JET Reviews

I recently recieved this sander although I ordered the version with the enclosed base(a nice option- good storage underneath for belts and discs- you have to go through all the Jet listings on Amazon to find it). Its very nice- lots of power, the spring loaded belt tension arm is a nice touch, although the tracking adjustment requires attention more often than other sanders I've used - it does the job though. The dust collection works pretty well, the miter gauge isn't very accurate, but for normal wood-working it should suffice. Nice machine, my second Jet tool.

Tried to bog it down just to test it.....it is TOUGH....it is a little hard to get used to the belt tracking mechanism, but once you master it...you have a really durable tool.

This combination disk/belt sander replaced a Sears disk/belt sander. I didn't know how bad it was until I got the Jet sander set-up and running. The factory where they built the sander has a very good workforce to build a VERY GOOD product. With this in mind, I will buy another Jet product in the future.

This stand is very well engineered...both in design and ergonomics. As a professional woodturner, I've used many lathes and stands. For a mini lathe (Jet, Delta, Carb-a-tec, Rikon, General, Vicmark, etc), its THE stand to get. Very sturdy and adjustable. The fact that there is nothing at your feet directly under the bed of the lathe makes it VERY nice. The only drawback (if any) is the fact it doesn't fold up and takes up a bit of room in the shop. But its worth it to have a stable, comfortable turning platform.

I ordered this stand with the JET mini variable speed lathe. They arrived together. I had the lathe on the stand in about an hour. As a non-woodworking grandma I found it easy to assemble and not so heavy that I couldn't do it by myself. I am waiting for a rolling cart to arrive so that I can wheel it around in the barn and use it where it is easy to clean up after use. Sweep those shaving out the door! Buy one and you will like it. Sure saves on workbench space.

It's not like you couldn't build something this good or use a Workmate, as I did for a couple of years, but this stand is nicely made, stable, and easy to assemble. The paint and finish are the same as the lathe.
I have two Jet mini lathes, one of which I made a stand for (the non-variable speed), and a variable speed which I bought this stand for because I didn't have time to make one and the Workmate does not allow a compfortable stance while working. The lathe is fairly small and you need to be able to get up close to it or you will find that the bending over for any length of time causes back aches. The Jet JML-S is built without restriction at the front and allows a height adjustment range of 3-4 inches.
I initially set it all the way up, but found that about the middle was right for me. Quick and easy change.
Sometimes it's worth it to spend a little more and save some time.

This bag is perfect for what I need: I am a graduate student. My typical load consists of: a 6lb laptop with all the accessories. Plus several books, notepads and printouts.

The bag has enough room for all the stuff abovementioned but is tightly constructed so with even 20 lbs on my back, it doesn't swing left and right when I walk.

It also has the right combination of padding and pockets. The only feature I wished for was the ability to stand on its own under all load conditions (when load is too light or too heavy, you have to lean it against something).

Overall, highly recommended.

I bought this bag after long searches for a good backpack to lug to England with me that would fit my laptop and my other electronic gadgets. I'd planned on using it only on my trip, but after one time carrying it to class, I haven't stopped using it!

This bag can hold quite a big laptop. It's padded for the laptop's protection, but not so much that it makes the bag super-heavy. I have back-to-back classes, and I can fit all of my books in it plus my laptop. There's a pocket in the main compartment perfect for my cables, too. The large front pocket is divided into several smaller ones and comes with a CD case that's hooked on to a clip. The CD pouch is also padded to protect your CD player. There are pockets for pens and pencils, an ID tag, and a mesh pocket for money or other stuff. There's a large pocket in front of this pocket that I keep my cellphone, pens, pencils, highlighters, gum, and keys in. Two side pockets (one that holds a water bottle) make this backpack perfect for my trip and perfect for school. The shoulder straps are also padded for maximum comfort.

This is definitely a great backpack, and I'll be carrying it probably until I finish college and on whatever trips I go on.

