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Experience with Jet Tools

13K views 38 replies 27 participants last post by  KBerg 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Jet offers a good variety of affordable tools for hobbyists like me but it appears that the smaller things are just
copes of cheap chinese machines. I'd like to hear from people who use table saw, jointer / planer, drill press what their experiences are.

Thank you

Richard
 
#2 ·
I was gifted with a Jet JWL 1236 turning lathe. I like it and use it when I want to. It has served me well. This lathe is expensive. The previous owner cut the legs off and install castors that I would like to remove and install longer legs again. the legs alone are about $90 each. That is expensive to me. I was disappointed to find that Harbor Freight sells the same lathe for a couple hundred dollars. I was excited to find I can buy a stand for the HF lathe for $39 and plan to get one of those just for the legs. The only difference is the Jet has the on/off switch on the left front leg but a little metal working and that can be adapted. I think the Jet line has a little better fit and finish but other than that they do appear to be the same and parts do interchange.
 
#3 ·
I have heard terrible things about their combination planer / jointer machines, at least the bench top models. The bigger dust collectors, drill presses and such are well thought of though…
 
#5 ·
I have several of their products, Table saw, Morticer, Air Cleaner and a Mini Lathe. 1st Jet is built by the same company that builds Powermatic and they are built in Tiawan. Powermatic and Jet do share several parts so you get what you pay for (Ford-Lincon, Honda-Acura, Chevy-Cadilac and so on..)Jet tools are Good quality and great deal when you can find them on sale or used. They do have some tools that people swear at and others that people love. I for one like all four. Look at my Profile to see specific model numbers.
 
#8 ·
I have four Jet tools in the shop (tablesaw, bandsaw, mortiser, and duct collector), plus a slew of Jet clamps.

I have no complaints whatsoever with either the quality of the tools or Jet's customer service. I did have one issue with the bandsaw (stripped threads in a casting). Their CS gave me specific instructions to correct, and bonused me two of their parallel clamps for my trouble.

-Gerry
 
#9 ·
I have some jet tools to..10.in sliding miter.1" belt 6"disc combo..shaper 1200 cfm dust collector an a drill press..like every thing but the drill press..moris taper is not drilled straight an the bit swings in a circle
 
#10 ·
Just because tools are manufactured in the same plant does not mean they are the same quality. Everyone has a specification for their tools or products to be built to. I worked for Gates rubber making hoses in a factory. If the hose was less than perfect we buffed the blems off and printed on a new name. Different spec. We made hoses for many well known companies. Just because it didn't work for one company didn't mean we would throw it away. We reworked it and sold it under a different name. I fell like the same is true for machinery.
 
#11 ·
My 10-20 Jet drum sander has been a PITA since purchased. It requires CONSTANT fiddling with the belt tracking or it will wander to the edge and destroy itself (and replacement belts are pricey). My Craftsman 18/36 is a MUCH better tool in my opinion.
 
#12 ·
I saw where there is a company selling off some of those entry level Jet brand machines on ebay.
The ones I am speaking of are all damaged and missing parts (as is sales).
Someone could save them selves a ton of money if they are good at repair, fabrication, and sourcing parts.
I also thought this could be a great place to get parts for building your own shop built machines like the ones at http://woodgears.ca/.
I like the jointer, bandsaws and all the other ingenious contraptions they have featured on this great site.
 
#13 · (Edited by Moderator)
Just like you write you can find "Jet" tools under other brands, especially Harbor Freight,for far less money.
Some people say that these are not the same exact same tools that the one sold under Jet brand are better. I seriously doubt it.
I have buying Harbor Freight tool for over 20 years and with only two exceptions I always have been entirely satisfied. HF tools are in general basic tools that most people enjoy tweaking ( I do ) to make them work better but in general they work very well and no one can beat heir prices.
Another brand that I like very much is Rigid.
Again they offer excellent tools for the price.
I do not care about brand, in fact in genral I avoid byuing " famous" brands.
The only thing I care about is value. I believe that HF and Rigid offer the best value on the market.

I also got excellent deals buying used tools: I got like new tools for very little money.
 
#14 ·
In some regards, Jet tools are my standard because they tend to be featured more than the others at the tool store I usually buy from. I have a Jet table saw, band saw, mortiser, dust collector and air filtration system. I've not been happy with the mortiser. Otherwise, everything has been trouble free and has performed up to my expectations.

With respect to the mortiser - I suspect I am not doing something right and/or something is not aligned properly. I need some quality time to check that machine out

More recently, I have purchased a couple of Grizzlys, jointer and lathe, and I have been happy with them also. In general, Grizzlys are cheaper and don't have as good of fit and finish but, functionally, they are as good as the Jets.
 
#15 · (Edited by Moderator)
I have the Jet band saw and AFS….. both are good solid tools.

I've found myself looking to Grizzly more and more these days…. and have a drill press, bench top milling machine and DC. These have all been very solid machines and their customer service and support has been very good.

If you buy machinery from Grizzly (or any mail order place really), make sure you are personally on site for delivery and have a digital camera in hand. Their supplier in Taiwan (same factory that spits out Jet, Powermatic and some HF I suspect) is not renown for robust shipping containers. But if you have damage, and note it on the BOL, Grizzly will make it right. I had a tear out on my DC box, but no perceivable damage to the DC itself.
 
#17 ·
I've had the Jet JWL-1220vs Midi-Lathe since 09/09.

The machine is well-built, and the 3/4 HP motor has plenty of power.

The Jet brand is owned by Walter Meier Manufacturing Americas. I understand that WMMA has quality control personnel in the Taiwanese factory that produces their tools.
 
#18 ·
I have owned a Jet 10" cabinet saw for 30 years. It is used almost every day and has always performed like the day it was new. The only thing I have done to it was to replace the belts. Other than that, never a problem. It has always held a place in the top 3 woodworking machines year after year. It is definitely on a par with Powermatic or Unisaw. Jet tools have always been industrial quality, not DIY oriented like Delta is.
 
#19 ·
I have a jet 6" x 89" edge sander. It runs fine. I have no complaints.

I also have a jet 1236 lathe. Its a nice little lathe. If you wait it out, I've seen them pop up on craigslist several times for $350-$500.
 
#20 ·
I think you'll find that many of the Jet, General International, Grizzly, Shop Fox, Craftex, King, Laguna, and even some of the PM tools come from the same Asian factories. The bolt-ons, cosmetics, and retail circumstances are often the most significant differences.
 
#21 · (Edited by Moderator)
imo. Taiwan (and ROK) are today where Japan was in the 90s…. Their industry is quite mature and these products are built with good quality. They are definately several rungs above most of what seems to be coming out of China.

We run several North-tech up-cut (jump) saws in our crating and pallet departments at work and they are supposed to be the best that is available and they are manufactured in Taiwan. The new models of upcut saws in the Grizzly catalog appear to be carbon copies of the models painted green.

What I'd like to know is who is designing and detailing the new wood working machine models, as there has definately been some nice products coming out in the last 5 years or so.

Starett and Mitutoyo they are not…. but not many wood workers will pay for that degree of precision.
 
#26 ·
I own a Jet jointer, air filtration unit, and 17 parallel clamps. With the exception of one of the clamps, which Jet replaced at no charge, they all have performed flawlessly. Just like everyone else I'm sure that Jet has both excellent products and also some lemons here and there.

I've often wondered about the quality of their cabinet saws but rarely see anybody writing about them. Maybe that in itself is an idicator.
 
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