redone jet 1640

[Charlie Knighton]

JWL-1640EVS 16" x 40" Wood Lathe

what is the hp???????????????? lost 2 inches in length, not a game changer I like the spindle lock latch that does not lock, cannot start in locked position.....does it still have 2 belt positions?????????? rotating headstock not a needed feature....just move headstock to end of ways......inverter enclosed is good,

 

[Bill Boehme]

I think that your questions are answered in the owners manual. I've seen it advertised, but I doubt that many people have actually had hands-on experience with it yet.

 

[Brian Myers]

Lose of 2" in length and some weight, 440lbs to 375lbs. The shipping weight of the 1640 is the unpacked weight of the 1642.

 

[Charlie Knighton]

just add weight to underneath shelve ......some like sand bags, but other items your choice

I do not believe you need the tailstock thingy.......only need someplace to put it

 

[Bill Boehme]

just add weight to underneath shelve ......some like sand bags, but other items your choice

I do not believe you need the tailstock thingy.......only need someplace to put it

My preference for putting weight on the shelf would be to buy more tools so that the "ballast" serves more than one purpose ... lots neater than sand.

Variations of the "tailstock thingy" would be almost essential parts of big boy/girl lathes especially if if you have back problems. On this lathe it appears to be more of a wanna-be like a big boy/girl lathe.

 

[Charlie Knighton]

On this lathe it appears to be more of a wanna-be like a big boy/girl lathe.

it just does not have the mass or the price of some lathes, but with that 20 inch extension positioned in the lower end of the leg you should be able to turn larger items like a stubby........leave place for tools but add some ########'s

 

[Odie]

I'd really like to have some time on a lathe with a rotating headstock.......I think about 25°, or so would be all that I would need. Over the years, I've grown accustomed to using the long bedways on my long bed Woodfast lathe as a brace for my body. Learning how to do this helps to steady the cut in some circumstances. I find this feature very necessary for my style of turning. Sliding the headstock means losing that bit of steadyness I have with the long bed.

This new Jet lathe is not as appealing to me as the rotating headstock model Vicmarc is currently offering, though......

To my knowledge, Rikon, Nova DVR, Vicmarc, and now Jet are all offering rotating headstock models. There must be other turners, other than myself, who are finding this feature useful........

Jet is really missing the boat with having the controls on the headstock. For a faceplate turner, such as myself, this location is right in the way. The better solution to this is having the control box on a magnetic base, where it can be positioned wherever the operator wants it.

ko

 

[hockenbery]

Jet is really missing the boat with having the controls on the headstock. The better solution to this is having the control box on a magnetic base, where it can be positioned wherever the operator wants it. ko

My favorite switch is on a swinging pendant but that is a very expensive way to do a switch.
I also have a moveable remote on a magnetic base.

A moveable remote is not something you will find standard on a lathe at the Jet's price point.
I have heard of people installing the Powermatic remote on/off on the jet.
Probably works with the new model.

 

[Charlie Knighton]

i have lusted after a movable on/off switch and have plans to convert mine somewhere but never have had the courage to tear into the electronics being a turnkey type person without the willingness to part with the $$$$$$$

I had a _elta with the rotating headstock........works well for about 30 seconds.......then the tool rest is pulled into the turning........after it happens the first time, you really get out the leaverage to tighten the tool holder pieces in place.......after 3 & 4 times I started rethinking the rotating headstock........turning off the end is great, place your feet and flow with the cut........so much better

sometimes I think its best not to have everything in a lathe.......the search and lusting is the thing

the 1640 is interesting lathe.......I sure have not worn out my 1642 yet

 

[Bill Boehme]

I tend to agree with Charlie. I also had a Delta lathe with a headstock that could slide as well as rotate. My opinion is that a rotating headstock on a lathe of that size is mostly a gimmick regardless of whether the headstock slides or is fixed in one location. I suppose that, on paper, it sounds like a good way to enable one to turn larger diameter pieces or eliminates the need to lean over the bed -- I think that a rotating headstock will be disappointing on both counts.

A larger diameter piece generally means more out-of-balance and more shaking on a lightweight lathe. The banjo on lathes of that size aren't the most heavy duty and you couple that with a lightweight bed and dogleg extension for the toolrest and then there is the potential for vibration at the cutting edge. Besides, I like to start large pieces between centers whether balanced or not.

Any advantage in the ergonomics of turning off the side of the bed compared to the alleged need to reach across the bed is also highly overrated from my experience. The need to reach across the bed is mostly when hollowing and I stand at the end of the lathe when hollowing. The other time is when making the initial entry cut on a bowl rim and the amount of "reaching across" is hardly worth mentioning.

The new Vicmarc lathe with a rotating headstock is in a different league because of its heavy duty solid construction, precision indexing of the headstock rotation, and power. However, if I had one, I probably wouldn't use the feature much.

 

[John K Jordan]

It doesn't look like a game-changing improvement to me compared to the 1642. I don't like rotating headstocks in general due to alignment issues. (Even the manual indicates there is enough slop in the headstock to bring the headstock and tailstock into alignment if needed - does that mean you have to realign it every time you rotate or move it?)

The tailstock extension should be nice, but would up the probably up the cost of the lathe significantly. I don't like the reduced weight which implies less sturdy construction. The little tool shelf is nice, looks like the same one that's on the PM3520. It looks like the indexing is an improvement, at least on the surface, but it only has 10-deg increments. The through hole in the tailstock is smaller than the 1642.

I wonder if this model release means Jet is dropping the 1642. I think I'll hang on to the two I have.

JKJ

 

[Bill Boehme]

....... does that mean you have to realign it every time you rotate or move it?).....

That's what it meant for my old Delta lathe and probably the biggest reason that I used it as a fixed headstock lathe. The same locking lever that allowed me to slide the headstock along the bed also allowed the headstock to wiggle a few degrees in rotation because of the sloppy detent.