Ray-CA
Member
It looks very similar to the Jet 12/20 VS as well as the 12/20 available from Harbor Freight.
Ray
Opinions on this lathe?
- Thread starter Ray-CA
- Start date
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It looks very similar to the Jet 12/20 VS as well as the 12/20 available from Harbor Freight.
Ray
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I have no experience with this lathe...
A quick look at the listed specs, the one thing that I noticed is the speed ranges:
I personally drill some materials and do things like cutting tenons at a speed lower than 750.
My Jet 1221VS has these ranges:
When I decide to get into other/larger turnings, I can move the belt to a lower range and get more control at low speed and the additional torque I will need.
A quick look at the listed specs, the one thing that I noticed is the speed ranges:
- Electronic variable speed in two ranges: 300-1,100 RPM and 750-3,500 RPM
I personally drill some materials and do things like cutting tenons at a speed lower than 750.
My Jet 1221VS has these ranges:
- Speed Ranges (RPM): 60-900, 110-1800, 220-3600
When I decide to get into other/larger turnings, I can move the belt to a lower range and get more control at low speed and the additional torque I will need.
leehljp
Member Liaison
Rockler, in general, offers quality items and has a very good reputation (IMHO) with their service. I don't order from them regularly because they are usually a bit more expensive than I can get in other places. AS to the lathe, It looks good and if I were in the market today for a pen lathe, I would certainly consider that one.
egnald
Member
I don't know too much about this variable speed lathe, but years ago Rockler jumped on the 10 x 18 Mini Lathe bandwagon with "their" Excelsor MC1018 lathe. Basically a re-branded Grizzly H8259, Rikon 70-105, and Harbor Freight 65345. All with the same castings and layouts but different colors and badges. I started out with the Harbor Freight until I upgraded to the JET 1224VS.
I'm not sure about this newer Rockler Midi. So far I haven't run across other brands that have exactly the same spec's, but going from just the spec's it seems like a beefy enough Midi with a 1.2HP motor. It looks solidly built (judging just from the photos). To me it looks a lot like just an upsized version of their Mini lathe - based on how the motor mounting system and some of the other accessories look. I agree with Hank (leehljp ), Rockler branded tools are usually good quality and Rockler has built a good reputation so I don't think they would jeopardize it by selling substandard stuff.
Like David (d_bondi), my JET belt position has never been changed from the 220-3600 range as it covers all of my penmaking needs, even on the low end as I apply finish somewhere between 300 and 500 RPM.
Regards,
Dave
I'm not sure about this newer Rockler Midi. So far I haven't run across other brands that have exactly the same spec's, but going from just the spec's it seems like a beefy enough Midi with a 1.2HP motor. It looks solidly built (judging just from the photos). To me it looks a lot like just an upsized version of their Mini lathe - based on how the motor mounting system and some of the other accessories look. I agree with Hank (leehljp ), Rockler branded tools are usually good quality and Rockler has built a good reputation so I don't think they would jeopardize it by selling substandard stuff.
Like David (d_bondi), my JET belt position has never been changed from the 220-3600 range as it covers all of my penmaking needs, even on the low end as I apply finish somewhere between 300 and 500 RPM.
Regards,
Dave