Occasional lurker, first time poster here...

I have been offered a brand spanking new lathe in the $1000 range (by
my mother) in exchange for converting some cherry I've been air-drying
for a couple of years into 2 custom end-tables with turned legs. The
closest I've come to turning wood is watching that Yoder fella on PBS.
As of right now, it looks like table legs are going to be my primary
turning projects, at least right off the bat. Chair legs and spindle
work sound appealing as well. Pens and platters, not so much. I've
seen some segmented bowls and the like, and that looks interesting and
challenging, both from the flat and round perspectives. So, that's
what I feel like turning, having never turned anything G.

I feel like I've done my due diligence (thank you Google) but there are
some organic touchy-feely questions I'd like to ask:

1. Is the Jet 1442 a good lathe for the money? My reading revealed a
strong support for the Nova 3000 in that price range, but I could only
find the electronic speed control model for $2200 or so. Anyone have a
lead on the manual speed adjust? I assume it will be considerably less
expensive.

2. Is the Jet 1442 the last lathe I'm likely to ever need? I
understand that $5K on a Oneway is likely to be the last lathe I'll
ever need, but realistically? In my mind, the Jet 1442 appears to be
on the same par with a solid contractor's saw, but definitely no
Unisaur. However, lots of folks get by with contractor's saws, and
make beautiful stuff with them.

3. Am I missing some critical point in lathe comparisons? Jet, Delta,
Grizzly and Nova were all machines I looked at in the price range, and
the 1HP motor and price sold me on Jet over the others. I figured that
with a twisty headstock, the extra swing wasn't worth the money, but
the larger motor was. I also like the fact that, apparently, the Jet
can be put closer to the wall than the other models. Mass was also a
consideration.

4. I'm thinking of purchasing midrange turning tools--we'd all like
the Sorby stuff, but is a Sorby gouge 3 or 4 times better than an
off-brand? Any recommendations to that effect?

5. Am I missing anything? Am I now an informed consumer?

Thanks, y'all.

-Phil Crow

Hello Phil,

Sounds like you have been doing your homework. I've long been a
proponent of the Nova lathes and I am very fond of my NOVA DVR 3000;
however, if your primary use for the lathe will be spindle work, you
need length more than swing over the bed. I never cared for the 12"
swing Jet, but I think they did their homework and came up with a
pretty good lathe with the 1442. It should meet your requirements
unless you become hooked on turning large things and therefore need a
big lathe.

As far as tools go, Robert Sorby tools are excellent. I have several
that I purchased early on, like 15 years ago, that I'm still using
although they are not quite as long as they were at first. Crown tools
are also good as are Hamlet tools. For spindle work, I would recommend
the purchase of the following:

Roughing Gouge, as least 1" wide
1/2" spindle gouge
3/8" spindle gouge
1" skew chisel
3/16" parting tool

There are a number of other fine tools, but these will meet your
initial needs to turn spindles for those tables. If you decide to try
bowls, you will need to add a bowl gouge or two. I like to have a 3/8"
bowl gouge and a 1/2" or 5/8" bowl gouge. I personally like the swept
back wings on the bowl gouges and also on my spindle gouges. Actually,
I use the Ellsworth Style or Irish grind on all of my bowl gouges.

You will also need a grinder to sharpen your tools and I highly
recommend the use of sharpening jigs. I can sharpen tools freehand, but
I like the consistent shape of the grind using a jig such as the Oneway
Wolverine system or the Robert Sorby jig.

A pretty good book to start your education is Keith Rowley's
"Woodturning A Foundation Course". I also like Richard Raffan's books.
If possible join a woodturning club near you and get a little help with
some hands on guidance. Of course, I would be remiss if I didn't
recommend that you subscribe to my magazine, More Woodturning. There is
also a lot of good information at my website.

Welcome to the world of woodturning and the best of luck with your
turning.

Fred Holder
http://www.fholder.com


wrote:
Occasional lurker, first time poster here...

I have been offered a brand spanking new lathe in the $1000 range (by
my mother) in exchange for converting some cherry I've been air-drying
for a couple of years into 2 custom end-tables with turned legs. The
closest I've come to turning wood is watching that Yoder fella on PBS.
As of right now, it looks like table legs are going to be my primary
turning projects, at least right off the bat. Chair legs and spindle
work sound appealing as well. Pens and platters, not so much. I've
seen some segmented bowls and the like, and that looks interesting and
challenging, both from the flat and round perspectives. So, that's
what I feel like turning, having never turned anything G.

