Jet 1236

[kirby121]

What is a good price for this lathe? and is it a good for a new turner? I plan on learning to turn bowls vases and hollow forms.
I saw it on amazon for $399.99 with shipping included.

Thanks

[Al_Rivard]

I bought the 1236 last Nov. I'd never even been in the room with a wood turning lathe before it arrived. The 1236 is still the only lathe I’ve been around so I can’t compare. I haven't had any problems with it and I use it all the time. Last Nov it cost $579.00. I think it's even coming with some tools at the new lower price. Bottom line it's a great price for a decent lathe. I only turn bowls and pens and have no complaints.

[Sonny Edmonds]

Kirby,
Didn't see a price, was looking for spec's [link:www.wmhtoolgroup.com/JETWood/Tools/JWL1236.html | HERE.], found them.
Looks good. My ONLY exception would be the lowest available speed on it. 550 RPM.
But it ought to be doable. Has a swiling head for outboard turning, and that's a good thing to have!
Just a 3/4 HP motor? Well probably good enough.
The price seems really good.
The 12" swing is OK. 34 1/2" spindal length may or may not be good, depends on your desires. You can turn two spindals and make length with it.
Probably good to get going with. When the hook sets really deep, you'll know what you want by then. :7
The 1 x 8TPI is a pretty good standard, as well as the #2 Morse Taper.

Just remember this is the tip of the iceberg. It's a deep vortex once you get a taste for it. ;) :7 :P

Is there anyplace near you that you can get a look at it before you jump? Just to be sure.... ;)

:D

[link:www.sonnyedmonds.com | Sonny Edmonds]
"Precision Firewood Specialist"
God Bless America !
One Nation Under God!
"I was raised around lead based paint.
It ain't an excuse, just a fact."

[mapleman]

i also have the 1236. it is a good lathe for my purposes. i turn bats and legs and spindles mostly. but i do also turn some bowls. it has a standard MT and thread for chucks and faceplates, etc.
ht eproblems for me were vibration (any lathe below $1000 will have vibration issues i suspect) and the length of the spindle capacity. it is only 33 1/2", NOT 36. you can NOT get 36" out of it. and there is no bed extension available, at least that i know of. i would much rather have a 40" or even bigger. for bowls, that wont matter obviously. and the bowl capacity is exactly 12" over the bed. outboard it is more, i think they said it is 16", not sure.

$400 is an excellent price for it, IMHO. i paid about $550 a couple years agao from WWWH.
the tools that came with it suck but i am still using them...
i ended up building a stand out of 2x12 hemlock and added several hundred pounds of sand to dampen the vibration. the metal stand it comes with is just sheet metal reinforced by aluminium (hey Limey! :) ) so i got rid of it as soon as i could.
hope that helped.... :)

later,
John "mapleman" Fairbairn III
"Me don't know, I justa build 'em" :P

[MorePowerMatt]

Sonny,

Do lathe specs generally include tolerances for spindle run-out and tolerances for balance?

Matt

Really Yelling Or Being Incensed.

[Sonny Edmonds]

Matt,
Not for wood lathes, not that I have seen anyway.
Metal working lathes and mills, etc. Yep, you betcha!
But not for wood lathes. By nature, a wood lathe is not near as intricate. Doesn't need to be.
The accuracy in a wood lathe is more dependent on human skill, rather than brute machinery strength and tight tolerances. ;)

:D

[link:www.sonnyedmonds.com | Sonny Edmonds]
"Precision Firewood Specialist"
God Bless America !
One Nation Under God!
"I was raised around lead based paint.
It ain't an excuse, just a fact."

[Quartlow]

The 1236 was my first lathe. Now before you read any further keep one thing in mind

I'M HARD ON THINGS. I push tools to the limit.

I wore the belt out in 45 days. No biggy there. they use a cheap automotive type belt thats not designed for a variable speed pully arangement. Replace it with a NAPA 4L240W. Doble check that with the old belt when you buy it. But that should be the right number.

Outboard turning, be very CAREFUL. The extension will will not take any hard shocks.

Where the outboard ways mount. Use longer bolts to attach them them put nuts on the inside also.

On the tail stock, they use a round washer on the tensioning system. it doesn't provide enough surface area to hold the tailstock. take the washer and have a machine shop make you a square one. otherwise you run the risk of overtightening it. This WILL result in the casting breaking. The reason for this is the cam is only supported on ONE Side. Therefore every time you tighten the tailstock to the bed it puts stress on it and a new casting is 80 bucks!!

The start capaciter on the motor took a crap a couple weeks ago.
And now the pully on the speed selector is sticking.


Mapleman is right the Tools that come with it do SUCK!! The only thing that kept me turning was the purchase of a set of sorby tools.

Make sure that any surface you screw the faceplate to is PERFACTLY flat. It's not very strong and you can warp it.

Don't get me wrong my 1236 served me well. but on 20/20 hindsight I wish I had taken the $550 and put it towards a bigger lathe. Keep in mind I turn every day. For the ocasional turner this lathe is fine. but if you get serious it won't hold up.

Just my $.02's worth, letm eget you your change. ;)