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Jet-1442 VSK

Hay guys....

I have another newbe question about my lathe. For the last few weeks I have been using scrap wood and firewood to practice on, trying to learn how each of the chisels function.

Yesterday I finally felt secure enough to start on a small bowl. I slide the tail stock over to the head and noticed that the two points don't line up. They are off by about 1/4 inch up and down and a small amount side to side. While trying to line them up I noticed that the head stock is not sitting solidly on the rail with the locking handle loosened. It rocks all around until you lock the handle. Shouldn't it rest solid like the tail stock?? The book doesn't say anything about this, only if the locking nut needs to be adjusted. If it was flat on the rail then the two points would line up.

Thanks allot guys for all your info....

Lee

Reply to
Leetollett
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Lee, Absolutely yes! They should line up, and IMHO the headstock should not rock - even when not tightened by the locking lever. This is likely a sign of poor milling tolerances. Welcome to the era of Chinese cast iron and lackadaisical quality control - although Jet is typically better than some.

Not to be smart, but this is something that should have been checked when the lathe was first unboxed and set-up. It isn't too unusual for sliding headstock lathes to have a minor misalignment side to side that requires bumping the head/tail stocks into perfect position, but an alignment problem in the vertical direction is problematic.

Knock the assembly down and check for debris or casting/milling flash on the headstock rail runners. If you see nothing, and all is clean, I would see about returning the unit and exchanging for a unit that is milled and aligned properly. If it is too late for that, you might try filing any high spots off until aligned properly, but this is not an operation to be performed lightly or carelessly.

I'll leave it to the Google archives and others to explain the myriad of reasons why this is a problem...

Good Luck,

Greg G.

Reply to
Greg G

Has to be loose enough to slide without binding, and if it's a cam lock, it probably tightens _down_ to the ways.

I'd say if it can be brought into line with the existing adjustments it's fulfilling its design specifications and is functional. Don't care whether it's the mainland or the island, personally.

German company, too.

Reply to
George

I have that lathe, Lee.. wanna buy another one? (It would require a Baja vacation)

I always lock both the head and tail stock when aligning the centers..

Since I'm going to USE them locked, why adjust them loose?

My head stock rocks a lot when loose, but that's by choice... I have the bolt adjustment for the banjo loose so that the handle goes down further to lock.. just gets in the way less if the head stock is slid up to the end, where I usually have it..

Great lathe that has taken a LOT of use and abuse... you should get many years of pleasure out of it..

mac

Please remove splinters before emailing

Reply to
mac davis

Another poster illuminates a possible ambiguity.

Your post wasn't clear on this point, but if they line up when tightened down, you may dismiss the above. Of course, when they are not tightened down to the bed, there may be some misalignment - that's the nature of minimalist mechanisms. FWIW, the Jet lathes have a pretty good reputation.

Greg G.

Reply to
Greg G

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