Power Tools Reviews

This lathe is a sleeper. Truly. I have researched lathes for months because i wanted exactly the right lathe. My requirements were, smooth operation, variable speed, quiet, vibration free and heavy.

After much research and hands on evaluation I decided on and purchased the jet jet 1642-2EVS (708360) 2 hp lathe. It is the first machine that I have ever purchased that was not assembled and at first was somewhat annoyed that is was still in the crate but assembly was relatively simple. I removed the parts piece by piece from the truck. the legs are very heavy and luckily i had help. The bed was very heavy and somewhat of a challange to get it up on the legs, but assembly was very simple. Every hole was perfectly aligned. It was in a crate, very well protected and neatly packed.

Before i go into the details of the lathe i would like to give you some information on the prodcuts that i did evaluate and consider. The first unit was the NOVA. It was ok, i thought rather light and expensive for what it really was. Everything was an add on, and it started at nearly $2,000. It didn't impress me. The DELTA was a nice lathe. Very clean design but it just didn't have the weight. It would have been my second choice. The ONEWAY. It was just too darn big. Really nice machine if you win the lottery. It just kind of screamed "look what i got" Too yuppie. It was my last choice.

So, anyway, i purchased the jet. I went for the two hp model only because i wanted a 220 unit. They have lower operating costs and the dollar difference wasn't that great. I was surprised that they do not come with a plug, but that was no big deal.

Tonight i cleaned it up and got it running. After all the research i did, i didn't realize it wouldn't take my Delta chuck. It has a 1-1/2 x 8 screw and my Delta accessories have a 1 x 8. No big deal, they have an adaptor. Phew!!!!!!!!!
Everything was in perfect allignment. I turned it on and just stood there admiring the smooth operation. I have no vibration at any speed. The lack of noise impressed me very much. I just cut a bunch of trial pieces. Magnificant. I can't express enough how happy i am with this selection. Everything about it is quality.

Had the Jet 2hp 1642 for about a year now and have tried to write a review, maybe because I did not buy online. Well worth the money, very heavy and designed for the professional wood turner. If you like to brag, buy a Oneway, if you like to turn, buy a Jet 2Hp 1642 and save your money to buy nice wood. In my shop, I buy different makes of tools for how well they are built and to have the very best out of them, not the cost.

I don't understand why no one has written a review of this lathe. Something fishy about that. So here goes:

This lathe is the most expensive single tool purchase in my shop. So, you can imagine that I was pretty careful about researching my decision. Unfortunately, I live where I couldn't go and personally look at a selection of lathes. Only one tool store carries the $700.00 version of Delta and I did see in New Mexico a $2000.00 version. The cheap version is absolute crap! I won't go in to details. For the money I would buy a small Vicmarc. The other didn't impress me. I thought it was pretty light weight. In general, I think Delta has lost its edge on the tool market. I would not buy anything from Delta these days. It's mostly made in China.

I considered the three big alternatives to Jet-Oneway, Vicmark, General (not International) and Nova. To be honest, if I could have afforded it, I would have folded under review pressure and bought the Oneway. Problem is, the 16" Oneway cost twice as much as the Jet1642 and when I started thinking about how I would use the lathe, I had some serious problems with it. The head is fixed and there are significant costs in setting the lathe up to do outboard turning. The Vicmark pretty much suffers from the same limitations and IMHO is overpriced. The General is a bit old fashioned and expensive. The Nova DVR was a serious contender. I said no because they seem to have thrown all their marketing into DVR technology. The lathe is a bit lightweight (less than 200 pounds) and the $2200.00 price tag is just the start. The lathe isn't long enough to do spindle work and I don't like the idea of having to buy an extension to do basic spindle work (add another $250.00). It does not come with a base (add more dollars and/or work).

