For those looking for a good deal on a beginner lathe, let it be known that Amazon.com has the Jet JWL1236 for $399 with free shipping. For someone with a smaller budget, Harbor Freight as their Jet clone,
That's $100 off the regular Harbor Freight price. My last sale catalog didn't have it on sale, and neither does the website. Could that just be a local HF store special?
You can get a "real" Jet Mini for $199 at Woodcraft right now. (There's a variable speed model coming out. Actually, its already out.).
Barry
There is some good used Iron out there before the China clones. The older Deltas, Powermatics, Generals, and Australian lathes would be good examples. That's what I would do if I was a beginner again. I started on a Shopsmith went 5 years on that machine and then moved on up from there.
It's not on sale from the mail order division, only the retail stores. I assume it all the stores, 'cause it was a big fancy flyer they sent out.
That figures. I went to Nashville and bought mine this summer for $269. Oh well, it works and I've enjoyed it so far. The motor is noticably stronger than its twin from Grizzly that I played with the other day. I'd like to get a direct comparison with its Jet twin sometime too.
tim
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