The Woodturning Forum - Woodturner's Resource

Brian Myers Senior Member Offline Posts: 359 Leola Pennsylvania USA Gender:	Jet 1240 Apr 20^th, 2006 at 6:12pm Anyone have any info on this lathe? Good/bad points? Anything to watch out for in buying one used? I ask because there is one available locally for $175 OBO . I have a Harbor Freight 34706, this any better?
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brad Full Member Offline Posts: 84 Gender:	Re: Jet 1240 Reply #1 - Apr 20^th, 2006 at 6:18pm I am assuming you mean a 1236 and there would be no benefit in buying it when you already have one the same size unless you simply wanted a second lathe. If you are wanting a beefier lathe for the least amount of money I would suggest spending the money and getting a dc motor and controller. I will post pics of mine in the near future.
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Larry Charlot WR Addict Offline Professional Sawdust Maker Posts: 1,443 Yakima, Washington Washington USA Gender:	Re: Jet 1240 Reply #2 - Apr 20^th, 2006 at 7:48pm Brad I look forward to the pics, this is something I plan on doing in the near future Larry
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tejaswood Senior Member Offline WWW.TEJASWOOD.C OM Posts: 289	Re: Jet 1240 Reply #3 - Apr 21^st, 2006 at 3:57am If it is a Jet 1236 and it is in good contition then I would spend the money just to have a backup lathe. Personally I would buy it and then sell the HF lathe.
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Ron Sardo WR Administrator WR Patron Offline Chief cook and bottle washer Posts: 9,674 Drums Pennsylvania USA PM 3520	Re: Jet 1240 Reply #4 - Apr 21^st, 2006 at 4:47am Quote: Personally I would buy it and then sell the HF lathe. Ditto!
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MIKE Durham WR Addict Offline having too much fun turning Posts: 564 North Chesterfield, Virginia Virginia USA Gender:	Re: Jet 1240 Reply #5 - Apr 21^st, 2006 at 6:46am on Today at 7:57am, tejaswood wrote: Personally I would buy it and then sell the HF lathe. That is a good idea!
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brad Full Member Offline Posts: 84 Gender:	Re: Jet 1240 Reply #6 - Apr 21^st, 2006 at 7:01am Quote: on Today at 7:57am, tejaswood wrote: Personally I would buy it and then sell the HF lathe. That is a good idea! only if you can't better spend that $175 elsewhere on say a chuck, grinder, jigs tools etc since you won't get anything for the HF lathe no matter what shape it is in...
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Jim Underwood

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It's better to turn than
burn...

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Re: Jet 1240
Reply #7 - Apr 21^st, 2006 at 11:01am

And you won't be doing anyone any favors by selling it to them.

If you have a Re-Tool store in the area you could take it to them and unload it quick.

I heard the best way to get any money for a HF lathe is to dissassemble it and sell it as parts on eBay. Tailstock, headstock, bed, rest, motor, stand etc. I have one with a busted pulley that I should be selling....

But hey, that HF lathe is the way a lot of us got started! And we appreciate the good lathes that much more! I'd buy the Jet if twas me. That's why I wound up with a Jet mini. I sold the other HF lathe and bought the Jet.

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« Last Edit: Apr 21^st, 2006 at 11:05am by Jim Underwood »

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Jeff Matter

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I got a new lathe for
my wife!! Good trade
eh?

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Re: Jet 1240
Reply #8 - Apr 21^st, 2006 at 3:25pm

I had 2 HF lathes and the first one worked great.The second one was a quick replacement for a broken tool rest, and was a POS. HF has "decent" tools and then they have the real lemons,....which you dont find out till you get home with it.
Nothing wrong with that lathe for people starting out..."testing the water" as long as it's one of the "good" ones
Given the choice tho....Ide pick the jet

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Kevin Denny Senior Member Offline Posts: 261 Gender:	Re: Jet 1240 Reply #9 - Apr 21^st, 2006 at 4:39pm I bought my Jet 1236 "used", more like a floor model/demo and couldn't be happier as this is my first lathe. For $175, I would it hard to walk again if it is in reasonable condition.
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Woodbutcher Active Member Offline I love YaBB 1G - SP1! Posts: 106	Re: Jet 1240 Reply #10 - Apr 21^st, 2006 at 5:13pm Buy the Jet. I'll not knock anothers lathe but no matter what the Jet IS a strp up and worth repairing if something does break. Jet has great service and stand by their equipment. Jim
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brad

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Re: Jet 1240
Reply #11 - Apr 21^st, 2006 at 8:19pm

Quote:

Buy the Jet. I'll not knock anothers lathe but no matter what the Jet IS a strp up and worth repairing if something does break. Jet has great service and stand by their equipment.
Jim

Actually jet's great serivce doesn't transfer with ownership. If you read the small print or try and get the same service which might have been "we'll send you that replacement for that broken knob or new bearings" that might be free to the original registered owner of an older machine you may find yourself horrified at the cost of that great service.

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Freddie Hicks

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Re: Jet 1240
Reply #12 - Apr 22^nd, 2006 at 2:13am

That might be so, but you can get parts for a jet and there is no comparison between a jet and hf when you talk about bearing and spendel strength. Buy the jet,$175 is a deal. I just seem to hear about deals like that. Chucks are very nice but by no means absolutly necessary. You may have a friend you can share the hf lathe with (or a child), Makes for some great times.

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Mi Vida Echa en Madera

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brad

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Re: Jet 1240
Reply #13 - Apr 22^nd, 2006 at 5:31am

Quote:

That might be so, but you can get parts for a jet and there is no comparison between a jet and hf when you talk about bearing and spendel strength.

You can get parts for the HF too, it is as simple as calling them up ad when under warranty they send them to you for free or if you go to the store replace the whole thing no questions asked.
If you plan on abusing your lathe no matter what it is sure go for the 1236 it will last a bit longer but it will eventually suffer the same failures the HF does under abusive conditions like turning full limit out of balance pieces (especially when out boarding )and be a whole lot more expensive to repair. If you aren't over taxing the HF lathe I still think you can better spend $175 on things that will help you become a better or safer turner.

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Woodbutcher

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Re: Jet 1240
Reply #14 - Apr 22^nd, 2006 at 9:23pm

I did not mention warranty. That doesn't come with a $150.00 lathe. Parts do come however if you can order and pay for them. Never having dealt with whoever makes the Harbor Freight products (lathes) I don't know the PIA factor. They might be great people, I don't know. I had a problem w my Power Matic and the were right on top of things. Several of my aquaintenances own Jets and have gotten great service. One had purchased a Jet mini used and needed repair parts. He told the Jet guy it was second hand used and they sent him the parts n/c and paid the postage. Anyway for $150.00 I'm buying a Jet.
Jim

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