I really obsessed over this (as you can see). After reading other opinions in online forums, I got the feeling that there is a lot snobbery surrounding the choice of a lathe. The Canadian and Australian lathes seem to dominate market opinion. True, they are not made in Taiwan or China (so they say) but I don't believe that is a valid final criterion anymore. Taiwan has caught up with Japan in many areas of manufacture and is arguably now making quality tools.

I believe that tool makers need to think carefully about their designs. I believe Jet has done just that. So here is what I got and how I feel about:

I ordered the Jet1642 with a 2HP motor, which is really a 3-phase motor with a converter, and an extra banjo assembly (for spindle turning) with free shipping to my door. The cost was very close to an even $2000.00. The lathe came packed in a single box that really impressed me. The lathe weighs 450lbs and the box only 25lbs. But there was no doubt in my mind that the lathe was undamaged. Jet does an incredible packing job. Everything I ever ordered from Delta came damaged because their packing is absolutely horrible!

I took some advice from those forums, and moved the lathe into my shop (my wife was the only help I required) one piece at a time-first the legs, then the bed, then the head and tailstock. Everything cleaned up nice with mineral spirits and bolted together easily. The fit and finish of the lathe is excellent! I compared it to other cast iron tools in my shop made in USA and could not fault any part of the Jet. I had to buy a 220 volt plug before I could turn it on, but when I did the lathe performed perfectly. If there is any vibration at all then it is very slight and exists at around 1500 rpm where the lathe seems to resonate. But I would not really call it vibration. You cannot feel it unless you put your hand directly on the headstock. It isn't really fair of me to mention it. The only reason I do is because it is purely relative, and otherwise, I can't feel a thing when the lathe is running. Tools do not vibrate off the bed when I am working anymore and the lathe is very, very quite.

The lathe is heavy! Yeah! The cast iron legs are great! I built a platform and loaded it down with lots of wood blanks, adding about 200 more lbs to the lathe. I checked the indexing and can tell you that the positions are accurate and rock solid. All the locking mechanisms are solid. The tailstock is massive and self ejecting (a feature not mentioned on many lathes). I pushed the tail up to the head with centers installed and the alignment was perfect everywhere on the bed. I am looking forward to pushing the head to the end of the bed and doing some serious outboard turning, and at no extra cost!

So, in general, I got everything I wanted. If there is anything I would suggest to Jet it is the following: (1) I would put the reverse switch somewhere where it can't be bumped or lock it. (2) The indexing pin, which screws into the index hole (a nice feature), is too easily lost. It needs to be attached to the lathe. A small issue, but I wouldn't want to have to go through the hassle of ordering another one. I'm going to make a rotating attachment on the end of a chain. (3) The headstock is a bit cumbersome. It interferes with an overhand grip when working close to the spindle. This can be very annoying. But to be fair, this is minor because an overhand grip is unnecessary for spindle turning and it is not an issue for bowl turning.

A small note: The 1642 is really a small version of the Powermatic. It is the same design, just smaller. So for about $700.00 more you can upgrade to a 20 inch lathe. I would be more cautious concerning the 24 inch model. It been known to have problems and is designed differently.

The greatest inventions are alwsys the simple ones. This tool does a better job at $25 than expensive mortise and tenon makers costing hundreds and in some cases thousands of dollars. The basic idea is brilliant and works great. Just be sure to really clamp the jig down hard.

The only improvement that I can imagine is a way to clamp the jig on varied pieces. For 3/4" stock the current setup can't be beat. To use it on other thicknesses is not as simple and easy.

This thing just flat out works.

Four legs with twenty-four mortises. That's my count on the Mission buffet I'm building. To complete this project in a reasonable amount of time, the BeadLOCK Kit has been a timesaver. After only one practice cut, I went to work. Excellent results when you follow the instructions. Suggest users not clamp the tool using the Irvin-style squeeze clamps. Not strong enough and the drill guide can and will move. C-clamp or a vise is recommended to prevent massive headaches. Prices vary so shop for the best deal. Simple idea that really does work as advertised.

