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New Jet 1647-2 Lathe - Tool Rest

R

Richard Wilabee

Joined
Sep 16, 2014
Messages
97
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Location
Palm Springs Area
First off the lathe is all assembled and I am just blown away when I compare it to my Shopsmith. The other thing I noticed is regarding the tool rest that comes with the lathe. It is so massive and tall that when I hold a spindle gouge downward at a 45 degree angle there is no way to have the end hit the center of the spindle. It is a way to high. I do have a T round rest that works fine. I had also order a Robust 12" tool rest and it is a way to high. I just ordered one of their low profile rests to see if it is any better. Those of you who have the 1647 did you have the same findings.

Rich
 
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Are you referring to the Jet banjo and Jet tool rest that came with your lathe? The angle of the tool is also affected by how high the center of the spindle is relative to your elbow height when standing.
I'm 6'2" and had to raise my 1642 two inches.
Is it at all possible to find another experienced turner in your area to help you with getting started?
 
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i am 5'9" and am sometimes have to lower the tool rest most of the way down the tool rest holder to get angle, but really not a problem. I mainly use 3 tool rest, the fourth only occasional.

congratulations, enjoy your new lathe
 

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Dwight R Rutherford said:
Are you referring to the Jet banjo and Jet tool rest that came with your lathe? The angle of the tool is also affected by how high the center of the spindle is relative to your elbow height when standing.
I'm 6'2" and had to raise my 1642 two inches.
Is it at all possible to find another experienced turner in your area to help you with getting started?
Click to expand...

If I lower the tool rest as far as it will go into the Banjo and then pivot the bowl gouge with handle down at 45 degrees the cutting part of the gouge ends up quite a bit above the center of the spindle. I have at least on my Shopsmith always tried to tool with the gouge pivoted down at 45 degrees and the tip of the gouge be a center spindle. With the jet this is happening with the stock tool rest. I'm hoping that the Robust Low Profile with take care of that. If I adjust the gouge to pivot on the tool rest to the center of the spindle my handle is almost level with the ground.

Rich
 
How far over the tool rest is your gouge extending? Try having the tool edge extend about 1/2" away from the tool rest. Are you standing too close to the lathe?
The banjo and tool rest that came with your lathe should work.
 
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Dwight R Rutherford said:
How far over the tool rest is your gouge extending? Try having the tool edge extend about 1/2" away from the tool rest. Are you standing too close to the lathe?
The banjo and tool rest that came with your lathe should work.
Click to expand...

I think you might be on to something there. I should have chucked up a piece of wood. I was just going to the spindle but I think I had the tool rest and banjo to far out. It seems to be better when I brought it in close. This is such a different set up than my Shopsmith was.

Rich
 
I chatted with Dwight on the phone for about an hour. He got me on the right track with the height of the tool rest. I should have put it much closer to the face plate that was on the lathe to get the correct angle or I should have put a piece of wood on the lathe and then I would have had the tool rest much closer to the work and the angle would have been ok. He also gave me some insight on other turning facets with that machine and turning in general. Thanks Dwight.

Rich
 
Richard Wilabee said:
I chatted with Dwight on the phone for about an hour. He got me on the right track with the height of the tool rest. I should have put it much closer to the face plate that was on the lathe to get the correct angle or I should have put a piece of wood on the lathe and then I would have had the tool rest much closer to the work and the angle would have been ok. He also gave me some insight on other turning facets with that machine and turning in general. Thanks Dwight. Rich
Click to expand...

Good that Dwight got you on the right track.

For almost all bowl and HF turning I set the tool rest height so that the gouge is cutting at center when the handle is level with the floor.

I make most cuts with the handle level or down just a tiny bit.
The pull cut I drop the handle a lot but use the same height for the tool rest.

Have fun,
Al
 
Richard Wilabee said:
First off the lathe is all assembled and I am just blown away when I compare it to my Shopsmith. The other thing I noticed is regarding the tool rest that comes with the lathe. It is so massive and tall that when I hold a spindle gouge downward at a 45 degree angle there is no way to have the end hit the center of the spindle. It is a way to high. I do have a T round rest that works fine. I had also order a Robust 12" tool rest and it is a way to high. I just ordered one of their low profile rests to see if it is any better. Those of you who have the 1647 did you have the same findings.
Rich
Click to expand...

Which length of post did you order for the Robust? A 1642 requires a "standard" length post; a "long" post is intended for 20" swing lathes (such as the Powermatic).
 
R Henrickson said:
Which length of post did you order for the Robust? A 1642 requires a "standard" length post; a "long" post is intended for 20" swing lathes (such as the Powermatic).
Click to expand...

Actually Reed recommends getting the long post and cut to preferred size. At least That is what I read and did with both of mine.
 
R Henrickson said:
Which length of post did you order for the Robust? A 1642 requires a "standard" length post; a "long" post is intended for 20" swing lathes (such as the Powermatic).
Click to expand...

I ordered the 3 3/4 height which I think is their standard length. It seems to be ok now that I actually moved the tool rest close to the face plate as though it was a piece of wood and I was going to cut it.

Rich
 
Richard Wilabee said:
What did you cut the post with. Isn't it some type of hardened steel....

Rich
Click to expand...

It is very easy to cut with a hacksaw. A few years ago at SWAT, Brent was out of standard length tool rests for the particular one that I wanted, so he said to just get the longer one and cut it to the desired length. That is what I did and it was very easy to cut. Now if you wanted to cut the rest and hardened rod, that would be quite a challenge.
 
Richard Wilabee said:
What did you cut the post with. Isn't it some type of hardened steel.... Rich
Click to expand...

The post should not be hardened steel.
Hardened steel does not lock well in the banjo

One of the big mistakes people make when the weld up steel bars for home made tool rests is to use hardened steel for the rest and the post.
Tools slide easily on the rest but the post slides easily along its locking mechanism.
 
Bill Boehme said:
It is very easy to cut with a hacksaw. A few years ago at SWAT, Brent was out of standard length tool rests for the particular one that I wanted, so he said to just get the longer one and cut it to the desired length. That is what I did and it was very easy to cut. Now if you wanted to cut the rest and hardened rod, that would be quite a challenge.
Click to expand...

That is really good to know. Then would you just clean it up with a grinder or is a file better?
 
Richard Wilabee said:
That is really good to know. Then would you just clean it up with a grinder or is a file better?
Click to expand...

I believe that I just used a file, but you could make a first pass with the grinder to take care of rough or uneven edges before going to the manual milling machine (file).

After that use sandpaper up to 1500 and then go to Micromesh up to 12,000 grit. Finally some chrome polish. 🙄 Well, That's what I would do. Really! Honest! 🙄
 
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