Jet Mini - VS or not

My vote: VS

Ron in Drums PA

>

Re: Jet Mini - VS or not

JL

>Do you really want to futz around with belts?

Re: Jet Mini - VS or not

Mark Kauder, Phenix City, AL

>Just my opinion, I think the VS is a waste of $100. How many times have I started a lathe at 500 rpm and then remembered - OH, I am turning a pen and need this lathe running at 3200rpm - NEVER.

The biggest advantage of most VS motors is that they advance the torque as needed, and they will got down to very low RPMs.

The Jet has a minimum speed of 500rpm, and does not compensate for more torque. I think it is a waste of money.

Just an opinion of a 5 year Jet Mini user.

Mark

Re: Jet Mini - VS or not

John Lucas

>Charlie I'm on the fence. I've use my 2 mini lathes for a long time without having variable speed. That being said I wouldn't give up my bigger lathes that have variable speed. What I like about variable speed is being able to just turn the knob to slow the lathe down for sanding. I prefer to sand at slower speeds especially on bigger items. I really don't miss the variable speed that much on my mini lathes but then I don't do bowls on them, except at demos. I would probably spend the extra $100 on good tools or a better grinder.

Re: Jet Mini - VS or not

Greg in Oshkosh

>I had the same question but wound up buying the variable speed model. In retrospect it's only worth the money if you are lazy. (I qualify)

Unlike many other lathes the Jet does not have a different speed range with VS. There are only three pully spots on the VS and 5 on the fixed speed. So the slow speed is 500 rpm in both cases.

On the other end it goes too fast no matter what. So you pay the $100 for the convience and not for any advantages.

I am so spoiled with my other two VS speed lathes that I couldn't bring myself not to get it.

Re: Jet Mini - VS or not

Jerry Whitaker

>I bought a Mini Jet VS and sold the older one and do not regret it. The VS is just too convenient and worth the extra money if ya got it.

Re: Jet Mini - VS or not

Ken Grunke from SW WI

>I'm thinking of getting one too, but I can't help but wonder why the VS doesn't have the same belt/pulley arrangement so that, when the belt is at the lowest speed position, the spindle would be at 500 rpm at max motor rpm like the non-VS--then you could dial it down to 150 rpm or whatever it would end up as.

Does that make any sense?

What Mark said

Carole in VA

>I think on a larger lathe that compensated for torque (I've read that it doesn't and again that it does, but I think Mark knows what he is talking about) and allowed you to go below 500 RPM the answer would definitely be yes, but on the Jet Mini, I think the $100 would be better spent towards a chuck, tools or other accessories. I went with the non-VS and don't regret it. When I upgrade, I will definitely go VS.

Convenience only . . .

Fred in NC

>But I bought the pulley model just before the VS came out.

In the meantime I added a DC motor and controller. My speed range is 60-4000 RPM !

I would not trade VS for any tools. I can apply sealer, cut and sand at different speeds with a twist of the knob.

Re: Convenience only . . .

Don Henthorn

>Hey, Fred, that is what I have been saying about my conversion of the standatd Jet mini, but in reality it is from 0 to the speed allowed by having the belt on the second tier of pulleys. Even the very lowest speeds develop enough torque to perform wantever operation I need to do at those low speeds. I am sure grateful to Mark Kauder for posting the information and help that he did on the conversion. Love it.

Re: Jet Mini - VS or not

John K Jordan

>>... I can't help but wonder why the VS doesn't have...

Could you not change the pulleys to different ratios? I haven't seen the VS internals so I don't know what's involved. (The Jet 1642 I use has a two step pulley with a VS drive.)

JKJ in East TN

Re: What Mark said

Paul Porter in Phoenix, AZ

>The VS Jet minis I have turned on seem to lose a lot of torque when the power is lower than 100%. So that leaves you with 3 speeds instead of six.

My 2cents.

~Paul