I have used a variety of different mortaise and tenon cutters and systems including chain mortisers, mortaiseur a bedan in France that cost $40,000, and mortaise cutters on drill presses. This is the best and simplest system I have ever seen for cutting and placing floating tenons. From the first joint I made that only took five minutes the joint was tight and straight. It is absolutely the most accurate mortaise and tenon system I have ever seen and also the fastest. I encourage all woodworkers to try this system as it is a major breakthrough tool.

What a perfect tool for cutting Hardi-Backer, sheetrock, and thin boards. Easy depth setting, good dust collection (especially when hooked to a vacuum with the built dust port), and lightweight. Need to cut out a section of drywall without going too deep? Set the depth, mark the wall, and start cutting. Much faster than any other tool. Wish it had a case for it, but oh well. Can't have everything!

THis item had been discontinued by Makita . ALl gone! RIP!

Our company has been using this saw for several years with great results. In an environment where low dust is tolerated this is the saw to use. We use it with metal cutting blades and have acheived great results.

This gun works much better than the Senco guns I have, although I don't like the cord. Easy to change the depth, or size of the screw, tool-free. I have had the same problem as others, a lot of the Senco screws do not work with this gun, but the Pam fasteners work better than Makita collated screws.

I was laying over 3000 sq ft of hardibacker. It seemed a perfect job for an autofeed screwdriver. I bought a SENCO because my local store was out of the Makita. The SENCO couldn't sink the screws through the Hardibacker. I went to the local rental shop and got a professional version of the SENCO. It was better, but I still had to finish off setting every screw. Finally, I found this Makita. It handled the job perfectly.

This product is very well made. Its construction is clearly heavy duty not like some of the other brands that I bought and returned. Drives the screws perfectly every time -- plenty of reserve power. All of the adjustments are on the tool and thus do not require external tools.

Excellent tool. The polisher is easy to control once you get the hang of it. It easily, quickly, and with plenty of power applied the liquid car wax I was using. The tool felt well balanced and well behaved. The speed control is delightful to experience - maintains the same speed under load or no load conditions.

The tool came with two bonnets, one to apply compound and another for final polishiing. The compounding bonnet is the only one I used since I discovered this same bonnet also polishes to a deep luster as the wax you're applying hazes over - the bonnet polishes this haze to nice deep shine. I also used a small spray bottle of water to wet small areas to help spread the wax - it worked great. I am ordering two new compounding bonnets for spares. Suggest you test out the bonnets and find out for yourself before ordering more....

I am really happy with this tool, and I feel it is well worth the money. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to buy a similar tool.

The Makita 9227 buffer is one of the top two if not the best available. It has more than enough power and with the electronic speed control, maintains RPMs even when putting pressure on the tool if used as a sander/grinder. The handle is probably the best feature of this tool, giving you great control when buffing/polishing.

Great polisher,easy to use,plenty of power,I would highly recomend the polisher to anyone.I dont like the polishing pads that came with it(they work good but get fuzz everywhere)I planned on getting foam pads anyway.
Great web site Amazon

I have owned Dewalt, Delta, Hitachi, Ryobi. Hands down this makita is the best saw. End of story.

Over the years I have owned the DeWALT DW708, I've recently tried the Bosch 4412, and recently purchased the Makita LS1013, this Makita saw is PERFECT.

It cuts precisely and accurately right out of the box. I did not have to adjust anything, and am very happy with this saw.

This 10" saw can do most things a 12" can, and since it's a 10" there is no blade deflection, as often experienced on 12" models.

I LOVE this saw, it's dead-on accurate and very comfortable to use. Only thing worth noting is that the left / right miter control is set-off to the right side of the saw, not up-front like other comparable brands. This is taking me some time to get used to, as I'm used to the miter control being located up front. I've been using this saw for a few days, and am slowly getting used to this feature.

The most important thing in a dual-bevel compound sliding miter saw (or any saw for that matter) is accurate cuts, and this saw delivers just that flawlessly!

