JET JWL-1221SP, 12" x 21" Step Pulley Wood Lathe (719115)

It was the first lathe I built. I wanted to go for quality, but the 1221vs were out of my price range. This is a fantastic alternative that is both inexpensive and well-made. I'd rather have a good tool that consistently does what it's supposed to do than something less expensive with more bells and whistles. Within the first four days, I'd turned a few handles and one bowl. The lathe was crammed full of form-fitting Styrofoam. It takes 10 seconds or less to move the belt to a new pulley. It's not a major issue. While having variable speed would be nice, I'm not sure I'd pay an extra $500 for it unless I'm certain I'll use it. I'm very happy with my Jet lathe purchase. Almost right out of the box, it was ready to use. Simply plug it in, insert the tool rest, and you're ready to go. At some point, I'll most likely purchase the extension bed. There is a lot of energy. If I had a complaint, it would be that when tools are in the tool holder on the left, it can block the lower belt door; also, a spare belt would be nice; however, neither of these are deal breakers.

Remy Lara

| May 24, 2021

This lathe offers one of the best price-to-performance ratios you'll find. It's a heavy, well-made tool. In a lathe, that's a good thing. Mine arrived in excellent packaging that protected it from damage during shipping. There was no discernible runout between the centers of the head and tail stocks. The tool rests are flat and smooth, which makes moving your fingers along them comfortable. Changing speeds by moving the belts around on the pulleys takes about 25 seconds and requires no real effort; however, the available speeds will not be the cause of a bad or ugly turning. Spend the money saved on accessories and high-quality chisels by foregoing variable speed control. One minor quibble: the bolt holes used to secure the lathe to your workbench on my machine were closer together front to back than the manual stated, necessitating some ovaling of the back holes. Just make sure you measure your machine before you start drilling. I should have done so. br> I'll mention that a 5-year warranty gives me extra peace of mind, but the machine's quality makes me doubt I'll need it. Turning wood is just as enjoyable as it appears. Get your hands on one and start shaving.

Marlon McPherson

| Dec 26, 2020

Many jobs don't even require variable speed, so moving the belt is a small price to pay to save half your money. Without a doubt, the most cost-effective lathe. My gripe is that I built a table to mount the lathe on, which included bolt holes drilled to the manual's specifications, but they didn't line up - My extremely careful measurements give me confidence. I wouldn't put my faith in their measurements. I had to go over everything again. To line up the holes, drill from beneath the table.

Janelle Brewer

| Jan 12, 2021

This midi Lathe is one of my favorites. Throughout my professional career, I've used metal lathes and mills, but never a wood lathe. This lathe is a well-built machine. For the beginning wood turner, this is an excellent choice. I've seen a few of your videos and I really like them. I turned my first bowl after watching videos on YouTube (which is a great source of inspiration). The most important thing to remember is to read and follow all of your safety rules while having fun.

Faye Baird

| Dec 24, 2020

12x19 is the correct size. For 120 pounds of cast iron, there isn't enough packing.

Fernanda Sullivan

| Dec 16, 2021

After 13 years of storage in a cold Vermont barn, my Jet mini lathe finally gave up the ghost during some use. I did a lot of research and can't believe I got a bigger, more powerful lathe for less money than I could have replaced my old one! I compared reviews on Amazon and Home Depot (which are quite different on off brands), as well as pricing on a woodworking site and HD, and came to the conclusion that it was safer to stick with a name brand with solid reviews and a better warranty. I don't require speeds that can be adjusted indefinitely. I'm still amazed that a 120-pound lathe could be delivered for less than $317. I don't require the longer bed and instead rely on a special piece (mandrel?). ) Lathes with similar specs _might_ fit, but given the weight and longevity of these, I didn't want to take any chances. Who wants to return such a large item or have it die before its time? The extra length of the bed could be useful. The only drawback is that I'll have to lift it to my workbench with my strong as an ox stepson. He has already carried it 30 yards from the porch to the attached barn. If that's the only disadvantage, I consider myself to be a very fortunate shopper.

Mckenna Shaw

| Sep 08, 2021

I chose this lathe as my first wood lathe after conducting extensive research, reading numerous reviews, and viewing numerous YouTube videos. I chose a solid, dependable tool over bells and whistles, as stated by another reviewer. After a few times of doing it, it only takes a few seconds to move the belt and change the speed, and I don't miss the reverse function. It was worth it to me to save money over a variable speed lathe so that I could spend it on tools and accessories. You'll also need a good amount of money for tools and accessories. br>br>As others have pointed out, the tool holders on this lathe are mostly useless because you have to empty them in order to change the belt position on one end and remove the tail stock on the other. I usually do both of these things with this lathe during every session. However, they appear to be useful as handles for lifting the lathe. But I'm not sure if they're designed for it or if they'll hold up over time. When I received the lathe from the man in brown, the packaging was pretty beat up, and the styrofoam was broken up, but the lathe itself was undamaged, so I guess the packaging did its job. br>br>When run for long periods of time, the motor on this lathe gets quite hot, but I'm told this is normal for this type of motor. After 20 or 30 minutes, it becomes extremely hot to the touch. The motor was quite hot during the first few long work sessions with it, but the odor has since faded. I keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn't get too hot, and I clean the wood chips out of the motor area on a regular basis.

Evangeline HARTLEY

| Aug 26, 2021

I can't complain about the price. The only real complaint I have is that the tool holders on both ends are largely ineffective for me. One must be empty to remove the tailstock, which I usually do when hollowing, and the other must be empty to change the pulley.

Larry MORLEY

| Apr 18, 2021