I feel like I've done my due diligence (thank you Google) but there are
some organic touchy-feely questions I'd like to ask:

1. Is the Jet 1442 a good lathe for the money? My reading revealed a
strong support for the Nova 3000 in that price range, but I could only
find the electronic speed control model for $2200 or so. Anyone have a
lead on the manual speed adjust? I assume it will be considerably less
expensive.

2. Is the Jet 1442 the last lathe I'm likely to ever need? I
understand that $5K on a Oneway is likely to be the last lathe I'll
ever need, but realistically? In my mind, the Jet 1442 appears to be
on the same par with a solid contractor's saw, but definitely no
Unisaur. However, lots of folks get by with contractor's saws, and
make beautiful stuff with them.

3. Am I missing some critical point in lathe comparisons? Jet, Delta,
Grizzly and Nova were all machines I looked at in the price range, and
the 1HP motor and price sold me on Jet over the others. I figured that
with a twisty headstock, the extra swing wasn't worth the money, but
the larger motor was. I also like the fact that, apparently, the Jet
can be put closer to the wall than the other models. Mass was also a
consideration.

4. I'm thinking of purchasing midrange turning tools--we'd all like
the Sorby stuff, but is a Sorby gouge 3 or 4 times better than an
off-brand? Any recommendations to that effect?

5. Am I missing anything? Am I now an informed consumer?

Thanks, y'all.

-Phil Crow

wrote in
ups.com:

Occasional lurker, first time poster here...

I have been offered a brand spanking new lathe in the $1000 range (by
my mother) in exchange for converting some cherry I've been air-drying
for a couple of years into 2 custom end-tables with turned legs. The
closest I've come to turning wood is watching that Yoder fella on PBS.
As of right now, it looks like table legs are going to be my primary
turning projects, at least right off the bat. Chair legs and spindle
work sound appealing as well. Pens and platters, not so much. I've
seen some segmented bowls and the like, and that looks interesting and
challenging, both from the flat and round perspectives. So, that's
what I feel like turning, having never turned anything G.

I feel like I've done my due diligence (thank you Google) but there
are some organic touchy-feely questions I'd like to ask:

1. Is the Jet 1442 a good lathe for the money? My reading revealed a
strong support for the Nova 3000 in that price range, but I could only
find the electronic speed control model for $2200 or so. Anyone have
a lead on the manual speed adjust? I assume it will be considerably
less expensive.

2. Is the Jet 1442 the last lathe I'm likely to ever need? I
understand that $5K on a Oneway is likely to be the last lathe I'll
ever need, but realistically? In my mind, the Jet 1442 appears to be
on the same par with a solid contractor's saw, but definitely no
Unisaur. However, lots of folks get by with contractor's saws, and
make beautiful stuff with them.

3. Am I missing some critical point in lathe comparisons? Jet,
Delta, Grizzly and Nova were all machines I looked at in the price
range, and the 1HP motor and price sold me on Jet over the others. I
figured that with a twisty headstock, the extra swing wasn't worth the
money, but the larger motor was. I also like the fact that,
apparently, the Jet can be put closer to the wall than the other
models. Mass was also a consideration.

4. I'm thinking of purchasing midrange turning tools--we'd all like
the Sorby stuff, but is a Sorby gouge 3 or 4 times better than an
off-brand? Any recommendations to that effect?

5. Am I missing anything? Am I now an informed consumer?

Thanks, y'all.

-Phil Crow



Well, I'm not really an expert, but am the first responder here this
evening...

I bought a Jet 1442, with a bed extension, about 16-18 months ago. It
works really well, better than I do, really, and I've been able to make
some nice bowls, tool handles, trinkets, etc on the machine. There is
adequate power for almost anything you can chuck up on the spindles, and
speed control is pretty easy and smooth. The owners' manual instructs
how to build a tray in the legs to weight the system down, and now mine
is highly unlikely to move much of anywhere, if the piece has some
semblence of balance.

Downside seems to be that I'd like to be able to turn big stock more
slowly than low gear allows. And swinging the headstock offcenter works
pretty well with light balanced pieces, but I'm a bit of a rookie with
getting stuff to ready to spin from that position.