I have never owned Makita tools, in fact up until now I have been a die-hard DeWALT fan. However, I did not like the new DeWALT DW718, and my DW708 was in need of replacement.

After trying the Bosch 4412, which was a HUGE disappointment, I decided to try the Makita saw, after hearing many professional carpenters highly recommending them.

This saw is easily THE best SCMS I have ever owned, and I would 100% recommend this saw to everyone who needs an accurate, precise saw for cutting and installing fine trim molding! Don't get me wrong, this saw can be used for cutting 2x stock, 4x stock, etc but it shines when cutting detailed trim molding!

Well, I've used the saw atleast a dozen times since I purchased it. It was already zeroed in on 0 degrees and all the standard miter/bevel stops. They do provide instructions and a precision triangle if any fine tuning needs to be done. I've cut over 2 dozen oak and brazilian cherry 4" posts (very hard wood for building staircases) and the saw has performed flawlessly. The laser is online although I have to admit I'm old fashioned and don't us it much. I did make some blind cuts with and without the laser to check it's accuracy incase I ever needed it...and it was right on!!!!!

If you want a right angle drill with the power to drill most anything this is it. It is a little on the heavy side but will do the job. We use this drill for "Maxis" wire puller. It does an outstanding job.

The new "Super Hawg" is what all hole drills should be. As a Southeast Texas homebuilder I put it through it's paces and it has turned some of the dreaded work into pleasure. I shopped all of the hole drills before chosing this one. It costs a little more than the others but it is worth it. I am very impressed with it's high quality construction, power, and comfort. The swiveling trigger handle is a feature all hole drills should have. The more powerful motor, (almost twice the competition), is put to good use running the drill at higher RPM's than all of the competitor's. This is one fast hole drill.

This is an improved version of the Hole-Hawg. This new tool has more power, easier to use, and fits into tight spaces better. I depend on Milwaukee tools for my livelihood and they delivered a great new tool with this one.

Our company bought a few of these drills about 5yrs ago. They are all still going strong (the Bosch drills have burned up). Most drills rated by the manufacturers for 7/8" say they can handle 7/8" drilling periodically, but their mainstay is 1/4-1/2". These Milwaukee drills have been put through the wringer with our guys using up to 1&1/8" hammer bits going through solid block walls with very little effort. Milwaukee's 3/8" hammer is also a strong workhorse that is worth every cent.

This Milwaukee 1\2" 5370-6 Hammer Drill gets the job done! I had a DeWalt cordless hammer drill for 3 years and except for masonry mortar work, it was just a good drill that was a play toy at cracking and drilling concrete! When I found this Milwaukee model at a close out price, I purchased it and sold the cordless. I shouldn't have waited this long . I always wanted the Milwaukee drill. Powerful, reliable, lightweight, built like a tank and indestructible! It will drill through anything I can put in front of it. This is a very high quality tool with a Great reputation. I though I could kill two birds with one drill?! NOT! Got a new "Cordless Drill" separately for convenience and this Milwaukee to lay the hammer down! Would have been worth the full price 3 years ago, but I'll live and learn!

This Milwaukee #5370-6 1/2" MAGNUM hole shooter is the absolute best in drilling in masonry or brick. It chews it apart with little effort on the user! This tool uses the masonary bits and drives them two steps further in the implemantation of drilling holes for either fasteners to be placed inside or holes for your wires to run through. I have pysically wasted two other well known brand name drills {AEG! } because they just were not TOUGH ENOUGH. This Milwaukee drill IS tough enough to do the job and I just wish I had bought this in the first place. If you are going to do a job: use the right tool and go to Milwaukee Tools as they have the toughest tools that outlast the jobs!

This is the third polisher I have purchased, the first two were inexpensive Craftsman units and neither lasted very long. I have owned a Milwaukee sawzall for twenty years and it has been great. This Polisher is every bit up to the quality I expected. I have used it for polishing and sanding and its power and speed range are up to the tasks. Changing sanding disks or polishing bonnets is quick and easy with no tools required, also the speed control feature makes using the unit almost fool proof. The Bottom line is you get what you pay for.

