>Sounds like a Jet 1236, it's a current model and looking at a picture on their web site will let you know. $250 is a fair price, and you should be fine.
I live in Overland Park and own a 1236, it's a good starter lathe.
I think,unless something has happened, that the Jet/Powermatic lathes are made in Taiwan, not China. The quality out of some Taiwan factories is pretty good.
I thought I had seen on a made in China website that Jet had moved their factory there.
My impression was that it was an electronic variable speed, but I guess even 8-10 years ago a $500 machine is most likely all mechanical.
If it is the 1236 will 550 RPM be slow enough for turning bowls? The guy I talked to here told me it should go down to 300 RPM. Or should I just limit the size for now and make sure I cut my blank very close to round on the band saw before I put it on?
I'm anxious to start turning a few things. I've got some sycamore including some spalted and some apple ready to go. Sometime soon I will be going over to one of the advanced turners to do something under a watchfull eye. With any luck soon I'll be able to post a picture of my first work...whatever it will be.
I use a Jet 1236 every day, and find it to be an adequate, though not exceptional lathe. In order to keep the list price below the $ 500.00 threshold, they have cut some corners to cut costs. The more you turn, the more these shortcomings become apparent.
IF this is the model in question, the low speed is 500 RPM as supplied, which is not as slow as I would like, but works for most reasonably balanced pieces. The mechanical variable speed is a Reeves Drive system, with split sheaves (that wear out in time with heavy use). You can also modify the machine to go down to somewhere in the 250 to 300 range, but that puts additional wear on the pulleys, so they will wear out a little bit faster. I decided it was well worth it, and made the modification.
My biggest complaint with the lathe is that the bottom surface of the bed is not accurately machined, so the toolrest banjo tends to move freely in some areas, and bind up in others (and conversely, to suddenly let go when you're trying to urge it to move). Easily addressed by reaching under the bed and loosening/tightening the nut on the holdown, but nonetheless a real pain in the ass at times (like when I broke an almost completed 1/16" thick cherry burl vase trying to move the toolrest !)
It's a good everyday medium duty lathe, but it's no Oneway or Vicmarc.
>That was very helpfull. Hopefully with it being 6-10 years old it will be before they started making too many shortcuts. Also with it supposedly being like new there shouldn�t be much wear at all. The way I�m thinking it will make a good starter lathe to learn on while holding it�s value better than Harbor Freight type equipment. Then if I have time and money in a few years to really dive in I can look at a bigger, better lathe.
When/if I need to slow it down I might see if I can pick your brain on the modification.