But the next step up seems to be the Nova, or the Powermatic 3520b,
laying out alot more money than I'd like to for a beginner. Delta isn't
really perceived to be in the game with current new product. (That's a
local opinion, perhaps. YMMV.) Remember that you will need hundreds of
dollars worth of tools, chucks, classes, etc in your budget.

It is an addictive hobby segment, and many projects get to complete
fairly quickly. Have fun with it!

Patriarch

I have a Jet 1442 and it does every thing I need to do, from
pens to bowls to baseball bats. In my opinion it is the best
lathe in it's price range. It may not be the last lathe I,ll
ever need (a powermatic 3520 would be nice) but it depends
how far you want to go with your turning experience. This
review might be helpful;

http://www.rd.com/americanwoodworker.../TT_Lathes.pdf

The Jet 1442 is a decent lathe for the money. With that said, it probably
is not and should not be your last lathe unless you really are on your last
legs, so to speak. As a starter lathe, it should serve you well. It is
better suited for spindle work than bowls, platters and other stuff. If you
stick with spindle work, it very well could be your last lathe.

If however, you get bitten by the turning bug as most of us have, then you
are sure to find yourself hankering to turn bowls and larger diameter stuff.
If I were you, (and of course I'm not) I would try for a Jet 1642. Its a
bit more money, but for that money you get a heavier lathe, more HP and
electronic speed control. This really is a big step up from the 1442. This
really could be your last lathe. Good luck. Choose wisely.

Barry
wrote in message
ups.com...
Occasional lurker, first time poster here...

I have been offered a brand spanking new lathe in the $1000 range (by
my mother) in exchange for converting some cherry I've been air-drying
for a couple of years into 2 custom end-tables with turned legs. The
closest I've come to turning wood is watching that Yoder fella on PBS.
As of right now, it looks like table legs are going to be my primary
turning projects, at least right off the bat. Chair legs and spindle
work sound appealing as well. Pens and platters, not so much. I've
seen some segmented bowls and the like, and that looks interesting and
challenging, both from the flat and round perspectives. So, that's
what I feel like turning, having never turned anything G.

I feel like I've done my due diligence (thank you Google) but there are
some organic touchy-feely questions I'd like to ask:

1. Is the Jet 1442 a good lathe for the money? My reading revealed a
strong support for the Nova 3000 in that price range, but I could only
find the electronic speed control model for $2200 or so. Anyone have a
lead on the manual speed adjust? I assume it will be considerably less
expensive.

2. Is the Jet 1442 the last lathe I'm likely to ever need? I
understand that $5K on a Oneway is likely to be the last lathe I'll
ever need, but realistically? In my mind, the Jet 1442 appears to be
on the same par with a solid contractor's saw, but definitely no
Unisaur. However, lots of folks get by with contractor's saws, and
make beautiful stuff with them.

3. Am I missing some critical point in lathe comparisons? Jet, Delta,
Grizzly and Nova were all machines I looked at in the price range, and
the 1HP motor and price sold me on Jet over the others. I figured that
with a twisty headstock, the extra swing wasn't worth the money, but
the larger motor was. I also like the fact that, apparently, the Jet
can be put closer to the wall than the other models. Mass was also a
consideration.

4. I'm thinking of purchasing midrange turning tools--we'd all like
the Sorby stuff, but is a Sorby gouge 3 or 4 times better than an
off-brand? Any recommendations to that effect?

5. Am I missing anything? Am I now an informed consumer?

Thanks, y'all.

-Phil Crow

I'm strictly a newbie to the world of turning myself - just got into it a
little over a year ago. I don't feel qualified to comment on the lathe
(although, sometimes I dream about a large Jet - I have a 12" Craftsman - a
bit old, but runs good and couldn't beat the price - $00) But I did invest
in the Sorby bowl gouges and scrapers (I waited for a sale) and would
recommend getting those. It's like most tools - you pay more for quality (My
parting tool, on the other hand, is from a discontinued set that I picked up
for a song, somewhere.
I suggest that you take a class somewhere (Woodcraft stores usually
offer some) or find a local turning club and have someone help you get
started. It can be a fun hobby (obsession , but if the blank is a little
too off-balance, it can also be a little scary. Good Luck
Tom


wrote in message
ups.com...
Occasional lurker, first time poster here...

