Jet 1236 Users Unite !!!

Sure it's junk...

TDaniel

>I sold two of the 1236 before I realized what a piece of junk they really are. Anyone who can afford to spend a few more bucks can buy a lot more lathe for not that many more dollars. You can't beat a mini for just finding out if you want to turn or not; the next step should be a lathe with at least a 16" swing and a good variable speed unless your turning is limited to spindles. There is some good old iron out there for reasonable prices if you do not need more than a 12" swing. If you break down the price of a 1236 to what you guess shipping from Taiwan to cost, a profit for the dealer where you bought it, a little put back for service support, that doesn't leave much for the labor and materials required to build a lathe.

TD

Disagree

Ray Johnson

>I have a Jet 1236 and don't have any complaints. I am not a very experienced turner, but I have used the lathe with good results. I don't have experience on any other lathes so I really can't compare it. I won't address the issue that it could be improved. But, for what I paid (I bought it at a Jet scratch and dent place), it is a good deal. Maybe once I get to the point where I feel I have outgrown it, I will go into a higher priced unit. But for now, I am satisfied.

RayJ

Re: Jet 1236 Users Unite !!!

theeviltwinn

>Am I missing somethig? Isn't the 1442 exactly what you are asking for? It's an improvement on the 1236 for under a grand.

Mike and missing the point.

Ditto

John Dillbeck

>Had a 1236 for 3 years and it was a good starter lathe. Never had a problem. It sure beats some of the other low price lathes.

A different take from a former 1236 owner

Dominic Greco in Richboro PA

>First let me say that I do understand your dissatisfaction with this lathe. And I agree with some if not most of your points about the Jet JWL-1236.

Yes, it's stand is flimsy. And yes, it's pivoting headstock is a real PITA to re-align. And it's just too light to turn a real big bowl blank (unless you like chasing your lathe around the shop). But for light work, or the novice weekend turner, it's just fine. I know many 1236 (or Grizzly/HF clones) owners who are quite happy with their lathes. For them, it does just what they want.

To give credit where credit is due, the jet JWL-1236 lathe excels at small spindle work. It's the big bowl blanks that give it a fit. But what do you expect from a lathe that weighs in at only 175 to 200 lbs? (thats the approximate weight of the headstock, bed, tailstock, and toolrest. Not the stand.)

When I purchased it, the main reason I chose the Jet JWL-1236 was price. As much as I would have loved to, I couldn't afford a larger lathe. And I know of many out there can sympathize with this. There are bills to pay, and other things that take a higher priority over my hobby. So you buy what your budget dictates. It's a lot like when I had my 10" Craftsman tablesaw. Yeah, it was a PITA to keep the blade aligned with the fence. And I couldn't rip a 3" thick piece of walnut. But until I eventually found and restored my used Unisaw, it was perfect for me.

In regards to your comments about contacting Jet; I believe that Jet has already addressed this by making the Midi Lathe variable speed, and adding the cast iron bed extensions. With that combo, you can turn just about anything the Jet JWL-1236 could.

The next step up is their Jet JWL-1442, which by all accounts and reviews I've read is an outstanding lathe for he money. I have the Jet JWL-1642EVS and can't say enough good things about it. Read my review Jet JWL-1642EVS if you want more info.

getting off my soap box for now,......

See ya around,

Dominic

Re: Jet 1236 Users Unite !!!

Antony

>I too bought my first lathe for the price,the Delta Ironbed.I soon realized that this type of lathe has its place.I personally feel these types of lathes are great for spindle turning,but once you get hooked on bowls,there's a limit due to movement.I've since bought a Jet VS mini lathe,and I have to tell you,it's a great little lathe.I'm in the process of buying the Powermatic 3520.

Re: A different take from a former 1236 owner

Brad Vietje

>Dominic,

Thanks for the great review ! I've played with one of these a bit, but I have not had the chance to turn on one yet. Looks like a great machine.

I stuck my neck out there to see what sort of clamor there was about the reliably mediocre 1236 -- and, aparently, not much.

