JET 708352 JWL-1236 Woodworking Lathe, 12-Inch Swing 3/4 HP 115-Volt 1-Phase

by Jet

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

To woodworkers who know the reputation of Jet products, the merit of this 12-inch variable-speed lathe should come as no surprise. Start with the guts of any tool, the motor. Prewired for 115 volts and fully encased in a metal housing for longer life, its 3/4-horses turn material at 500 to 3,000 rpm, depending on which of the six speeds you select. The cast-iron lathe bed, headstock, and tailstock provide superior vibration dampening and durability, while the heavy-gauge steel components and stand give rigid support. Pivoting 90 degrees for outboard turning of up to 16-1/2 inches on larger projects, the MT-2 headstock protects a Reeves drive pulley system with which we made quick and easy speed changes. Down on the other end, the hollow tailstock allows for longer hole bores and houses a live center, a luxury standard on all Jet lathes not found in much of the competition.

You'll love the versatility that comes with 34-1/2 inches between working centers and a 12-inch swing capability over the bed (8-3/4 inches over the tool-rest base). All adjustments, whether extending the ram its full 2-1/4 inches or sliding the 12-inch tool rest, move fluidly and clamp down tight with little effort. Designed for use over the long haul, this tool has all the qualities professional woodworkers demand. --Justin Paul

Product Description

Includes 12-in x 34-1/2-in 3/4 HP Woodworking Lathe - 708352, 12-in Tool Rest, 6-in Face Plate, Spur Center, Live Center, Face Shield, Tooling Knockout

Product Details

Product Manual [6.94mb PDF]

• Item Weight: 173 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 178.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item can only be shipped to the 48 contiguous states. We regret it cannot be shipped to APO/FPO, Hawaii, Alaska, or Puerto Rico.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B00006ANS3
• California residents: Click here for Proposition 65 warning.
• Item model number: 708352
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #117,484 in Home Improvement (See Top 100 in Home Improvement)
  • #33 in Home Improvement > Power & Hand Tools > Power Tools > Lathes

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

97 of 100 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best small lathe on the market, October 24, 2002

By 

Mitch Mitton (Verona (Madison) WI (USA)) - See all my reviews

This review is from: JET 708352 JWL-1236 Woodworking Lathe, 12-Inch Swing 3/4 HP 115-Volt 1-Phase (Tools & Home Improvement)

I have turned on every lathe from an big Oliver pattern lathes slick Euopean models and this lathe has the best set of features for the money. In lathe work quick adjustments are needed to allow you to keep your focus on the form that you are trying to produce. A tool rest moved to the right spot at the right time keeps the tool running clean and eliminates tearouts. This is also a great saftey feature. That is just what this lathe has, features that only the most expensive lathes have in one machine. This rotating head found on only a handfull of other brands was a nice touch. Just as important was the 'live center' with the proper point for wood turning. Again the abaility to keep the tail support in the proper tension as the turning progress keeps everthing running smooth, And that is what wood lathe work is all about. If you do alot of work with large chuncks of wood you will want to add a pair of runners and place some weight on them. I am close to 6 foot tall and I like a little more height so I used 2X4 lumber to gain the height. I then placed a bead of silicone calk down on the floor and stuck the runners down to offer a solid base. I have used this meathod on several 'light' machines with good results.

Just as important as stock features are the after-markets items and there are plenty that fit the Jet. Just try to find Nova chuck to fit a big Oliver!

47 of 52 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Jet..., Solid Again, November 17, 2002

By 

J. Joswick "Jeff's Custom Woodworking" (Dannemora, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: JET 708352 JWL-1236 Woodworking Lathe, 12-Inch Swing 3/4 HP 115-Volt 1-Phase (Tools & Home Improvement)

I'm a square wood type of woodworker. I'd never put a tool to a spinning piece of lumber, but had always wanted to try. When the Jet 12" went on sale, I couldn't resist the temptation. Just like all the rest of my Jet tools, it went together in a snap, and was built the way that my table saw and jointer are.., extremely solid. Even for a novice woodturner, the machine performed well. Within minutes after set-up, I was turning, and with halfway decent results (not the machines fault, the operator was the only downfall). All of the advertised features were easy and convenient to use. When comparison shopping against Grizzly and Delta, the Jet came up on top again. Jet includes more bang for your buck.

The review got 4 stars only because I haven't had the opportunity to try any other lathes. If my girlfriend had rated it, the results would have been much worse. She hasn't seen much of me since I started making shavings on my most recent Jet purchase. Kudos Jet!

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You get more than you pay for., October 21, 2003

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: JET 708352 JWL-1236 Woodworking Lathe, 12-Inch Swing 3/4 HP 115-Volt 1-Phase (Tools & Home Improvement)

I was going to buy this machine's bigger version, the one with
the cast iron legs. But when I saw the price was dropped to $399 with free shipping, it was a no brainer.

It's a great machine and it's very vibration free. I've found it has plenty of power, provided your tools are sharp. In fact, plan on buying top of the line HSS tools (like Sorby, Crown, or equivalent -- Amazon does not seem to have any HSS turning tools) and a Tormek sharpener. This will triple your investment but it's required if you want to be successful.

The thing to do to improve the machine is put a strong board on the base's frame and pile a bunch of bags of Sakrete on it. Then it will have the same stability as its larger cousin.

At this price, you can't go wrong...so I gave it 5 stars.

As an aside, contrary to what a previous reviewer wrote, my machine did come with a handwheel on the headstock...