Jet Mini 1014 availability

The 1014VSI is still listed on Jet's web site. See the below link. There's a "Where to Buy" button for the lathe.

That seems to be the going price for a new one. The deal may be that if you get it AND a chuck or other accessory, you may get the accessory at a significant price reduction. If you don't already have that "accessory" and will "need" it - then the package deal can actually be a deal.

The fun and games in a purchasing decision like this is that they - in this case JET - keep coming out with New AND Improved models in the same price range. JET has a 10-14 model - with a locking spindle and indexing - handy things to have - for around $300. BUT - it doesn't have variable speed. And I suspect they have a model in the works with the locking spindle, indexing built in AND VS - but for another $75 to $100.

Given what's out there in the under $400 dollar range, and given the space I have for a lathe - I'd go with the JET mini VS again. You'll spend many multiples of the lathe price if you get even semi-into turning.

Choose, bite the bullet and start slinging shavings all over the place.

charlie b

All current models are shown as available on the Woodcraft site, including bed extensions.

And considering I have absolutely used that machine beyond anything I would have ever imagined, the investment in the machine is cheap. With a basic set of tools, you will get more hours of fun than you can imagine.

A man after my own heart.

Get out and make some firewood! Sometimes it is therapeutic for me to just get out and make some shavings with no particular project in mind.

Robert

See the JWL-1236,

art=708352

it states

'Headstock swivels 360° with positive stops at 45° and 90° and may be positioned anywhere along the bed ways for maximum flexibility and user comfort'

Well assuming that model is exactly the same as my small Axminster M900, there is no way that headstock is doing anything but going around in circles !

The other issue I found with my variant was that the top of the too rest was 3mm (metric) below centreline) makes it hard to do anything good with a bowl. Surprising when I got my new lathe working, where there is a good inch below centreline, I found my standard of bowl turning increased 1000%. A workman can blame his tools :) The funny thing was the cheaper copies of this lathe

I do wish people would get catalogues correct. The picture used by Axminster for their M950 is rubbish

Take a line from Tailstock to Headstock , and you will see they had the wrong Tailstock fitted as its a good inch below centreline.. :)

I bought a jet mini about a year ago. Non variable speed. Cost about $180.00. Variable speed is in no way necessary on a wood lathe. Also, the variable speed lathes often are very lacking in torque at slow speeds.

The 329 is the going price for this lathe. My local wood craft has them in stock. Seems to be an ok deal. I have one and have used it way more then I ever thought I would when I bought it

Randy

Maybe. Craft Supplies USA has it for that price also (plus shipping). Last year I hit a deal with them for free shipping

That is the one that I was looking for, but it seems like it is no longer available. It seems like it was replaced by an indexing model. Which leads me to ask how useful is variable speed and indexing. I have never used a lathe, but have done a lot of wood working.

Indexing is useful if you want to replicate a non-lathe pattern around your piece, like drill holes every 15 degrees.

Or you can use it to hold the arbor in place as you remove a chuck.

I don't use indexing, but I can address VS a bit..

I tried the Jet mini in both flavors, and as a personal thing I didn't like the VS.. Mainly because it's basically on a dimmer switch, as far as I'm concerned, and had some spots at some speeds that seemed very lacking in torque..

I went with the non-vs version and love it.. I've moved up twice, to a 14" jet with "Reeves type" VS pulleys and a 16" Nova with digital VS, but still use the mini..

I must have abused that little thing on 300 turnings or more and never even needed a belt replacement... the damn things just keeps humming along and is a very good lathe..

As to vs/standard, I find that speed changes are not that often, and it just takes a minute or so to change the belt position to change speeds.. Something that I really like about the Jet mini is that you can easily adjust belt tension, which I couldn't do on my larger Jet with VS.. YMWV

mac

Please remove splinters before emailing

That's my experience as well. It has been thoroughly used and tortured (not intentionally!) by me and it is still solid. I turn on a Jet mini more than my others.

Once again, I certainly agree. I like the fact that you don't lose the torque when changing speeds. But something that is an added bonus for me is that when it is time to change speeds it makes me stop leaning over the lathe and stretch out a couple of minutes. I will stand there working on that last little bit of something for much too long without standing up straight and stretching out a bit.

My Nova 3K is variable speed, as is my Carbatec mini. I am used to them, but I don't miss variable speed on the Jet mini, even though as I said I use it the most. I have to say though, it was easier making pens on the Carbatec VS when I was in that phase and making a lot of them at once.

A bonus to that is when you are giving a demo or teaching. Something I learned from a demonstrator was to tighten the belt only enough to get good traction and leave it there. That way if there is a good catch when turning, the belt will slip and minimize the trauma. It works!

It's like a built in safety feature.

Robert

Not recommended. The pressure of removing a chuck can (and has) result in a broken index pin.

Exactly... I should have mentioned that, since it's WHY I like to be able to adjust belt tension..

Turning is a lot like war.. the less drama, the less trauma..

mac

Please remove splinters before emailing

Very good point... It's for indexing, not a spindle lock..

And as I found out with my Jet 1442, a spindle lock is NOT good for removing a chuck or faceplate that's being stubborn..

On my Nova, they consider it ok to use the spindle lock to put a chuck on, but specifically say NOT to use it to take a chuck off.. (I assume because of more tightening during turning)

mac

Please remove splinters before emailing

I just happen to have one for sale. I no longer need it as I have purchased adapters for my General to accommodate the 1"x 8tpi of the accessories I use on the Jet. It probably would be a good deal for someone living in the BC lower mainland but freight would hurt persons farther away. If interested email me.

Tom

How much? I live on the Olympic Peninsula Washington.

Sorry Sam, didn't take long to sell; gone before I saw your post.

Cheers, Tom