beck3906
Member
Anyone have the Jet 1221 that can offer user evaluations?
There ha e been lots of conversations.
Yes, get it.
Levi, Do you change the belt to drill? I've had no problems drilling with the belt on high. I turn the speed down to about 500.I love my jet 1221 I have had no problems with it. I love the reversing feature for sanding and the motor has a lot of torque at the low speed for drilling operations. Levi Woodard Sent from my DROID RAZR using Forum Runner
When I am using a 2 in forstner bit I do. Levi Woodard Sent from my DROID RAZR using Forum Runner
Rick:
I seriously considered this lathe to replace a Jet 1014VSI. 95 percent of my work is in pens made from alternative materials, and sometimes wood/metal/resin hybrids.
One of the shops in Atlanta allowed me to "test drive" their shop 1221.
The positives were ran smooth and almost as true as my Delta 46-460. The digital readout was nice, so I did pick up a $20 aftermarket tach for my current lathes. VERY SLOW Speed for applying CA finish.
The things that eliminated it does not turn nearly as fast as the Delta, or for that matter, as the old jet 1014. I cut mostly with Carbide cutters (Woodchuck) or diamond tipped cutters. On alternative materials cut with super sharp tooling, the faster I can cut, the less sanding and finishing required.
Secondly, the indexing lock was exactly the same as the 1014 VSI. I do a considerable amount of pen barrel fluting, and the Jet locking system is sorta "so-so" on a precise lock down. There is a good bit of "wobble" when locked.
Finally, perhaps the biggest thing was control location. I'm right handed. I use Abranet and Micromesh and I push the cutting tools with my right hand. To power the 1221 on and off (I stop and start the lathe maybe 30 times between grits, for cross sanding) I had to put down my tools or sanding materials, power on or off, OR keep my materials in my right "working" hand and reach across my body to flip the switch.
THIS DROVE ME INSANE!!! Perhaps just powering the lathe through a foot switch would correct this.
With any of my other lathes (I put a DPDT switch on the 1014VSI to make that lathe reversible, too) I could flip the switch , stop and even reverse the lathe with my left hand while keeping my right hand busy cross sanding, etc.
I don't really see the ill-switch placement as an improvement for lefties. If the head stock were located to the right possibly, but as the 1221 comes out of the box, I needed three hands to use it. Additionally, after 10 plus years of using lathes, ALL which had controls located "left", I imagine in an emergency, I'd look left first.
The 1221 looks solid, just NOT for me.
Respectfully submitted.