Jet has a new 12.5″ x 20.5″ midi lathe entering the market, model 1221VS. The new woodturning lathe is said to provide better control than competing models, thanks to 3 optimally designed speed ranges. It also features an enhanced control panel, ratcheting belt tensioning system, and can switch rotation directions without stopping.
Speed Ranges
- 60 – 900 RPM for intricate turnings
- 110 – 1800 RPM for sanding and finishing
- 220 – 3600 RPM for small-diameter items and general woodturning
So how does the lathe having 3 speed ranges benefit users? According to Jet’s product development director,
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The lowest speed range, going all the way down to 60 rpm is something you just won’t find in competitive lathes of this size. Turning at 60 rpm, but still having plenty of torque behind the lathe, allows you to perform tasks such as threading and ornamental work that you can’t do nearly as effectively on a machine that only goes down to 250 rpm.
That sounds reasonable enough.
Features
- 1 HP 6A single-phase motor
- 20.5″ working distance between centers
- 12.5″ swing over bed
- Heavy duty cast iron bed, headstock, and tailstock
- Precision-ground bedway
- Quick belt changes via ratchet-style belt tensioning system
- Digital spindle speed readout
- On/off, and forward/reverse switches
- Headstock has 24 integrated indexing positions
- Spring-loaded spindle lock
- Tailstock has Acme thread (2.25″ ram travel) and through hole for drilling
- Weighs 121 lbs
- Measures 33.6″ x 11″ x 17.7″
The lathe (719200) will be priced at $800 via Jet dealers. Also available is a lathe stand (719202) for $348, a 22″ bed extension (719201) for $199, and extension stand (719203) for $107.
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John Sullivan
Remember when everybody released a mini/midi lathe and the most expensive one was $350? Seems that these are gradually getting so pricey (and it seems that Jet is mostly pushing that envelope, now that Delta is in a recovery phase) that you’re approaching the price of a full-sized lathe.
Of course, Powermatic’s new $9k monster lathe could be the catalyst to move regular lathes up & out of their current price points. Maybe I’m getting old, but it seems that you should get duplication, automation, or something more industrial (and less classic woodworker-y) in a woodturning tool once you cross the $5k mark.
Brian
That was my reaction to the price as well. Who are they positioning these for? I suppose not for me, the average hobby woodworker.
Stuart
Honestly, looking at Jet’s other models, as well as competing models, I think this lathe fits in perfectly. Maybe the price will come down after it’s been out for a while. But for users that make or even sell a lot of turned projects? This isn’t too extravagantly priced.
The average hobby woodworker will start out smaller and cheaper, say with a mini lathe.
Jet makes another similarly-sized lathe (model 1220), but without the three variable speed zones and lower speeds for $560 via Amazon. Their mini lathe is about a hundred dollars cheaper.
Alex
Unless you know for sure that you won’t turn anything much larger than pens I would advise against anything but a full size lathe. Especially at this price.
John Sullivan
Please don’t misunderstand my earlier post– this is an excellent midsize lathe, and it may be worth the money for a select few. [Not if you want the accessories, but more on that later.] I just fondly miss the glut of woodworking dealers in the mid-90’s, when a bunch of companies sold their newly-popular mini & midi lathes in the $200-300 range, and they were just as capable as the $500-600 mini/midi lathes of today. Other tool categories don’t seem to have gone up in price as rapidly.
I got lucky today– the stars aligned and I had a chance to see this turner in person. It’s a beast of a mini/midi lathe that makes my current one look like a little girl’s toy. The monolithic cast iron really seemed more like a Powermatic (the premium line of tools under the same corporate umbrella) but maybe the corporate overlords at Walter Meier decided that there wasn’t room for a compact tool in the Powermatic lineup. On the other hand, the locks and tool rest felt like they came out of everybody else’s [as in, every other brand/model of compact lathe] imported parts bin. They’ll work, but it’s nothing new nor improved.
But there’s that price to contend with… and my local dealer wants pretty close to the list price. Add in the optional base, bed extension, and so forth… not looking worth the price unless you ONLY want to do smallish turnings and forego those. If you will want to turn larger spindles or anything that would require the extension bed, the full-size Jet JWL-1442VSK ($1500 at the same dealer I went to, $1400 from Amazon) becomes a much better deal.