I have looked all of the polishers available here at Amazon. Using something at 1750 RPMs might be ok for some finishes, but to get true high quality gloss, you need a 2400 RPM machine. Less than that, you don't bring up deep gloss. More than that, with the speed of a sander or grinder (4500=6000 RPM) will burn your finish right up.
This Milwaukee has the right speed, and it is variable if you want to go into a different level of polishing, than the automotive level. With 11 amps in the motor, you are sure to have the kind of power that will guarantee a constant speed, even when you have a 7" bonnet loaded with compound.
Another great feature is the locking collet. I had a body shop for 20 years, did a lot of high end cars, personally spent more hours on a 7" polisher than would be believable if I stated it, seriously, and locking collet would be a dream come true. Most polishers have an allen wrench based nut in the center of them, which holds the rubber backing pad to the shaft. When it is time to change a pad, it is often frustrating, because of the center nut. All you can do to change the pad is hold on to the backing pad, and use an allen wrench. That resulted in a slipping backing pad, sliding around the spindle. To have a locking collet is an engineering dream for a polisher.
Since polishers require a lot more torque, and beefy components, than a grinder, it is comforting to know that this Milwaukee has helical gearing, and all ball and roller bearings.
I have come to appreciate the heavy duty build on Milwaukee tools. Their new Lok Tor cordless drills are the highest torque in the industry. Their 11 amp sawzall is the best, and the list goes on.
I noticed a comment in the editorial review, that a pro might need more speed. NOT. This polisher covers the proper speed. A burn mark in a polished finish, looks like a raising of the material, in a little series of ridges. Another peril of too much speed is a quick burn through the finish, revealing base coats for example primer. I mention this because this is the heavy duty unit. You don't need something faster, or more powerful. You would be hard pressed to find another tool out there that does the job better. The competition, with less power, slower speeds, and that funny handle that goes over the top of the polisher is not what you want. I went into the local home center and felt that handle position just today. It is uncomfortable for polishing. You want your hand out out to one side of the head, just the way this Milwaukee is. They further enable you to choose a side, in the event that you are left handed. It gives you a wider stance with a side handle, which equals better control.
All in all this is a five star piece of equipment. It costs a little more than the competition, but the extra money is put in the tool. Highly recommended.

This is the best High speed Polisher i have evre used.It's light and easy to use.not only has it out lasted my outher polishers it stil works like it's new. It also has the best feel to the hands,it never heats up or slows down it's one Heavev Duty tool.

Unlike DeWalt, Milwaukee used the same design of their electric saw to build a cordless. The early model had less than spectacular quick-change clamp but that was remedied quite nicely.

Just want to say that it's great Milwaukee offers the "tool only" so we don't have to keep purchasing batteries and chargers. I've purchased 2 milwaukee cordless tools with 2 batteries and a charger each, and then was able to purchase this saw and a work light without those items. So now I have a bettery for each tool and a backup charger, and they all fit in one case....beautiful!!!

P.S....I've had the 18 volt drill, circle saw, sawzall and light for well over a year now and use them heavily , no problems, excellent tools.

I'm a concrete and masonry contractor and my guys use this tool for everything from cutting forms to cutting roots in their way. Exceptional performance, we usually use up two batteries in a day, but the fast charge can usually keep up. Almost indistructable, have seen it droped from over 8 ft. from scaffolding and just bounce. The keyless chuck is fantastic. I have had too many tools with keys or allen wrenches sit in the truck unused for the want of a key. Have had the tool for over two years and am still using the original batteries but, this morning the battery charger gave up the ghost. I guess thats what you get for leaving it out in the rain a half of douzen times, more or less. I do not buy cheap tools, I feel that my employees deserve the best to make them the best. If I only had enough money to buy one tool this would be it.