I have been offered a brand spanking new lathe in the $1000 range (by
my mother) in exchange for converting some cherry I've been air-drying
for a couple of years into 2 custom end-tables with turned legs. The
closest I've come to turning wood is watching that Yoder fella on PBS.
As of right now, it looks like table legs are going to be my primary
turning projects, at least right off the bat. Chair legs and spindle
work sound appealing as well. Pens and platters, not so much. I've
seen some segmented bowls and the like, and that looks interesting and
challenging, both from the flat and round perspectives. So, that's
what I feel like turning, having never turned anything G.

I feel like I've done my due diligence (thank you Google) but there are
some organic touchy-feely questions I'd like to ask:

1. Is the Jet 1442 a good lathe for the money? My reading revealed a
strong support for the Nova 3000 in that price range, but I could only
find the electronic speed control model for $2200 or so. Anyone have a
lead on the manual speed adjust? I assume it will be considerably less
expensive.

2. Is the Jet 1442 the last lathe I'm likely to ever need? I
understand that $5K on a Oneway is likely to be the last lathe I'll
ever need, but realistically? In my mind, the Jet 1442 appears to be
on the same par with a solid contractor's saw, but definitely no
Unisaur. However, lots of folks get by with contractor's saws, and
make beautiful stuff with them.

3. Am I missing some critical point in lathe comparisons? Jet, Delta,
Grizzly and Nova were all machines I looked at in the price range, and
the 1HP motor and price sold me on Jet over the others. I figured that
with a twisty headstock, the extra swing wasn't worth the money, but
the larger motor was. I also like the fact that, apparently, the Jet
can be put closer to the wall than the other models. Mass was also a
consideration.

4. I'm thinking of purchasing midrange turning tools--we'd all like
the Sorby stuff, but is a Sorby gouge 3 or 4 times better than an
off-brand? Any recommendations to that effect?

5. Am I missing anything? Am I now an informed consumer?

Thanks, y'all.

-Phil Crow

If you have been turning and don't have a variable speed lathe (from 0
to 3,000 rpm), and then get one that does have it, you wonder how you
got along without it. The reeves drive is better than a step pulley,
but not a whole lot. It is a very handy item. The 1442 should do just
about anything you want to do for now. As far as tools go, you do want
high speed steel. There are many off brands that work just fine.
Finding a local club is good also. It (Beaver State Woodturners) has
been the biggest learning experience of my 8 1/2 years of turning. You
may also be able to find some used tools for less than new prices.
robo hippy
wrote:
I'm strictly a newbie to the world of turning myself - just got into it a
little over a year ago. I don't feel qualified to comment on the lathe
(although, sometimes I dream about a large Jet - I have a 12" Craftsman - a
bit old, but runs good and couldn't beat the price - $00) But I did invest
in the Sorby bowl gouges and scrapers (I waited for a sale) and would
recommend getting those. It's like most tools - you pay more for quality (My
parting tool, on the other hand, is from a discontinued set that I picked up
for a song, somewhere.
I suggest that you take a class somewhere (Woodcraft stores usually
offer some) or find a local turning club and have someone help you get
started. It can be a fun hobby (obsession , but if the blank is a little
too off-balance, it can also be a little scary. Good Luck
Tom


wrote in message
ups.com...
Occasional lurker, first time poster here...

I have been offered a brand spanking new lathe in the $1000 range (by
my mother) in exchange for converting some cherry I've been air-drying
for a couple of years into 2 custom end-tables with turned legs. The
closest I've come to turning wood is watching that Yoder fella on PBS.
As of right now, it looks like table legs are going to be my primary
turning projects, at least right off the bat. Chair legs and spindle
work sound appealing as well. Pens and platters, not so much. I've
seen some segmented bowls and the like, and that looks interesting and
challenging, both from the flat and round perspectives. So, that's
what I feel like turning, having never turned anything G.

I feel like I've done my due diligence (thank you Google) but there are
some organic touchy-feely questions I'd like to ask:

1. Is the Jet 1442 a good lathe for the money? My reading revealed a
strong support for the Nova 3000 in that price range, but I could only
find the electronic speed control model for $2200 or so. Anyone have a
lead on the manual speed adjust? I assume it will be considerably less
expensive.

2. Is the Jet 1442 the last lathe I'm likely to ever need? I
understand that $5K on a Oneway is likely to be the last lathe I'll
ever need, but realistically? In my mind, the Jet 1442 appears to be
on the same par with a solid contractor's saw, but definitely no
Unisaur. However, lots of folks get by with contractor's saws, and
make beautiful stuff with them.

