New Jet Copies

Re: New Jet Copies *LINK*

Daryl Biberdorf

>I did a search on the MC1018 model number mentioned in the one eBay ad (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2383080793&category=42282#ebayphotohosting).

and found the Made-in-China link below.

At least the Jet JML-1014 mini-lathe is made by free Chinese in Taiwan. I wonder how many political and religious prisoners it takes to make a mini-lathe in China?


Made-in-China.com

Delta Midi is made in China

Russell Seaton

>And I own one. And it seems to work very well. It was cheap enough that I was able to overlook my political tendencies.

Re: New Jet Copies

Andy in Raleigh

>Mine isn't a Jet clone, but it's a Chinese made 8" swing 22" between centers 1/2HP induction motor 4 speed that looks similar to a lot of HF/Central Machinery stuff, but painted blue and labeled Rand. Bought on eBay for less than $90 including S&H brand new. It needed some tinkering to line everything up optimally but I am pleased with it so far. I have had it about 6 months and used it quite a bit, mostly for small spindle work. YMMV of course.

I'm not sure how to factor in the politics. Do you think they will treat the workers better if we quit buying their products? Should we deny their kids their bowl of rice today because they should be getting two? It's tough to know what to do. Even if you buy "American" it's often just final assembly of Chinese sub assemblies done here.

-Andy

Re: Delta Midi is made in China

Daryl Biberdorf

>My concern with Chinese products is generally not related to their quality. It has more to do with the fact that it is well-documented that many Chinese factories are nothing more than labor camps with a public face. Harry Wu has documented much of this in his books, even taking photographs of many of these "factories." (See http://www.laogai.org for even more details. Amazon carry's Wu's books.)

I'm increasingly frustrated that even if I *want* the option of buying products made in countries where this does not take place, I cannot. I would be a hypocritical judge were I to accuse others for buying Chinese. It's simply unavoidable in many cases. The tool vendors give us fewer and fewer options by the day.

But it seems that, as woodworkers and woodturners, that we would be better off to pressure our tool suppliers to source products from places that do not use people imprisoned for religious or political reasons, held at gunpoint, to produce those goods. Certainly many Chinese factories are legitimate. But how is one to know? How much blood was involved in making the Chinese tools we see on the market today?

Re: New Jet Copies

Dane Lance

>Andy,

I seriously considered one of those "Rand" brand minis on ebay for my son to use for making pens (he's only 7 and already making pens on my lathe).

One question, how quiet is the motor on that thing? Is it induction, or a universal?

I don't mind tinkering to line things up, I just don't want a motor that sounds like a dremel or router....lol.

Re: New Jet Copies

Andy in Raleigh

>It's an industion motor. Out of the box, my lathe was noisy, but it was vibration in the sheet metal housing for the motor, pulleys and belts. A lot of the tinkering is to eliminate the vibration and dampen the sound of the housing.

-Andy