Why havent you told me?

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soligen

Member
Joined
May 11, 2010
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1,091
Location
Sterling Heights, Michigan
Why havent you told me just how quiet mini lathes are (taps foot)? I've been using the shop smith - I need hearing protection just to turn it on!!! An no-one has mentioned just how much more quiet the mini lathes are? Dont you love me? Well?

Ok, enough play whining. Seriously, I never knew. I was just in woodcraft and the guy had a jet mini out by the register turning a pen. I've never seen one in operation before, and was amazed how quiet it is.

I had him plug in the others to compare - the rikon was a touch louder than the jet, but the General was amazingly quiet - even compared to the jet - nice lathe.

SO..... Now I need a new lathe :biggrin:. Considering the noise polution I've been feeding the family, this may be the easiest justification to SWMBO ever. Especially since the shop smith threw a breaker last night - on the same circuit as the computer she was writing on - yes, she was pissed.

Now I just need to decide which lathe. Metal lathes I guess are a possibility too. Are they just as quiet?
 
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Or you could just buy a battery backup system for the computer! I have a turncrafter pro and it's pretty quiet, but I've never had another one to compare it to!
 
Hey Dennis , mini lathes are quiet you know :tongue::biggrin:
Mini metal lathes are not as quiet due to all the gearing .
I run my Jet at 3 AM with no complaints , but I don't square up any blanks after 11PM , that still makes too much noise . They roll the sidewalks up here at 11 PM and after that you can hear a pin drop around here until the neighbors start their bikes up a 5 AM and insult (assault) everyones ears as they do 90 down the side streets .
 
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I own a Jet 1014VSI and it is a good lathe......for what it is and and what I paid. The Delta (which was not available when I bought the Jet) is a hands down, a much better, quiter and more powerful lathe (my neighbor has this lathe). However, there is a good bit of "slop" in the Jet that is not there in the Delta. You can work around the "slop", but it is very nice just to tighten the tailstock and be confident that the alignment is precise.

I have no complaints about the Jet. I paid $379 and got free shipping from Amazon. (at the time $80 more than a PSI lathe, that I have used and laughed at). I have numerous Jet tools in my shop and have never had a problem. BUT, If I were buying a new wood lathe today, the Delta would be my only choice. Not only is it quiet, smooth and MUCH more powerful, you have to put your hand on the head to make sure it is running. I can cut stainless on the Delta---NOT an option on the Jet.

Don't let price get in the way of a new lathe purchase. Used lathes have very little trade value. So, unless you are really just a money miser or can't afford good tools, DON"T CHEAP OUT ON THE NEW LATHE! THis is a decision you will have to live with for years. Find a Woodcraft store (meaning woodcraft, rockler and all the other big box wood stores). They will let you t"test drive the Jet, Delta and others.
 
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I guess its just a mater of how much I want to spend. I was rear ended last month and had repairs to my 9 year old car done on the cheap, so there is some left over $$. I may be able to swing the delta.

The general seems to be in the same class as the delta, but hard to find direct comparisons since it hasnt been out that long. I has the woodcraft guy get out the extension cord and power it up - very smooth and quiet - and mucg less play then the jet.

The negative I read about the general is that the tail stock seems to be awful light. I dont know how big a deal this is.

The delta has such a loyal following - it must be for a reason. I've never heard anything bad about it.
 
The Delta is awesome, we have one at our club, it's way over the Jet's or any of the other mini/midi's at 12-1/2 x 21 its a lot more lathe and I really like the reverse feature.
 
You know they are very quiet. I turn quite frequently past 4 or 5 a.m. Neighbors don't complain about the lathe noise. They just complain that they can hear Rage Against the Machine 6 or 7 houses away:biggrin:.
 
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