3. Am I missing some critical point in lathe comparisons? Jet, Delta,
Grizzly and Nova were all machines I looked at in the price range, and
the 1HP motor and price sold me on Jet over the others. I figured that
with a twisty headstock, the extra swing wasn't worth the money, but
the larger motor was. I also like the fact that, apparently, the Jet
can be put closer to the wall than the other models. Mass was also a
consideration.

4. I'm thinking of purchasing midrange turning tools--we'd all like
the Sorby stuff, but is a Sorby gouge 3 or 4 times better than an
off-brand? Any recommendations to that effect?

5. Am I missing anything? Am I now an informed consumer?

Thanks, y'all.

-Phil Crow

If you have been turning and don't have a variable speed lathe (from 0
to 3,000 rpm), and then get one that does have it, you wonder how you
got along without it. The reeves drive is better than a step pulley,
but not a whole lot. It is a very handy item. The 1442 should do just
about anything you want to do for now. As far as tools go, you do want
high speed steel. There are many off brands that work just fine.
Finding a local club is good also. It (Beaver State Woodturners) has
been the biggest learning experience of my 8 1/2 years of turning. You
may also be able to find some used tools for less than new prices.
robo hippy
wrote:
I'm strictly a newbie to the world of turning myself - just got into it a
little over a year ago. I don't feel qualified to comment on the lathe
(although, sometimes I dream about a large Jet - I have a 12" Craftsman - a
bit old, but runs good and couldn't beat the price - $00) But I did invest
in the Sorby bowl gouges and scrapers (I waited for a sale) and would
recommend getting those. It's like most tools - you pay more for quality (My
parting tool, on the other hand, is from a discontinued set that I picked up
for a song, somewhere.
I suggest that you take a class somewhere (Woodcraft stores usually
offer some) or find a local turning club and have someone help you get
started. It can be a fun hobby (obsession , but if the blank is a little
too off-balance, it can also be a little scary. Good Luck
Tom


wrote in message
ups.com...
Occasional lurker, first time poster here...

I have been offered a brand spanking new lathe in the $1000 range (by
my mother) in exchange for converting some cherry I've been air-drying
for a couple of years into 2 custom end-tables with turned legs. The
closest I've come to turning wood is watching that Yoder fella on PBS.
As of right now, it looks like table legs are going to be my primary
turning projects, at least right off the bat. Chair legs and spindle
work sound appealing as well. Pens and platters, not so much. I've
seen some segmented bowls and the like, and that looks interesting and
challenging, both from the flat and round perspectives. So, that's
what I feel like turning, having never turned anything G.

I feel like I've done my due diligence (thank you Google) but there are
some organic touchy-feely questions I'd like to ask:

1. Is the Jet 1442 a good lathe for the money? My reading revealed a
strong support for the Nova 3000 in that price range, but I could only
find the electronic speed control model for $2200 or so. Anyone have a
lead on the manual speed adjust? I assume it will be considerably less
expensive.

2. Is the Jet 1442 the last lathe I'm likely to ever need? I
understand that $5K on a Oneway is likely to be the last lathe I'll
ever need, but realistically? In my mind, the Jet 1442 appears to be
on the same par with a solid contractor's saw, but definitely no
Unisaur. However, lots of folks get by with contractor's saws, and
make beautiful stuff with them.

3. Am I missing some critical point in lathe comparisons? Jet, Delta,
Grizzly and Nova were all machines I looked at in the price range, and
the 1HP motor and price sold me on Jet over the others. I figured that
with a twisty headstock, the extra swing wasn't worth the money, but
the larger motor was. I also like the fact that, apparently, the Jet
can be put closer to the wall than the other models. Mass was also a
consideration.

4. I'm thinking of purchasing midrange turning tools--we'd all like
the Sorby stuff, but is a Sorby gouge 3 or 4 times better than an
off-brand? Any recommendations to that effect?

5. Am I missing anything? Am I now an informed consumer?

Thanks, y'all.

-Phil Crow

On 23 Aug 2006 17:56:25 -0700, wrote:

I apparently got lucky when I bought my 1442 a little over a year ago.. I was
going to buy the less expensive Delta but after reading all the buyers reviews,
my wife suggested that I spend the extra money and get the Jet...
I wanted the Jet mainly because I love my Jet mini, but the reviews on the Jet
were as good as the ones on the Delta were bad..

