Experience with Jet Tools

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.

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…

-- Manufacturer of fine quality sawdust since 1984. Comments and advice on my shop welcome. Check it out at http://lumberjocks.com/dbhost/workshop. Gladly accepting shop build donations!

I have a Jet JDP-17FSE floor drill press and it has worked just fine. I have had it for 6 or 8 years.

-- Wayne - Plymouth MN

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.

-- Ken, USAF MSgt, Ret.

I have a Jet disc sander that i just “love” – This machine works well and im very glad I purchased it

I have just bought a 6’ bed Jet jointer and am very impressed with the build quality.

-- www.alanwilley.co.uk

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

-- Gerry -- "I don't plan to ever really grow up ... I'm just going to learn how to act in public!"

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

-- IF YOUR NOT MAKING DUST...YOU ARE COLLECTING IT! SOUTH CAROLINA.

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.

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.

-- " I'll try to be nicer, if you'll try to be smarter" gfadvm

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.

-- Aaron - central California "If you haven't got the time to do it right, when will you find the time to do it over?"

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.

-- Bert

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.

-- Rich, Cedar Rapids, IA - I'm a woodworker. I don't create beauty, I reveal it.

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.

-- Pine is fine, but Oak's no joke!

I have an older Jet 6” jointer that is great. Look for used on CL, you can often find great tools at very good prices. My jointer was $220 in excellent condition.