Let me start by saying it`s a slippery slope........

Ok, I`ve got a Jet mini lathe. Step pulley model. Snagged it when Amazon had
`em on sale for 199.99

Now the local Lowes has one of the Delta`s left for the 169 (plus don't
forget Delta turning tool or bed extension promotion).

Is the Delta that much better of a tool to consider buying one to replace
the Jet ?
Figured I could sell the Jet and recoup some of the cost. But don`t want to
waste money on redundant tooling if there isn't much to be gained.

Now I don`t do a lot of turning and I do have a Powermatic 90 for big stuff.
But I do like taking the mini/midi on vacation and using it away from the
shop.

Thanks to all.

On Sun, 22 Aug 2004 16:55:23 -0400, "JPEracing"
wrote:

Let me start by saying it`s a slippery slope........

Ok, I`ve got a Jet mini lathe. Step pulley model. Snagged it when Amazon had
`em on sale for 199.99

Now the local Lowes has one of the Delta`s left for the 169 (plus don't
forget Delta turning tool or bed extension promotion).

Is the Delta that much better of a tool to consider buying one to replace
the Jet ?
Figured I could sell the Jet and recoup some of the cost. But don`t want to
waste money on redundant tooling if there isn't much to be gained.

Now I don`t do a lot of turning and I do have a Powermatic 90 for big stuff.
But I do like taking the mini/midi on vacation and using it away from the
shop.

Thanks to all.

I have the Midi and used the jet in a pen turning class. I believe
them to be nearly the same. I liked the switch position on the Delta
a little better. When I purchased, Woodcraft had a Delta sale and
included the extension bed so I bought it. My personal advice would
be to keep the Jet and keep turning. If you want another small lathe
then pick up the Delta.

Rick
Albuquerque, NM

I have taught at my local Woodcraft on both lathes. The Jet is far and away
my preference. It held up much better to the abuse in a classroom also.

--
Rusty Myers
Austin, TX

"JPEracing" wrote in message
...
Let me start by saying it`s a slippery slope........

Ok, I`ve got a Jet mini lathe. Step pulley model. Snagged it when Amazon
had
`em on sale for 199.99

Now the local Lowes has one of the Delta`s left for the 169 (plus don't
forget Delta turning tool or bed extension promotion).

Is the Delta that much better of a tool to consider buying one to replace
the Jet ?
Figured I could sell the Jet and recoup some of the cost. But don`t want
to
waste money on redundant tooling if there isn't much to be gained.

Now I don`t do a lot of turning and I do have a Powermatic 90 for big
stuff.
But I do like taking the mini/midi on vacation and using it away from the
shop.

Thanks to all.

Yeah, the Delta is a real pos.

Now, which Lowes is this?? :-)

Wayne


"JPEracing" wrote in message
...
Let me start by saying it`s a slippery slope........

Ok, I`ve got a Jet mini lathe. Step pulley model. Snagged it when Amazon
had
`em on sale for 199.99

Now the local Lowes has one of the Delta`s left for the 169 (plus don't
forget Delta turning tool or bed extension promotion).

Is the Delta that much better of a tool to consider buying one to replace
the Jet ?
Figured I could sell the Jet and recoup some of the cost. But don`t want
to
waste money on redundant tooling if there isn't much to be gained.

Now I don`t do a lot of turning and I do have a Powermatic 90 for big
stuff.
But I do like taking the mini/midi on vacation and using it away from the
shop.

Thanks to all.

Yeah, the Delta is a real pos.

This is absolutely not true! The Jet may be better, slightly better, than
the Delta but the Delta is certainly not a POS.

I've had mine for over two years, use it almost every day and have had
absolutely no trouble with it. Maybe the plastic handles break but mine
haven't. Of course if you set them up like lug nuts on your car wheels,
expect some breakage. If I were a betting man, I'd bet that both of them are
made in the same factory. Possibly different specs but very, very similar.

If I were you I'd keep the Jet because even if you get a really great deal
on the Delta, you will lose money selling the Jet. Seems to be a no brainer
for me.

