Jet 1221vs Wood Lathe Review to Bowl Turning (2022)

Last Update On: February 24, 2022 // Author:

Turning wood is one of the most interesting professions that also pays well. If you are into this, the first and most important thing you will require is a lathe machine. Due to the high demands, there are many models of lathe machines available from different manufacturers. This post will provide you an in-depth Jet 1221vs Wood Lathe Reviews, one of the top-rated amongst the competition currently.

The Jet 1221vs Wood Lathe is robust and reliable, and it is suitable for a variety of works. It comes with a well-thought design to help you with medium to advanced woodturning works. If you are interested in investing in a wood lathe, then you should consider the Jet 1221vs. Below, we will give you a brief review and breakdown of the product to let you know about its performance and features.

Jet 1221vs Wood Lathe Reviews

Jet Tools is one of the premium manufacturers of various home improvement tools and hardware. The Jet 1221vs Wood Lathe is one of the best-selling products from the manufacturer. It comes with a well-engineered design to ensure efficient performance and easy working. Go through the jet jwl-1221vs woodturning lathe reviews to know more about the device.

Jet 1221vs Wood Lathe Reviews

Powerful Motor

The Jet 1221vs Wood Lathe arrives with a powerful one horsepower motor that can produce 60 RPM to 3600 RPM variable speed. You can operate the motor in regular 115v electric outlets. Besides, it comes with three pulley settings to adjust the headstock spindle. Different settings offer a specific torque and rotation speed. The variable torque enables you to work with different sizes and shapes of the woods easily.

Easy Speed Control

As we mentioned earlier, you can operate the wood lathe at various speeds. There is a speed control knob that enables you to manage the speed easily. Besides, there are high, low, and medium pulley configurations to control the torque and headstock speed. One of the impressive additions to the machine is the digital RPM meter. You can easily check the operating speed and change the speed specifically by using the knob.

Forward and Reverse OperationJet 1221vs Wood Lathe Reviews

The Jet 1221vs Wood Lathe’s motor can be operated both forward and reverse. You can forward to backward transition through the sliding option. The slider to change the operation is well-placed near the RPM meter for a convenient and smooth transition. You will find the reverse option very useful in some specific projects.

Patented Belt System

One of the most impressive wood lathe features is its patented (patent pending) belt system. It has a ratchet-style belt system that lets you move to different speeds just by changing the tension belt position. There are three ranges of speed which you can easily switch between through the belt. The function comes in handy to get a smoother finish of the projects.

Cast Iron Bed

The Jet 1221vs Wood Lathe comes with a 100% cast iron bed to further enhance the performance. The cast iron bed may increase the weight a bit, but it ensures better stability and reduced vibration. By doing so, it makes your woodturning works more accurate and precise. Such a design of the part also makes the operation of the machine quiet.

Additional Accessories

The Jet 1221vs machine brings you a wide variety of accessories and attachments for a convenient user experience. The package includes two tool rests, two tool racks, knock out bar, live tailstock center, etc. You will also get a headstock and hex wrench for assembling and disassembling the workpieces. There are several other attachments available to purchase separately to expand the operation. We recommend you add a Lathe Chuck for an improvised performance.

Special Specification:

  • Brand:  Jet Tools
  • Dimension: 33.6 x 11 x 35.8 inches
  • Weight: 121 pounds
  • Power: 1 Horsepower
  • Speed:  60 to 3600 RPM
  • Voltage: 115v
  • Handle Number: 6
  • Warranty: 5 years

For Whom Is This Product Designed?

The jet 1221vs Wood Lathe is designed to ensure ease of use, convenience, and versatility. It can be a suitable choice for any beginner hobbyist or professional woodturner. The moderately compact size of the machine makes it perfect for both home and workshops.

What we liked
  • Nicely optimized for the small to medium woodturning works.
  • Easy speed control to work on the optimum speed for different projects.
  • Adjustable pulleys settings to fit the machine based on your requirements.
  • Cast iron bed to lower noise and ensure stability by reducing vibration.
  • Solid construction to ensure longevity; comes with five years warranty.
  • Digital RPM gauge to check the operational speed quickly.
  • Comes with a large number of additional accessories for versatile use.
What could be better
  • The weight of the lathe is low, which may cause vibration sometimes.
  • It would be better if the handwheels were chrome plated.

How to Assembly and Use Jet 1221vs Wood Lathe

Here is how to install and use the Jet 1221vs Wood Lathe:

How to Assembly and Use Jet 1221vs Wood Lathe

  • Begin with installing the two levelers in the legs. You may adjust the height to fit them in the right position. Use the hex nut to secure the levelers.
  • Then attach the crossbar on the bottom of the legs using the washers and screws. Make sure that you are not fully tightening them.
  • Now tighten the tool tray in the right place by using the washer, nuts, and screws. Don’t tight it entirely.
  • Now use screws, nuts, and washers to mount a bracket on every leg. Make sure that the gussets are forward-facing to each
  • Now place the lathe on the bracket and secure it with the screws and washers. Tighten all the screws, crossbar, tool tray, and brackets.

The Jet 1221vs Wood Lathe comes with a well-described user manual. You can use it to employ and adjust the machine for a variety of works.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below, we will answer some of the most asked questions about the Jet 1221vs Wood Lathe machine:

Does this lathe have a reversing feature like the Delta midi?

Yes, the Jet 1221vs Wood Lathe comes with a reversing feature. It has a sliding button that enables you to easily switch between forward and reverse operation based on your project.

What is the horsepower?

The horsepower of the Jet lathe machine is one horsepower. The voltage rating is 115v, and you can power it from any standard electrical outlet. It can produce 60 to 3600 RPM speed.

How many inches will the tailstock quill travel?

The tailstock quill travel of the wood lathe machine is 2.5 inches on average. However, the max extension can vary around 2 to 3/8 inches.

Does the stand come with it?

The package doesn’t include the stand, but you can buy them separately. The stand should be available in big hardware stores and online stores.

Final Thought

A wood lathe machine is a vast investment, and you will not want to go wrong with it. The Jet 1221vs Wood Lathe machine is perfect in every way, and it can suit the demand of both professional and hobbyist woodturners. It is powerful, versatile, and built with a thought of durability. It is also suitable for various types of projects with controllable speed and pulley configuration. If you want to purchase a reliable and efficient Wood Lathe, you cannot go wrong by choosing the Jet 1221vs Wood Lathe.

Author - Lee Morris

Hi, I am Lee Morris, I have run a power tools business for woodworking. Where I sell mostly wood router, compact router, trim router, plunge router, wood lathe chuck, and many other power tools for woodworking.

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