. I also am beginning to believe that the bearings in the headstock may not be the best.

Overall, it's not a bad machine for a beginner, especially if you aren't sure if you'll continue turning, but keep your eye out for sales or used machines. Check with members in your local club and see if you can see their machines and get their opinions. Personally, I plan to win one of the One Ways at the symposium

 

[woodwish]

I stepped up from my Delta Midi two years ago to the Jet 1642 (2 hp, 220v). I had my heart set on a Powermatic 2035 until I found the Jet at one heck of deal at a show. (I thought I bought the demo model but another sales guy had just sold it, the company then offered me a brand-new one in the box delivered to my shop's door for the same price. Hard to beat that!) I absolutley love it, does all that I ask it to do, and probably has several thousand hours of use on it by now. I did get new inserts for my Vicmark chucks with no problem and all the other #2MT stuff I had from the Delta Midi fits fine. I built a nice cabinet to fit on the shelf below full of turning accessories and small blanks, and that was enough weight for anything I have done. The lathe itself is pretty heavy so it doesn't need additional weight unless you really are spinning some large off-center pieces.

I put my Beall buffing system on the Delta and it stills spins along doing that. Thought about selling it but figured I wouldn't get enough to make it worth the trouble, plus I have used it a time or two for demos since the Jet is too heavy and big to carry around.

 

[Frank Kobilsek]

1642 is a great machine

Greg
The 1642 is an excellant machine for a wide range of turning. I have turned 15.5" dia platters and bowls down to pens and keychains on mine. It will be two years old in August and I spend at least 24 hours per week turning. The only trouble I have with the machine is on the high speed pulley I will get a nasty vibration right at 800 RPM. Above and below 800 RPM it is fine. I can reduce the shake a great deal by opening the cover and blowing the dust out of the head stock.

I think the machine is sized perfectly for a beginer to above average skilled turner. It may not be the ideal machine for very large bowl or hollowforms but most of us can't find wood that big anyway. There is no need to get tempted to buy bigger and cheaper at this level of performance I don't think exists on the market right now.

Enjoy, keep the mini for demostrations for outdoor turning.

Frank

 

[Sean Troy]

I don't have any qualms against the JET, however I haven't heard anything bad about the Grizzley G0462.

For the price and the capacity, I haven't seen anything even in the ballpark...

I'm personally considering this lathe, and unless I hear anything on the contrary, I'll probably purchase it.

2Hp at 110V ? I've never seen that setup.

 

[pencheff]

2Hp at 110V ? I've never seen that setup.

Also the lowest speed on the thing is 600RPM. That's awful fast for large bowl blanks.

 

[4mikee]

I'm pleased with my Jet 1642

I started the same way you did only I stepped up to the 1236 and a year later I went to the Jet 1642. My suggestion is to skip the 1236 if you can and go with the 16". The machines are great and have some of the best customer support I've experienced. That's why I've stuck with Jet and it will be a big factor if I ever get another lathe. You sound like you're on the right track. As far as turning bowls larger than 14", I turn them them to the max capacity. Generally I will turn a spigot and then reverse that to hollow and the tool rest doesn't cause a problem. There are the times of course when I have to trim the blank a little to get to rotate completely. I also have six bags of concrete (set by moisture I might add) that are used as ballast. This helps a lot with out of balance pieces. I don't know what I'd go with next.....maybe I should wait and see if I really need to. Good luck.

 

[Don O. Jr.]

Love my JET 1642

While I'm not a Pro or production turner, the 1642 has done everything I have asked of it without hesitation. I feel it is well designed and built and a good value. Spindle adapters are easy to obtain for most common chucks and the #2 Morse taper is also common. Good lathe, good value, nice features, what more can you ask.

Have fun, Don

 

[David Somers]

Also the lowest speed on the thing is 600RPM. That's awful fast for large bowl blanks.

Maybe models have changed over time, but I tend to use the lower speed range and I get get down to almost nothing for speed. I am doing bowls though so I have not needed the higher speed range spindle turners tend to use.

Also, the 2HP is a 220V, not 110. I assume that was a typo? The 14xx model is 110V.

Dave

 

[pencheff]

Maybe models have changed over time, but I tend to use the lower speed range and I get get down to almost nothing for speed. I am doing bowls though so I have not needed the higher speed range spindle turners tend to use.

Also, the 2HP is a 220V, not 110. I assume that was a typo? The 14xx model is 110V.

Dave

I think we're discussing two different things. I was referring to the new Grizzly lathe that was mentioned earlier in the thread... someone commented that the motor is specced at 2hp on 110v. I was commenting that the lowest speed on the thing is 600rpm.