Harry

you would not be gaining anything by selling the jet and
buying the Delta. At best the delta is almost as good as the
jet. I turn and teach on the jet and have turned on the
delta quite a bit. I also have help0 many customers to fix
there deltas when the bring them back to the store. and we
rarely have to do anything like that on the jet. I curently
have 5 jet leathes in the class room that are 4 years old
with out a single repair. One thing to concider is the
plastic handles on deltas, they break all the time. Delta is
supposed to be changing to the metal handles in the near
future. delta did have a problem with off center shafts in
the head stock for a shor time. We had to exchange all of
them for about 6 months to a year. We had one that the only
1x8tpi face plate that would go on the lathe was the one
that came with it. Nothing else would fit.
Let me start by saying it`s a slippery slope........

Ok, I`ve got a Jet mini lathe. Step pulley model. Snagged
it when Amazon had `em on sale for 199.99

Now the local Lowes has one of the Delta`s left for the
169 (plus don't forget Delta turning tool or bed extension
promotion).

Is the Delta that much better of a tool to consider buying
one to replace the Jet ?
Figured I could sell the Jet and recoup some of the cost.
But don`t want to waste money on redundant tooling if
there isn't much to be gained.

Now I don`t do a lot of turning and I do have a Powermatic
90 for big stuff. But I do like taking the mini/midi on
vacation and using it away from the shop.

Thanks to all.

Sometimes a particular product just falls into place and for a while,
all things considered, it is ahead of its class. IMHO, the BMW 2002,
the Pfluger Supreme reel, the Glaser gouge.... and the Jet mini all
qualified. Arch

Fortiter,


http://community.webtv.net/almcc/MacsMusings

No. IMO the Jet is superior to the Delta in terms of quality. That's just
my impression based on the fact(?) that I believe metal is superior to
plastic. I may not be right either.

Barry


"JPEracing" wrote in message
...
Let me start by saying it`s a slippery slope........

Ok, I`ve got a Jet mini lathe. Step pulley model. Snagged it when Amazon
had
`em on sale for 199.99

Now the local Lowes has one of the Delta`s left for the 169 (plus don't
forget Delta turning tool or bed extension promotion).

Is the Delta that much better of a tool to consider buying one to replace
the Jet ?
Figured I could sell the Jet and recoup some of the cost. But don`t want
to
waste money on redundant tooling if there isn't much to be gained.

Now I don`t do a lot of turning and I do have a Powermatic 90 for big
stuff.
But I do like taking the mini/midi on vacation and using it away from the
shop.

Thanks to all.

Thanks guys. Jet is the way to go.
"Barry N. Turner" wrote in message
.. .
No. IMO the Jet is superior to the Delta in terms of quality. That's
just
my impression based on the fact(?) that I believe metal is superior to
plastic. I may not be right either.

Barry


"JPEracing" wrote in message
...
Let me start by saying it`s a slippery slope........

Ok, I`ve got a Jet mini lathe. Step pulley model. Snagged it when Amazon
had
`em on sale for 199.99

Now the local Lowes has one of the Delta`s left for the 169 (plus don't
forget Delta turning tool or bed extension promotion).

Is the Delta that much better of a tool to consider buying one to
replace
the Jet ?
Figured I could sell the Jet and recoup some of the cost. But don`t want
to
waste money on redundant tooling if there isn't much to be gained.

Now I don`t do a lot of turning and I do have a Powermatic 90 for big
stuff.
But I do like taking the mini/midi on vacation and using it away from
the
shop.

Thanks to all.

whoa whoa whoa. I was just kidding trying to get the OP to tell me where
the Lowes was so I could go buy the Delta. (Hence the smiley face).

Wayne


"Harry B. Pye" wrote in message
groups.com...
Yeah, the Delta is a real pos.

This is absolutely not true! The Jet may be better, slightly better, than
the Delta but the Delta is certainly not a POS.

I've had mine for over two years, use it almost every day and have had
absolutely no trouble with it. Maybe the plastic handles break but mine
haven't. Of course if you set them up like lug nuts on your car wheels,
expect some breakage. If I were a betting man, I'd bet that both of them
are
made in the same factory. Possibly different specs but very, very similar.

If I were you I'd keep the Jet because even if you get a really great deal
on the Delta, you will lose money selling the Jet. Seems to be a no
brainer
for me.

Harry

Wayne,

whoa whoa whoa. I was just kidding trying to get the OP to tell me where
the Lowes was so I could go buy the Delta. (Hence the smiley face).

Sorry, I missed the smiley face. Hope you got a lathe, either one should
make you happy. Actually I'd rather have a big Oneway, Stubby or Poolewood
but I don't have the space or money!

