Cheap Jet Minis

Yeah? And Lignum Vitae grails, yes?

Alex

???

Puzzled as I am by that somewhat cryptic response, the reference to grails carries a faint implication of skepticism--enough to suggest that my commercial-sounding post may have offended someone. If so, I am heartily sorry. When I bought my lathe from Amazon some time ago, I remembered to post the "deal" here only when it was about to expire and someone who was interested might not have seen the message in time to act on it. This seemed like a good chance to make amends.

As for my babbling about why to buy a Mini even if you have a big lathe, well, maybe my enthusiasm ran away with me. But as much as I lust after a OneWay (with no real excuse to own one, big bowls and structural turnings not being immediate priorities for me), if one were given to me I wouldn't even think about offloading the Mini. I really like it, especially with the bed extension.

Owen Davies

Don't feel bad. I have a Jet and I love it. I make a lot of pens and other small objects. It also works well for smaller bowls, candlesticks, etc. In fact, I use it a lot more than my large lathe. It is easier to make quick changes than my large lathe. It runs smoothly and is as good as any on the market. I got mine as a gift, but as I recall it was closer to $250 at the time. $199 is a great price and wish I had known about it.

Thanks for the heads up.

Actually, this is my second Jet Mini. The first one dated from before the extension bed, and when we were moving from New Hampshire to Florida I sold it rather than moving it. I really wanted the extension, and at that time there was no sign that Jet would ever offer one for the earlier machines. I'd meant to buy one as soon as we arrived, but it's been something over two years. And now they have the extension retrofit kit for the older lathes, and I could have kept the old one and been turning all this time. The nice part is that with the discount at Amazon a while back I actually made $25 in trading the old lathe for the new one. Nice machine either way.

Owen Davies

My apologies, no cryptology intended. It was intended more as something like "have you ever turned a wooden grail" and "that size lathe would be perect for that".

A grail is a wooden or Earthen wine goblet, not intended as skepticism.

As for me, I would love to have a mini lathe and turn anything at all... but have no place to do it unless it is on the patio, even then, no place to store it between uses. So, I pay attention to this NG as an enthusiast and sometimes give a reply.

Alex

I probably owe you an apology. I am always somewhat reluctant to post on the Net, as I always half-expect to get attacked. (To say nothing of leaving a--what's the electronic equivalent of a "paper trail?"--if I write something stupid.) Some of the groups I follow contain substantial numbers of people who will attack your intentions, accuracy, judgment, and morals if you say, "Good morning." This obviously is not one of them, but my habits get pretty ingrained. Didn't mean to be overly defensive.

As for a grail, no, that's not something I have undertaken yet. As you say, the Mini would be perfect for it.

I lived in very modest New York apartments off and on for years. If I had then been determined to turn--it never occurred to me until long after we moved out--I would have set up the lathe on a Workmate or something in the bathtub (easy to vacuum the shavings out!) and stored the it on the floor in one corner of my clothes closet like a big shoe. At least turning is quiet enough not to bother the neighbors.

Owen

Mount it in a box like SWMBO's sewing machine - see the leather handle sources - and clamp into a workmate for use. One of those ubiquitous plastic tarps would complete the picture if I didn't have a sheet on hand.

Put rollers on the base of the box.

Why lignum vitae?

-- Chuck *#:^) chaz3913(AT)yahoo(DOT)com Anti-spam sig: please remove "NO SPAM" from e-mail address to reply. <

September 11, 2001 - Never Forget

It's an incredible grain and liquids won't wreck it. Also, they'll last literally forever.

Alex

Do like I did. I got mine in '99 and still had 5 kids at home. But my understanding family allowed me to set it up in our downstairs bathroom where the gals put their makeup on. I used it there until my youngest moved out 5 months ago. I took over her bedroom with all of my tools and woods. Now I can hardly get around in there and have wood outside as well. Not sure how I did it before, but I did. "Where theirs a will..."

literally forever.

It's a small tropical flowering tree, also called the "Tree of Life". For those who might want to see a mediocre picture of the wood:

Greg G.

I paid sticker for mine............$349, as I recall...........still a hell of a deal! I just hope I like the Stubby 750 I have ordered as much. Great little lathe!

Barry

I got a real bargain on my first one: only $329! Worth every penny, and I wouldn't have hesitated to pay full price this time if it had been necessary. There may be some better, cheaper way to begin turning, but it's hard to imagine what it could be.

Owen Davies

At a specific gravity of 1.37 (past 1.0 and it sinks) it's not the densest wood on Earth but it will sink in water, and it has been tested to be the hardest wood there is. But there are denser woods, I think I read the densest is an ebony @

I ordered 8 LV pen blanks to become bench dogs.

Alex

There's also good pics of it on eBay.

Alex

FWIW - hard as a rock, and has the natural 'oilyness' common to many of the tropical exotics - it is used for BEARINGS in metal machinery

Dale

But there are denser woods, I think I read the densest is an ebony @

YES I know that! Amazing really, I saw a picture of a ship's propeller shaft bearing, as a structure including the housing, Lignum Vitae. I picked up a block of it at the local exotic woods business, and for it's size I was "highly surprised" at the weight. I felt the same way when I picked up the block of Boxwood too.

Alex

literally forever.

Then the vase I made for my wife won't require a coat of WaterLox? Picture is posted on abpw

-- Chuck *#:^) chaz3913(AT)yahoo(DOT)com Anti-spam sig: please remove "NO SPAM" from e-mail address to reply. <

September 11, 2001 - Never Forget