How much noticeable difference is there between the Jet 1220vs and the Jet 1221vs? I have found a 1220 for $400 used, while the 1221 is $799.
How much noticeable difference is there between the Jet 1220vs and the Jet 1221vs? I have found a 1220 for $400 used, while the 1221 is $799.
Delta is losing ground fast after these last few comments. Anyone wanna help em out or watch em lose out to Jet.
I see the 1221VS is $799 every where all the time. Does it ever go on sale?
There are a lot of positive changes whether they are significant depends on what and how you turn.
A 3/4 HP motor should be big enough for anything you can mount on the lathe
The 1 HP let's you take more aggressive cuts when roughing.
SPEEDS ABOVE 3600 and below 300 a not used much maybe some sanding at 100-150 RPM will be a little better than a 270RPM
Big thing for me - wide belt is big improvement and the controls on the right side with an easy to hit off switch and large speed dial are much nicer.
The 1220 has the controls on a swing out box you have to open to change the belts. If you move the lathe a lot the box hinges can get bent from being hit or someone lifting on it. The on off switch is a little toggle which is hard to find in a hurry. the little belts do wear out a lot quicker than wide belts.
JET-1220VS
3/4 HP motor
A speed range of 270 to 4200 RPM
6 step pulleys
Controls are in a little box that swings away to access the lower pulley
Jet 1221vs
1hp motor
60-3600 RPM variable speed
3 step pulleys with a wider belt
Controls are mounted on the right side of the lathe and include a digital readout
The 1220 can do everything the 1221 can do..
The 1221 will do most things a little better and be nicer to use.
For instance if you turn a natural edge bowl you probably have to change belt positions 1-2 times with the 1220
With the 1221 you can probably do the whole bowl in the Middle belt position.
Al
In addition to all of that, the whole design is changed. The ways are incredibly wide and the lathe has a curved look to it.
I don't recall if the 1220 had the ratchet down belt design or not but it is easy to use. For the spindle work that I currently do most if the time, I never need to change the belt.
If you can get a 1220vs for a nice price, I'd say go for it. By if its not vs, I'd think twice.
There are a lot of positive changes whether they are significant depends on what and how you turn.
A 3/4 HP motor should be big enough for anything you can mount on the lathe
The 1 HP let's you take more aggressive cuts when roughing.
SPEEDS ABOVE 3600 and below 300 a not used much maybe some sanding at 100-150 RPM will be a little better than a 270RPM
Big thing for me - wide belt is big improvement and the controls on the right side with an easy to hit off switch and large speed dial are much nicer.
The 1220 has the controls on a swing out box you have to open to change the belts. If you move the lathe a lot the box hinges can get bent from being hit or someone lifting on it. The on off switch is a little toggle which is hard to find in a hurry. the little belts do wear out a lot quicker than wide belts.
JET-1220VS
3/4 HP motor
A speed range of 270 to 4200 RPM
6 step pulleys
Controls are in a little box that swings away to access the lower pulley
Jet 1221vs
1hp motor
60-3600 RPM variable speed
3 step pulleys with a wider belt
Controls are mounted on the right side of the lathe and include a digital readout
The 1220 can do everything the 1221 can do..
The 1221 will do most things a little better and be nicer to use.
For instance if you turn a natural edge bowl you probably have to change belt positions 1-2 times with the 1220
With the 1221 you can probably do the whole bowl in the Middle belt position.
Al
P.S. to the previous --
I don't have a bandsaw or any way to "round" the pieces I've turned so far. The chainsaw and table saw knocks of the edges and gets thing "close," but the out of round and out of balance is a real issue. If the lowest speed you can turn is 300 RPM, that would have at times been too much for me. A 12 inch blank with a 1/2" out of round will toss you around like a toy doll. My lathe is bolted down to a benchtop which is screwed to the wall and the whole (small) building will shake. Sometimes, slower is better. Another good reason to consider the 1221?