I guess it was a good choice because my brother liked my lathe and ordered one
from Amazon... and got it 3 months later!!
I guess it was a sleeper at first and then everyone decided that it was a great
lathe for the price, because they're hard to get and I guess the factory in
chi-wan is fighting to keep up with demand..

As for the last lathe, that's like the last car, truck, boat, etc.. *g*

For my use, which I guess is hobby-proffessional or something, it does
everything I want to do and the reeves type drive is ok for now... I'd like
digital speed and all, but I'd also like a Ferrari... *g*

Every once in a while, I wonder if it's fun to turn something like a 20" bowl,
so I might add or build a bowl lathe someday, but the 1442 will be my last
"general purpose" lathe until it dies or I win the lotto and get a Oneway...

I have a few "quality" tools, but mostly use "less expensive but not cheap"
chisels... Harbor Freight has a nice set for $60 but it's on sale several times
a year at $30 to $40 and a real value at that price..
A lot of my chisels are from Penn State Industries, their "Benjamin's Best"
line... nice tools with a lot of steel for an affordable price..

http://www.pennstateind.com/store/lcsixw.html

I think you're very informed, Phil...
I can't speak for other lathes, but I'd recommend the jet mini (without VS) and
the Jet 1442 (with VS) in a heartbeat...

OH! I'd suggest that if you get the 1442, get the whole package... VS and
legs.... I paid about $900 for mine...




Occasional lurker, first time poster here...

I have been offered a brand spanking new lathe in the $1000 range (by
my mother) in exchange for converting some cherry I've been air-drying
for a couple of years into 2 custom end-tables with turned legs. The
closest I've come to turning wood is watching that Yoder fella on PBS.
As of right now, it looks like table legs are going to be my primary
turning projects, at least right off the bat. Chair legs and spindle
work sound appealing as well. Pens and platters, not so much. I've
seen some segmented bowls and the like, and that looks interesting and
challenging, both from the flat and round perspectives. So, that's
what I feel like turning, having never turned anything G.

I feel like I've done my due diligence (thank you Google) but there are
some organic touchy-feely questions I'd like to ask:

1. Is the Jet 1442 a good lathe for the money? My reading revealed a
strong support for the Nova 3000 in that price range, but I could only
find the electronic speed control model for $2200 or so. Anyone have a
lead on the manual speed adjust? I assume it will be considerably less
expensive.

2. Is the Jet 1442 the last lathe I'm likely to ever need? I
understand that $5K on a Oneway is likely to be the last lathe I'll
ever need, but realistically? In my mind, the Jet 1442 appears to be
on the same par with a solid contractor's saw, but definitely no
Unisaur. However, lots of folks get by with contractor's saws, and
make beautiful stuff with them.

3. Am I missing some critical point in lathe comparisons? Jet, Delta,
Grizzly and Nova were all machines I looked at in the price range, and
the 1HP motor and price sold me on Jet over the others. I figured that
with a twisty headstock, the extra swing wasn't worth the money, but
the larger motor was. I also like the fact that, apparently, the Jet
can be put closer to the wall than the other models. Mass was also a
consideration.

4. I'm thinking of purchasing midrange turning tools--we'd all like
the Sorby stuff, but is a Sorby gouge 3 or 4 times better than an
off-brand? Any recommendations to that effect?

5. Am I missing anything? Am I now an informed consumer?

Thanks, y'all.

-Phil Crow

Mac

https://home.comcast.net/~mac.davis
https://home.comcast.net/~mac.davis/wood_stuff.htm

For the price, the 1442 is a great lathe.

In my opinion, the biggest issue with the 1442 is the relatively high low
end speed. The first time you put that 10"+ diameter chunk of wood that is
not perfectly balanced on there you will wish for slower bottom end. You
can work around the problem, but there really is no good substitute for a
lower bottom end.

I personally don't like the orientation / location of the motor. It
ocassionally gets in the way and I have to wonder how it will hold up to a
constant barrage of chips and dust. I've been running mine daily for over a
year and I haven't had any problems. Still, I wonder............

My opinon on tools is to buy fewer better quality tools. Better steel means
less frequent sharpening.

Don't overlook a good sharpening setup.

