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Jet 1642 lathe opinions sought - good/bad/?
- Thread starter Gil Blais
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- jet 1642 lathe
nice lathe, you can do a lot with it, wish it had a bigger footprint for outboard turning only thing if i was wishing
I really like my 1642 - affordabkle with lots of good features
Hi Gil!
I have owned a Jet 1642 (2 HP/220V version) for at least 8 or 9 years and have turned a couple hundred pieces on it as my main lathe, and in general I have been VERY satisfied with its performance. I like the sliding headstock feature, variable speed, and that it can be used for both bowl/vessel and spindle turning. I am occasionally asked to turn architectural pieces (balusters, newel posts, etc.) or replacement chair parts and having a longbed lathe is very handy. I think the Jet 1642 is still one of the best values for a 42" lathe if you can't financially get to a Powermatic 3520B level - pretty good bang for the buck as far as turning features go.
I recently bought a new Robust American Beauty lathe (standard size; with 3 HP motor & Tilt-away) and still decided to hang-on to the Jet 1642 so I can retain the ability to turn longer spindles, as well as use many of the tools and accessories I acquired for the 1642 over the last 5-7 years - things like a Jamieson captured bar hollowing system, vacuum adapter & system, Advanced Lathe Tools Steady, various rests, custom built platforms for on-lathe fluting, etc. Even though I have already had a few offers to buy it, I will be keeping the 1642 so I could also have another mid-sized lathe for teaching that I could also use for longer spindles (...so I now own 3 Jet lathes: a 1014 mini, a 1220 midi, and the 1642-2HP) along with the American Beauty. I like the Jet 1642 a lot, and have tweaked it to the point where it is a very smooth operating machine.
The 1642 has a very good track record of MANY users, and as far as I know it has a fairly good history of few problems, plus a readily available parts inventory from Walter Meier. I don't think you will be disappointed - you might consider it the Powermatic 3520B's less expensive cousin with slightly smaller capacity, but many of the same features.
If you have specific questions about the 1642, just let me know.
Rob Wallace
Hi Gil!
I have owned a Jet 1642 (2 HP/220V version) for at least 8 or 9 years and have turned a couple hundred pieces on it as my main lathe, and in general I have been VERY satisfied with its performance. I like the sliding headstock feature, variable speed, and that it can be used for both bowl/vessel and spindle turning. I am occasionally asked to turn architectural pieces (balusters, newel posts, etc.) or replacement chair parts and having a longbed lathe is very handy. I think the Jet 1642 is still one of the best values for a 42" lathe if you can't financially get to a Powermatic 3520B level - pretty good bang for the buck as far as turning features go.
I recently bought a new Robust American Beauty lathe (standard size; with 3 HP motor & Tilt-away) and still decided to hang-on to the Jet 1642 so I can retain the ability to turn longer spindles, as well as use many of the tools and accessories I acquired for the 1642 over the last 5-7 years - things like a Jamieson captured bar hollowing system, vacuum adapter & system, Advanced Lathe Tools Steady, various rests, custom built platforms for on-lathe fluting, etc. Even though I have already had a few offers to buy it, I will be keeping the 1642 so I could also have another mid-sized lathe for teaching that I could also use for longer spindles (...so I now own 3 Jet lathes: a 1014 mini, a 1220 midi, and the 1642-2HP) along with the American Beauty. I like the Jet 1642 a lot, and have tweaked it to the point where it is a very smooth operating machine.
The 1642 has a very good track record of MANY users, and as far as I know it has a fairly good history of few problems, plus a readily available parts inventory from Walter Meier. I don't think you will be disappointed - you might consider it the Powermatic 3520B's less expensive cousin with slightly smaller capacity, but many of the same features.
If you have specific questions about the 1642, just let me know.
Rob Wallace
What Rob Wallace said.
I have had my 1642 for over 6 years and am very happy with it.
I have had my 1642 for over 6 years and am very happy with it.
I've had mine for many years without a single problem in thousands of hours of use. And I can be pretty rough on it sometimes. Definitely a good solid machine.
john lucas
AAW Forum Expert
I own a powermatic which is the 1642's big brother. I do turn on a 1642 frequently and think it is the best buy for the money on the market in that size lathe.
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I own the 1642, 2hp - I would buy it again - this is a very nice lathe - I put casters on it, bed extension and I can turn anything I have ever wanted to do on it...............all around great lathe
I have the 1642 1.5 hp.
I'm very happy with it. If I had to do it again, I would get the 2 hp....but having said that, I haven't actually tried to turn anything that the 1.5hp couldn't handle.
I'm very happy with it. If I had to do it again, I would get the 2 hp....but having said that, I haven't actually tried to turn anything that the 1.5hp couldn't handle.
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The Jet 1642 is all the lathe most people ever need.
I have always enjoyed turning on the 1642.
The only thing that kept it from being more popular was that for many years jet/powermatic priced the Powermatic at $500 more than the Jet. Lots of people decided to get the larger machine. With a price difference of $1500 to $2000, I expect to see a lot more white than yellow in shops I visit.
They have pretty good resale value if you ever decide to buy a bigger smoother machine.
I have always enjoyed turning on the 1642.
The only thing that kept it from being more popular was that for many years jet/powermatic priced the Powermatic at $500 more than the Jet. Lots of people decided to get the larger machine. With a price difference of $1500 to $2000, I expect to see a lot more white than yellow in shops I visit.
They have pretty good resale value if you ever decide to buy a bigger smoother machine.
I purchased my 1642 used three years ago after a recommendation of a friend, Bob Rosand. I don't regret the day of that purchase. It has run without any issues and the money saved went for other needed tools.
Ron
Ron
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Ron has great point!
Anyone thinking about buying a powermatic should give serious thought to buying the Jet1642 and spending the saving on a good class.
Anyone will get a lot more satisfaction out of a Jet and solid skills than they will out of a powermatic and lesser skills.
someone once told me
A good turner can do good work on a crappy lathe
A crappy turner will do crappy work on a great lathe
The 1642 is a really good lathe.
There are better ones but they cost more.
The lathes I like best are ONEWAY with Robust a close second
Al
Anyone thinking about buying a powermatic should give serious thought to buying the Jet1642 and spending the saving on a good class.
Anyone will get a lot more satisfaction out of a Jet and solid skills than they will out of a powermatic and lesser skills.
someone once told me
A good turner can do good work on a crappy lathe
A crappy turner will do crappy work on a great lathe
The 1642 is a really good lathe.
There are better ones but they cost more.
The lathes I like best are ONEWAY with Robust a close second
Al
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I have a 1642-2 and love it. Absolutely no regrets. Bowls larger than 12-13" don't sell we'll here, so you won't be losing anything vs. the 3520.
One really satisfied owner here.
And I'm glad that I got the extra horsepower.
Richard
One really satisfied owner here.
And I'm glad that I got the extra horsepower.
Richard
Jet sells the 1642 with a banjo that was desiged for a 14 in lathe. The supplied tool rest is 14 in long and if you do many deep bowls or long spindles when you get near the end of the rest it will move if you lean on it. Both these problems can be cured by replacing the banjo with one from oneway. It is longer and has much better clamping action.
Gary
Gary