Jet 708360 Variable Speed Lathe Review

When it comes to woodworking, there aren’t many that compete with JET lathe machines. I picked up the JET 708360 along with some Wilton clamps on Amazon and have found this machine to be an unrivaled item at the cost. I purchased the 2 Horse Power model through Amazon to supplant an old Delta 1 HP light duty machine and the progression up in limit implies that bowls up to 15-16 inches in measurement can be turned easily. I've utilized it for dish turning; however the 42 inches, since quite a while ago, bed is likewise leeway over average 36 inches beds for shaft work.

 

Positives of JET 708360

 

The cast iron development and exact machining imply that there is no observable vibration when roughing out even extensive spaces. The variable velocity with computerized readout is smooth and easy, with the machine's aggregate pace limit broken into two territories that are effectively gotten to with a basic development of a lever on the headstock.

 

From the very first moment, and subsequent to utilizing my machine for 75~90 hours in the low range (0 to 1200 RPM), I find that the shaft doesn't really begin turning until the readout is above 150-155 RPM. I don't see this as an imperfection, since it's a moderately low speed. I end up sanding at 300-400 RPM or better, and turning at impressively higher velocities. The 2 Horse Power, 3-stage, 230 Volt engine has all the force I could request and plugs into a standard 220-230 Volt outlet. This heavy duty beast permits an extensive variety of methodologies for the cutting tools and acknowledges numerous secondary selling rests.

 

I haven’t once found that I couldn't position it in a path in order to work easily. In spite of the fact that I haven't had event yet to utilize the tailstock, it is burly and legitimately coordinated to the general size and weight of the machine, and critically, the ram lines up precisely with the headstock axle. The 4 inches go on the tailstock ram is smooth and will make it simpler to bore within empty structures than on my old machine which had about 2.5-3 inches of travel. The additional 1.5 inches has a major effect.

 

The strip was conveyed to the secondary passage of my shop by a lift-entryway truck, incompletely dismantled in a substantial cardboard container on a bed. I cut the plastic strapping with a shear, peeled off the cardboard and poly wrapping, and afterward evacuated the parts one by one and conveyed them into my shop for gathering. I expelled the headstock from the machine bed while both were still on the bed. I'm 59 years of age and I had just insignificant trouble in lifting the headstock and bed independently and conveying them 20-30 feet. I did need assistance from a neighbor to facilitate setting up the bed on the leg set and leveling the legs. It was a weight to get the headstock onto the bed by then, yet I did only it.

 

Negatives of JET 708360

 

I've discovered stand out thing I don't care for on this machine. The axle lock on the headstock is spring stacked for safety purpose, yet that implies that one hand is expected to hold the spring-stacked pin in to keep the shaft bolted, leaving one and only hand to mount what can be an overwhelming bowl. Given the decision, I'd neglect the security highlight to have the capacity to bolt the axle and have two hands to mount the chuck and bowl/clear.

 

Another little point, yet not by any stretch of the imagination a con, is the way that the machine headstock has a since a long time ago turned chamber set up of a hand wheel. I would have favored a genuine hand wheel, yet evidently it's made along these lines because of constrained leeway over the body of the engine.

 

Generally speaking, I'm what I figure you'd call a propelled novice, with 35 years experience as low maintenance furniture creator. I'm turning bowls and have done axle turning with different machines, for both fun and benefit. This is the only machine I'll ever require. Without a doubt, the Powermatic 3520B would have been decent to brag rights, yet at more than double the cost of the JET I couldn't legitimize it.

 

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