MH

In article . com,
wrote:

Hi Phil, good to see you over here on the right side of woodworking ...
:-) You've gotten a boatload of good advice so far, but that never stops
me from adding my 1 cent's worth...

Many of us speak from our own personal journey with turning about how
our initial interests and then-current needs morphed into what we're
interested in today. A common story (mine, also) is that we wanted to
turn knobs or handles or whatnot for our "flat" work and just wanted a
basic lathe to get that done. Before long we began turning bowls,
platters, mirrors, vases; we began looking at yard trees and electric
company line-trimming crew's efforts with interest; we spot a piece of
firewood or driftwood and wondered how it would look as a turning; a
chain saw's echo through the neighborhood draws us like a moth to flame;
and somewhere along the way, we began looking for larger lathes. Quite a
few of us started out on a10" "mini" or 12" "midi" then later acquired a
16" or larger to accommodate our creative wonderings. With that all too
frequent scenario in mind, I offer my comments.

2. Is the Jet 1442 the last lathe I'm likely to ever need? I
understand that $5K on a Oneway is likely to be the last lathe I'll
ever need, but realistically? In my mind, the Jet 1442 appears to be
on the same par with a solid contractor's saw, but definitely no
Unisaur. However, lots of folks get by with contractor's saws, and
make beautiful stuff with them.

I really like the 1642's electronic variable speed over the 1442's
Reeves drive. Plus it weighs over 2x as much, which in turning is never
a bad thing. The 2" extra swing may or may not be worth it. Along
similar lines, I would really push you to the 1442 over the 1236, but
not the 1236 over the 1014 "mini". If your perceived needs and budget
focus on the 1442, I don't think you can go wrong the that lathe. You
can accomplish your spindle work with ease and a solid tool, plus make
quite a few nice cross-axis (e.g. - bowls) just shy of 14".

3. Am I missing some critical point in lathe comparisons? Jet, Delta,
Grizzly and Nova were all machines I looked at in the price range, and
the 1HP motor and price sold me on Jet over the others. I figured that
with a twisty headstock, the extra swing wasn't worth the money, but
the larger motor was. I also like the fact that, apparently, the Jet
can be put closer to the wall than the other models. Mass was also a
consideration.

I'd agree that the Jet stands above the others - in quality, service and
features (I used to be very pro-Delta, but no longer). I believe the
headstock also slides to the other end of the bed for somewhat larger
then 14" pieces, but then the excessively high, low speed is a safety
factor. With some accessories for bowl turning, I understand the motor
can get in the way of mounting the wood.

4. I'm thinking of purchasing midrange turning tools--we'd all like
the Sorby stuff, but is a Sorby gouge 3 or 4 times better than an
off-brand? Any recommendations to that effect?

My personal opinion is that Sorby is over-priced. They have store
saturation and market presence, but that doesn't guarantee a superior
tool. I have a number of Sorby tools but as time passes and steel is
ground away, I've begun looking at Crown, Ashley Isles, Henry Taylor and
P&N brands. Fred Holder gave you very good advice on his recommended
tool selection. I aim for the HSS, but don't see too much need for the
"exotic" M-2 or M-4 flavors - they're expensive and I'm not sold on
their cut quality or longevity for the money. I have a couple Crown
Powdered Metal tools and they're attractive from a price point, but I
believe the edge is more serrated than a regular HSS tool. I'm now on
the lookout for some old-fashioned carbon steel spindle and bowl gouges
(Ashley Isles is one manufacturer) as I'm of the opinion they leave a
finer cut. For a new turner though, I'd stay with the HSS until you
develop the tool and grinder control.

5. Am I missing anything? Am I now an informed consumer?

I'm also with the others that a sharpening jig is the way to go on a
steady grinder with good wheels. Don't forget the face shield and some
sort dust collection for the sanding dust.

--
Owen Lowe

Northwest Woodturners
Pacific Northwest Woodturning Guild
___
Tips fer Turnin': Place a sign, easily seen as you switch on your lathe, warning you to remove any and all rings from your fingers. Called degloving, extended hardware can grab your ring and rip it off your finger. A pic for the strong of stomach: www.itim.nsw.gov.au/go/objectid/2A3AC703-1321-1C29-70B067DC88E16BFC/index.cfm

Besides, rings can easily mar the surface of a turning as you check for finished smoothness.