The lathe was bought for the reverse capability as well as the variable speed arrangement. I found that changing the belt for the different speed ranges was fairly easy, and the locking mechanism works great. I would have liked a bit bigger LCD display and speed knob, I'll adapt. It takes a few seconds to get up to speed, but once there runs smooth and quiet. The banjo and tail stock slide smoothly and lock easily. All in all I'm very pleased with the lathe, and if it weren't for the missing mounting hole would have given it five stars. I highly recommend the lathe, just be prepared for less than quality shipping.
My only complaint regarding the lathe is the lack of quality control, consequently the loss of one star. Three of the mounting holes are threaded for the supplied bolts, however the fourth hole is, for all purposes, non-existent. It's either filled with something or was never drilled and tapped to begin with. It should never have left wherever it was made like this, it's mounted with three only bolts to the stand. I own a few of (expensive) Jet tools, and this is the first one that I've bought that was less than excellent quality.
My biggest concern was the handling of the lathe during shipment, as the pictures show. The box was dropped numerous times (about 140 lbs) and the banjo and tail stock both came loose, thankfully the only damage was to some paint being scraped off. Pieces fell out of the box when delivered, and one was found in the street after the UPS truck left. Both straps were gone, and only the indentation where they were indicated that they were there at one time.
| Manufacturer | WMH Tool Group |
|---|---|
| Part Number | JWL-1221VS |
| Item Weight | 136.4 pounds |
| Product Dimensions | 32.82 x 14.56 x 21.25 inches |
| Item model number | 719200 |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Color | See Photo |
| Style | Variable Speed Wood Lathe |
| Power Source | Corded-electric |
| Voltage | 115 Volts |
| Horsepower | 1 |
| Item Package Quantity | 1 |
| Cord Length | 4 Feet |
| Number of Handles | 6 |
| Speed | 3600 RPM |
| Included Components | 1 JPW Manufactured Product |
| Batteries Included? | No |
| Batteries Required? | No |
| Warranty Description | 5 year |
