Jet 1642 lathe

I just bought one last month and love it.

The variable speed is especially handy and very quiet. The readout is on all the time. You can turn the spindle by hand anytime and it will readout the rpm. It smoothly changes speeds. I've been using mine on the high speed range so far and it idles down to 135 rpm. When I have the dust collection system running (which is pretty quiet) I can't tell from sound or feel if it is running without looking at the work piece or the rpm readout.

The tail stock is fitted very tightly to the bed. It took me quite a while get the bed extension perfectly matched so the tail stock could slide over the joint between main bed and the extension bed. It will match.

It has plenty of power. I have not stalled it but have spun the center in the wood several times.

The motor is actually 3 phase 230v 1720 rpm drawing 4.6 amps with some method I don't understand of running from 120v. If I try and stop the spindle with the hand wheel while running at high speed range and at slowest variable speed of 132 rpm I can feel the pulsing power.

Fred

LBledsoe wrote:

You should really be turning on the low speed range unless you need to turn faster than that allows. This gives you two advantages...

You get more torque at the lower speeds and maybe a lower lower speed.

It allows the motor to turn faster for the same spindle speed. This improves the motor's ability to keep itself cool.

Bill

Fred wrote:

I actually just ordered on of these myself, about a week ago. It should be coming in pretty sson. I hemmed and hawed for a while between the 1642 and the 1442, and the $200 rebate on the 1642 made up my mind. It's a little bigger and heavier, obviously, and has the electronic variable speed as opposed to the Reeves drive on the 1442. I just figured i'd never have the cash for a big Oneway, and this should be the last lathe I'd ever need. It is far and away the most I've ever spent for a tool, though.

tt

Hello,

I'm a professional bowl turner and I have demonstrated on a Jet 1642 120v, as well as the 220v on occasion for a few years at The Woodworking Shows. I found it to be a very competent lathe with good power and ease of use. The electronic speed control is nice as well and it performed flawlessly.

The 120v has good power, but the 220v is of course better. However, for most turners, the 120v is probably adequate. I demonstrated bowl turning on these lathes and on occasion, pen turning. I was using my famous Texas Irish Grind, which has side wings more than 1.5" long. The 120v lathe could be stopped with a huge cut, the 220v kept right on going.

Either is a fine lathe and I would recommend both without reservation... I would add about 500lbs of sand to a shelf on the lower leg area though. You can never have enough weight in a lathe. If you have any questions, or if I can help you in any way, please do not hesitate to contact me. Good luck and best wishes on getting your new "baby."

Thanks for the info on which speed to use.