I won't go balistic here, but there are a few improvements that could be made for very little effort and/or re-design money that would take the 1236 from a good starter lathe to a great mid-sized lathe. A few follow:

1. Throw the banjo extension away, (it is a hazzard !) and build a proper banjo that's 2" taller like it's supposed to be.

2. Machine the bottom of the banjo flat.

3. Let's try machining the bottom of the bed ways to make them both flat and parallel to the top surface.

4. WAAAAY too much slop in the tailstock assembly -- nearly useless for drilling.

5. Hollow tail stock, while useful for boring lamps and such, means the tailstock ram is threaded on the outside = BAD idea ! (Not self-ejecting, and very wobbly, because there is no smooth surface to bear against the inside of the TS casting.) Also, the only thing keeping the whole works from rotating while drilling is a little set screw, which is a really wimpy way of doing it -- should be keyed, have a custom, square-end set screw, or shaped so that it can't rotete. BTW: how often do we drill out lamp bases, anyway ? With THIS ???

6. Rotating headstock indexing ... If the machining were a bit more precise, that would help. As far as alignment, and proper return to the correct place, how about a tapered pin, which would at least eliminate the play.

The list of minor improvements could go on, but that's the general idea. I see Mike's point, too, that the 1442 is a big step up in value, and not a huge step up in price. My main gripe is that the 1236 really COULD be a lot better. The frustration is that it comes so close to being a great entry level lathe, or great mid-sized lathe, but its stuck in mediocrity due to sloppy machining, and lack of attention to detail.

I'm glad the 1442 and 1642 lathes are better built machines, and the sliding headstock is machanically a better idea than a rotating head stock for a whole host of reasons. Who knows, I may even own one someday.

Thanks again, Dominic for the nice review and cooler head.

Safe Spinning,

Brad Vietje

Thetford, VT

Quit whining and get back to turning

Jack (Turtle Workshop)

>Okay, I'll admit that the 1236 (my two are both HF versions) requires a lot of tuning before using. I agree that any bowl over about 8" is like taking your life in your hands. I also agree that tailstock is a travesty. I also agree that rotating the headstock is a useless evolution.

After having said all of that I find one of 'em to be outstanding for pen turning. The power is there and VS Reaves drive is cool. Aligning the tail to the head is simple. Just move it around until the pointy end cleanly engages the end of the pen mandrel. I've even made a series of rods for aligning with tailstock about where I want it to engage a spindle piece.

The second one is used exclusively for stacked lamination cutting/finishing. I keep the cutting rig permanently (bowl master) mounted on the lathe.

My first one cost 179 and my second cost 159.

So from one viewpoint they are junk, but they are my junk and have great bang for the buck.

I've used the mini's and their puny motors and watched 'em whine every time a little more aggresiveness in the cut is needed. Since I'm hamhanded and enjoy getting the pens done and moving on, it is comforting to be turning with a real piece of steel like a 1" roughing gouge and not have the motor stall.

And yes, I've got a PM 2035 that is the ultimate dream machine in cost/benefit as well as just plain engineering elegance.

To put it another way, if I could have a Oneway mini I'd buy it. But since SWSBO requires a lot of stroking and sales pitch for me to get my toys I've figured that I don't need to by the best of everything.

To put it plainly, I'll probably be retuning the 1236's for as long as I own them, but I don't consider them waypoints for turning unless I win the lottery.

I just bought the 9 X 20 metal lathe that throught the years came all the way from about 2 thou to my price, 649. Now that is a fine piece of work. Sure I could get exactly the same thing from Jet for another 500 bucks, the after looking at each of them I could not find any difference except the color! The Jet sales guy spoke of better gears and such. I did a very thorough look at both of 'em (not side by side) and the gears were identical.

Jet started on the premise of doing things just a little bit better than the rest (Grizzly,HF,and so forth), and they have in the 1642. But it took Jet buying PM to get into the big time.

Heck, I even have a Perfromax 16/32 and it is another example of fine USA elegance.

No, I ain't looking for a buyer for my 1236's any time soon.

Jack

Jack's right -- Back to the lathe !

Brad Vietje

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