JET lathe opinions

[NBN]

I've been looking for a few months for a decent lathe for minimal work I need to do around the shop, nothing too big or complicated, yet. Very few decent units have come available here, most are either severely oversized or just plain worn out for me to consider.

I've got a line on a JET GHB-1340A that comes with quite a bit of tooling, the ownership and sole user is known and the unit is in good shape. This unit is a bit larger than I really need, but for the price, its tough to pass on.

Anyone have experience with this model? Appears to be a Taiwan model vs. Chinese model which is a plus.

 

[cmandp]

I don't have direct experience with the gearhead model, the shop at work used to have a old Jet lathe of similar size but it was very well used and belt drive. But looking at it and being Taiwan made it should be a great lathe for the home shop. It's comparable to the other common small lathes that people get for the home shop, i.e. South Bend 9", Logans and certainly better than the Craftsman/Atlas lathes.

The gearhead drive is great too, it will be much easier than belts. I assume it has a threading gearbox? What does it have for tooling? Ideally you have at least live centers, dead centers and a chuck for the tailstock. A quick change tool post, steady rest, follower rest. A 3 jaw chuck, 4 jaw chuck and set of collets. If it comes with HSS tool blanks, carbide tool holders, boring bars, large drill bits, etc, that would be great too.

 

[Packard V8]

X2 - the Jet will do anything a home shop beginner is capable of doing.

jack vines

 

[LXCam]

I have a Acra that's absolutely identical to the Jet GH-1440B Geared Head Bench Lathe 331440. That thing does everything you could ask of it without issue. You'll be fine and if its a smoking deal, even better.

 

[zmotorsports]

We have the slightly smaller 13x36 Jet 1336PBD model at work which is the belt driven model but also Taiwanese made. It has been a great lathe despite being somewhat abused in an industrial maintenance shop. My boss purchased the lathe new in 1989 and we put it into service early 1990. Setting this lathe up and learning to do basic machining on it is what drove my deep desire to learn more about machining and eventually have my own lathe and mill in my home shop.

If you can get tooling, at least a 3-jaw and 4-jaw chuck with it and for a decent price it should be a good lathe. If ours can take the abuse of a dozen or so mechanics, having one in a home shop used by one person who gives a **** it should last a long time.





It's been used heavily and abused, even moreso since I quit wrenching in the shop because I used to keep it pretty clean and maintained but now it seems like about a dozen of the mechanics just beat on it whenever possible and fail to clean it when they are done. Looks like we'll need to have another come-to meeting about cleaning shop equipment when done with it.

 

[cmandp]

We have the slightly smaller 13x36 Jet 1336PBD model at work which is the belt driven model but also Taiwanese made. It has been a great lathe despite being somewhat abused in an industrial maintenance shop. My boss purchased the lathe new in 1989 and we put it into service early 1990. Setting this lathe up and learning to do basic machining on it is what drove my deep desire to learn more about machining and eventually have my own lathe and mill in my home shop.

If you can get tooling, at least a 3-jaw and 4-jaw chuck with it and for a decent price it should be a good lathe. If ours can take the abuse of a dozen or so mechanics, having one in a home shop used by one person who gives a **** it should last a long time.

*Pics removed*

It's been used heavily and abused, even moreso since I quit wrenching in the shop because I used to keep it pretty clean and maintained but now it seems like about a dozen of the mechanics just beat on it whenever possible and fail to clean it when they are done. Looks like we'll need to have another come-to meeting about cleaning shop equipment when done with it.

That is the exact model the shop at my work had. But it was useful as it had a 4 jaw chuck and could cut threads (once I fixed the shear pin driving the lead screw someone broke). Unfortunately they have yet to replace it.

 

[mikegt4]

The Jet will be fine for you. My Weiler Matador lathe has both gear and belt drive, selected by a lever. The belt drive runs smoother and quieter while the gear drive maintains a more accurate spindle/lead ratio for threading. Either drive will work for home use.

 

[Downwindtracker 2]

Jet usually picks good manufactures.

 

[Packard V8]

The only weakness I remember on those is the Y-axis power feed pinion fails every so often. As of three years ago, both Grizzly and Jet still had the part. It's a PITA to replace.

jack vines

 

[Walkers]

At some point in time, sooner than you think, you will wish you had a bigger lathe. For most normal purposes that is a fine size.

 

[rsanter]

Will be a good machine for starter and hobby work

 

[Downwindtracker 2]

Yes it will be a very good lathe, unless you start doing machine shop work, that size will be a very good lathe . For machine shop work, if I just had a 2000# class ...... And on it goes.

 

[Ign]

We got a new 20x40 Jet at my former job circa '08 and damn the thing was clunky, awkward and anti-ergonomic.

That said, a 13" bench top is a very different class of machine.

For "industrial" level I'll never consider Jet based upon my experience above.

 

[930dreamer]

OP, did you find a lathe? Spotted this 1340 on marketplace in Lubbock their asking $5K.