Jet 1236 Limit found

Re: Jet 1236 Limit found

John U - Charlotte, NC

>Try calling Jet instead of emailing or posting on the web. A phone call will get you a faster response for sure.

Good luck.

John

Re: Jet 1236 Limit found

Jack (Turtle Workshop)

>Call Harbor Freight service and they have the parts. The HF 1236 is the same as the Jet.

I don't have the number, but you could go to the web site and get it.

Jack

Re: Jet 1236 Limit found

Peter Teubel

>Been there, done that (and worse). First of all, that tool rest extension should be sumarily discarded. Its useless and dangerous. Too much flex. If you want a banjo/toolrest that will NEVER break or strip its screws, get a replacement from Oneway (from the 1224 line). Part# M0185 & M0206. Its pricy ($215+), but it will make a BIG difference. It moves smoothly, adjusts easily, and it probably stonger than the lathe bed itself. I find my Jet 1236 a pleasure to use again after getting one.

Been there, done that

Dominic Greco in Richboro PA

>Bert,

First off, how old is your Jet JWl-1236? If it is still under warranty, a call to Jet's Technical Service line may be all you need.

Back when I first started turning, but one year after I got my Jet JWL-1236, I was working with a large chunk of Rock Maple. I was using the banjo extension and took too big of a cut with a dull gouge. The banjo extension broke in two.

I called Jet to see if I could buy a replacement, and they offered to send me a new one free of charge. I got the new extension within three days.

What I didn't know then was that Jet had been having a problem with porosity (the presence of air bubbles in the casting and contribute to failure under stress) in the castings of some of the tool rests and banjo extensions of that lathe. Normally, cast parts that exhibit this kind of defect are caught by Quality Control. But for some reason, a good amount of defective parts slipped through the cracks and made their way to the general public. (I was told all this by a tool rep for a rival company. So take it for what it's worth.)

So give the Jet Tool Doctor a call and see if they will replace the broken parts for free.

Some more advice, you might want to reconsider pushing the lathe that hard when it's in "outboard" mode. You're taking about a huge overhung load on a small bearing surface. You know the saying, "When an irresistible force meets an immovable object, somethings gotta give."? Well that applies here.

Jet claims that this lathe can turn a 14" diameter platter outboard, but having tried it once (and once was enough) I found this operation to be dangerous. Save the big bowls for your next lathe (maybe a JWL-1642EVS?).

Good luck with your repair. Keep us posted on your progress.

See ya around,

Dominic

Re: Ha! Beatcha!

Mark Mandell - Gone Round In Jersey

>Did a 16" (well, actually 15-3/4) maple plater on my 1236.

Yeah, THAT was a bit scary.

|;-}

drop the 2 for mail

Re: Been there, done that

Mike Rubes

>Hi Dominic,

That's actually pretty interesting about your conversation with the Jet rep. Back in October of '02, I went to a woodworking show sponsered by Klingspor over in Hickory, NC. Long story short, David Propst was demo turning a large nartural edged hunk of very wet and heavy ash on a PM 2436. Shortly into the shaping of the outside the tool rest post snapped off right where it goes into the banjo. That was a solid 1 inch of cast iron. Admittedly, David was taking big cuts with a Glaser on a big hunk of Ash (about 20inch diameter), but it sure shouldn't have broken like that. The lathe was brand new from the local store. The Jet/PM reps there were obviously troubled by their "Flagship" lathe breaking during a demo of a lot of prospective customers and claimed that it was a bad batch of iron in the tool rest. Maybe the same batch as yours?

I still have the original toolrest that came with my mini, but usually use my "Best Wood" tool rest except when I need to get in there really close to the chuck.

Thanks,

Mike

Pollen driving me crazy in Apex, NC....

Re: Jet 1236 Limit found

Brad Vietje

>Agreed -- it's junk ! The banjo is also about 1.5" too short to make room for this terribly designed toolrest extension, which makes the banjo itself pretty whimpy. I had a much beefier banjo made by a sympathetic machinist/metal fabricator for about $ 95.00.

I was always amazed that Woodworker's Wharehouse displayed the Jet line with these stooooopid extensions in place, (even when turning between centers !) I've even seen the larger Jet set up this way at a Woodcraft store, and complained to the asst. mamnager that that just makes it look as if the store employees lack any real knowledge of woodturning.

Follow Peter's advice, and get a better toolrest banjo, even if Jet gives you a replacement. They should replace the outboard bed section no matter how old the lathe is -- that just should not break.

Safe Spinning (!)

Brad Vietje

Thetford, VT

Re: Been there, done that

Bert Workman

>Thanks one and all for the suggestions. The folks at Jet answered my email first thing this morning and I've already got replacement parts on their way. I was pleased with the price as well. Less than $25 for both the tool rest base and the extension. I think I'll just weld the bed extension back on rather than replace the entire bed.

Bert

Re: Been there, done that *LINK*

Peter Teubel

>Bert wrote:

"I think I'll just weld the bed extension back on rather than replace the entire bed."

=======================================

Unless you are a professional welder with cast iron experience and have the proper equipment, forget it. Welding cast iron is a very tricky undertaking that requires preheating and a bunch of other things to get it right (and safe). Check out the link for more info.


Cast Iron Welding

Gotcha all beat! :o)

David Hammond, in Powder Springs GA

>Somehow I missed this thread... Boy can I relate - I busted up my old Grizzly 1236, about like you've described, but worse: I cracked the headstock, busted the banjo, snapped the tool rest in half, burnt up one and a half motors, and wore out the bearings before I got a replacement.

But, I've got you all beat on the biggest bowl turned on one of these infamous 1236 lathes: I roughed out an 18 blank of spalted beech, five inches deep, outboard on my Grizzly! :o) That, was an experience. I'm actually in the process of finishing that very bowl, but thankfully, it's being finished on a more substantial machine.

David

Re: Beat Us All

Mark Mandell - Gone Round In Jersey

>To the shrink, David.

I have a strong suspicion that you have a rather strong death wish, which is not good to be left untreated when you're going to be around sharp instruments.

|;-}}}

Re: Jet 1236 Limit found

Ray Taylor

>I have two tool rests from my jet 1236 that are broken in exactly the same place. The first time it happened, I called Jet and they sent a replacement very quicky. I was roughing out an 11" blank that wasn't quite round...caught an edge while on the end of the rest and wham! Snapped right of.

Needless to say...my skills must not have changed and within a month, the second one broke. It's scary to see how identical the breaks are. The casting or design must have one weak point.

When ground down, these make great inside bowl rests!

Re: Beat Us All

David Hammond, in Powder Springs GA

>Death wish? Nah, just gotta start turning on such a blank before, before the blank gets up to that Reeves drives' hair raising "slow" speed! Catch the motor on the way up, bang around a little on the bowl, then lung for the switch and shut it off - pick your nerve up off the floor and flick the switch again, ready to start turning when the motor reaches about half speed again. :o)

David