Harry

Is the Delta that much better of a tool to consider buying one to replace
the Jet ? BRBR

The Jet is the better machine. The Delta motor does not have the torque of the
Jet. I've turned on both and it's much easier to stall the Delta, and when you
do the motor is slow to ramp back up again. If you stall the Jet it starts
right back up to speed immediately. If you want to upgrade the Jet, get the Jet
Mini Variable Speed from Amazon.com for $174.99 (with the $25 online coupon)
and free shipping. Just did, and it's better than the original mini. The motor
is SUPER quiet and runs cooler than the original.
-Jim Gott-
San Jose, CA

Sorry, that should have been $274.99, not $174.99 for the Jet Mini VS at
Amazon.
-Jim Gott-
San Jose, CA

Barry, Metal is not always superior to plastic. depends on the metal AND
the plastic! Also I've had my delta about as long as youv'e had you jet.
I've had no problems with delta's plastic knobs yet! O BTW Hi!
Keepem turnin!
Paul

Barry N. Turner wrote:
No. IMO the Jet is superior to the Delta in terms of quality. That's just
my impression based on the fact(?) that I believe metal is superior to
plastic. I may not be right either.

Barry


"JPEracing" wrote in message
...

Let me start by saying it`s a slippery slope........

Ok, I`ve got a Jet mini lathe. Step pulley model. Snagged it when Amazon

had

`em on sale for 199.99

Now the local Lowes has one of the Delta`s left for the 169 (plus don't
forget Delta turning tool or bed extension promotion).

Is the Delta that much better of a tool to consider buying one to replace
the Jet ?
Figured I could sell the Jet and recoup some of the cost. But don`t want

to

waste money on redundant tooling if there isn't much to be gained.

Now I don`t do a lot of turning and I do have a Powermatic 90 for big

stuff.

But I do like taking the mini/midi on vacation and using it away from the
shop.

Thanks to all.

I was a "Delta person" for years and have a fair mumber of their
machines in my shop. Then I had a design problem with a new jointer I
had just purchased. After many telephone calls and letters, they sent
two men in a truck to take it away and give me a full refund check. One
of the men remarked that they were taking all of this model back. I
replaced it with a Jet and have had no problems.

Rumor has it that that some of the engineers left Delta and formed the
Jet Company or at least joined them. Have you ever noticed the
similarity beween Delta and Jet designs?

I recently bought a Jet Model 1236 lathe and have no complaints. Yes,
the detent pin in the speed control handle does stick once in a while
but a little jiggle and it pops into place.

The only fly in the ointment is that I believe that Jet has joined a
conglomerate and I wonder what will be the result of that.

Peace ~ Sir Edgar
=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F 8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=
=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8

NoOne N Particular wrote:

Yeah, the Delta is a real pos.

Now, which Lowes is this?? :-)

Every Lowes that hasn't sold out their stock--they're discontinuing either
Delta as a supplier or a significant part of the Delta product line and
they have it all marked way down.

I'd planned on getting into turning "someday" and when I saw that Delta for
$169 I couldn't pass it up.

Wayne


"JPEracing" wrote in message
...
Let me start by saying it`s a slippery slope........

Ok, I`ve got a Jet mini lathe. Step pulley model. Snagged it when Amazon
had
`em on sale for 199.99

Now the local Lowes has one of the Delta`s left for the 169 (plus don't
forget Delta turning tool or bed extension promotion).

Is the Delta that much better of a tool to consider buying one to replace
the Jet ?
Figured I could sell the Jet and recoup some of the cost. But don`t want
to
waste money on redundant tooling if there isn't much to be gained.

Now I don`t do a lot of turning and I do have a Powermatic 90 for big
stuff.
But I do like taking the mini/midi on vacation and using it away from the
shop.

Thanks to all.



--
--John
Reply to jclarke at ae tee tee global dot net
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)

I bought the delta when it first appeared. Used it for two years and found it
to be a piece of crap. Bought the jet when it went to 199.

ALYSONSDAD wrote:

I bought the delta when it first appeared. Used it for two years and
found it
to be a piece of crap. Bought the jet when it went to 199.

I'm curious--what deficiencies did you find in it? I just picked one up on
the Lowes clearance and am wondering what to look out for.

--
--John
Reply to jclarke at ae tee tee global dot net
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)