Mini lathe decision

I can't say...

BubbaBob

>...anything about the General as I've never used one, but I have the Jet and love it.

BubbaBob

Re: Mini lathe decision

Edward

>What company sells Jet machines in Canada. I have never seen any here in the "out west".

Edward

Re: Mini lathe decision

John Haylow Bracebridge Ont

>Hi Ed.

This company is located near Toronto. They said that Jet USA and Jet Canada are two separate companies but the lathe I enquired about was the same product.

http://www.allinonewood.com/

Regards,

John

I know them Both Well

Jim Shaver Oakville, Ont

>Hi John,

I own a Jet Mini and I love it, I have the older belt change one. I have turned in the General International Maxi lathe as well. unfortunatly the general International does not hold up the family name very well, it's not that well made.

I have on two occasions taken courses at Lee Valley that involved these General Internatioanl lathes, they howl and sqweal, the process for chaging speeds is also not simple, the have a flimsy door cover to place over the belt that often is a problem to reset. The mechanics of the lathe are okay, but they used terrible plastic parts for the tight downs on the banjo and the tail stock, I really missed my lathe.

Having recently helped two close friends buy mini lathes I will tell you that one drove across the border and bought a VS Jet and stand and he LOVES IT, the second friend bought a Delta Midi Lathe and loves it! Both considered the General International Maxi, but I talked them out of it.

Jacques Coloumbe in Montreal sells the Jet Lathes and ships across Canada. His pricing was much better than All In One in Mississauga.

I own a General 160-1, it's a shame that The GI folks missed the boat on the Maxi, it has a good weight and just missed on some of the more important details.

take care,

Jim

Canadian Jet Source *LINK*

Jim Shaver Oakville, Ont

>Hi,

Here is the Link for Jacques Coulombe.

I get a feeling every time I go into All in One that I am being had, I just feel uncomfortable there.

Take care,

Jim


Click here

Re: Mini lathe decision

Edward

>I have the General Maxi 25-100 and i think it is OK. Now it is not perfect; I had to fiddle around with mine, like, glue the threaded little handles in place with lock-tite. These handles are steel with black plastic tips on mine.

I had to adjust the alignment of the centers; this was easy to do and took only a few minutes.

The one gripe that I have is that a regular length Jakobs #2 MT, with drill chuck mounted, will not fit into the headstock spindle; it, the spindle is too short. None of the Oneway, or Delta MT's will fit either. General stocks a stubby MT for their jacobs-type chucks. BTW the Delta mini lathe has a shorter MT too. The Jet will accept all regular #2 MT's.

Here is something interesting. I tried my friends Jet mini tailstock on my general and it fit. It fit perfectly, no slop, no binding, no adjustnent needed. And it lined up too. What do you think, are they are made in the same factory? Esecially when the new general 16x42 model 25-650 looks so much like a Jet 16?? around the Headstock and the tailstock; at least from what I can see in pictures being that there is no Jet dealer around these parts.

Anyhow back to the 25-100, yes the belt cover is plastic that flexes when you lean on it. but speed changing IS easy. And the lathe runs smooth and quiet. There is more room between centers 18" vs 14", which is good if you want to turn a longer spindle part and it gives you more room to push the TS back if you are hollowing or sanding.

Best thing is to turn something on both the General and the Jet and see which you like the best. Find turners with these machines in your neighbourhood and ask to give their lathes a try. I was all set to order a Oneway 1018 until I tried one out.

Edward

P.S. I now put a lot of stock in having a dealer in the neighbourhood. It helps when you want accessories, parts, advise or a live person to complain to.

Re: Mini lathe decision

Jim Shaver Oakville, Ont

>Hi Edward,

I never knew that about the Jacobs Chuck, I use my Jet quit a bit with the Jacobs chuck and it fits all the same attachemenst and chucks I have for my General 160.

Take care,

Jim

Re: Mini lathe decision

Edward

>Hi jim; The 4-prong drive center that comes with the General 25-100 has a shorter #2 MT shaft, a stubby taper. The full sized drive center that General supplies with the 160 and 260 and probably the new 650 will not fit the Midi spindle.

When I discovered this I went out to check the other mini lathes. I found that the Jet will take a full length #2 MT but the Delta will not, at least the #2 MT made by Jacobs that is attached to my 1/2" drill chuck.

Annoying? Very. Made even more so when there are other features about the Midi that I find appealing. Like the extra couple of inches between centers, the massive cast iron bed, and the better quality of the machined surfaces. At least better than Delta.

Still, I like to work on this machine and plan to keep it for a while.

Edward

Re: Mini lathe decision

John Haylow Bracebridge Ont

>I would like to thank everyone for their help on my mini lathe decision. And a special thanks to Jim Shaver for helping me get in touch with Jacques Coulombe in Montreal.

Thanks to Jim I found out that the Jet 1014 variable speed is indeed available in Canada.

I chose the Jet 1014 VS, it should be here in a couple of days. I am also going get the Oneway Talon chuck for it.

I also just received Bill Grumbines DVD today, so guess what I'm doing tonight.

Thanks again.

John