I go to college and use this bag on a daily basis. It carries my laptop all around campus, along with books, a big water bottle, and anything else I need. It is absolutely perfect.

If you can afford it then it is clearly worth it. I wish I bought it 2 years ago. I bought it without the remote but purchased remote separately from woodcraft.

I recently purchased the DC-1100C Canister Unit (without remote)and found the assembly very easy and was quite pleased with the quality of the product. However, I went to the supplied manual to make the necessary changes to operate the unit at 230V and upon removing the switch mechanism faceplate I did not see the wiring hook-up illustrated in the manual. At this point I assume that I must go one more step and go directly to the motor wiring to make the change (behind the switch mechanism). This would require cutting the nylon strap to gain access. I also assume that I should not make any changes to the On/Off switch wiring.

Need help/clarification.

Thanks

I bought this dust collector last fall and have been very pleased with it. I have a small custom furniture business building mission furniture in white oak and also use lots of hard maple and cherry. I currently have one 4" flex 10' long hose on this DC connected to my cabinet saw and the other alternates between a 12 1/2 Dewalt planer and my jointer. This DC keeps up with the planer surfacing 10-12 wide white oak without blinking. I have successfully used the DC on two machines at the same time and had plenty of suction.

I also use blast gates when only using one machine or switching connections with the DC running. Eventually I would like to hook up a short system with metal duct and have no doubt with blast gates this will do well.

This went together easily and quickly. The remote lives in my shop apron and the timer is nice to put the DC on for a set amount of time. It is not terribily noisy either.

The canister cleans easily with the flapper and the bag holds a lot of sawdust. The canister is a vast improvement over filter bags in ease of use and filer efficency. I have been dumping the bag out into a large trash can and I am still on the original bag after about 25 cycles of unloading saw dust. It came with 5 clear bags.

I run the DC at 115v on a dedicated 20 amp circuit without any problems.

I would buy this DC again without hesitation. I am a Jet fan and have a 14" bandsaw, small mini-lathe and a dedicated mortiser as well and I am happy with each for it's durablity in my workshop.

Buying a lathe it one of the hardest decisions you will make in putting a shop together. The possibilities are endless, and, as you move up the price curve the cost of a misjudgment can get terrifying. Unless you are willing to settle for a mini-lathe (Jet makes several good lathes in that category as well) the bigger a lathe you can buy (up to a limit) the happier you will be in the long run.

The 1642, right in the middle of the price range can turn up to a 16" inch diameter bowl and up to 40+ inches in length - in other words, a small log - is one possibility you should seriously consider. At 400+ pounds it is solid enough to dampen vibration without taking a crew to assemble or move it. With a 1-1/2 horsepower motor it has enough power to do just about everything you might want to do.

Spindle speed is controlled by a two-position belt drive (0 - 1700 rpm or 0 - 3200 rpm) and is continuously variable over those ranges. While variable speed isn't a necessity, it's amazing how quickly you learn to depend on the ability to change speed as you turn. This is a superior piece of equipment and to get something better you would have to spend at least twice as much.

There are exactly two things I don't like about this lathe. One is trivial, I would have likes an optional hand turning wheel instead of having to grab a cylindrical turning bar to turn the work about manually. This is only a problem with pieces that are too small to grab onto - like pen mandrels. The other issue is that, to turn a bowl over 16" you have to run the head to the other end of the lathe, rather than turn it in place. This means the lathe takes up a bit more space and is slightly less convenient. But if you are working in that size range you probably should be looking at a more specialized tool.

I would rate this a best buy for the amateur through semi-professional woodshop. I've been using one for a while now, and I've had no reason to regret the decision. Keep in mind that, whatever lathe you buy, your next really big expense will be equipping it with all the neat gadgets that make woodturning a world of it's own.

After fighting a Grizzly lathe for months, I unloaded it on the next sucker ( Sorry, but it was cheap... and inexpensive, too ). The Jet lathe arrived in good condition via ABF who took forever to deliver it. It is heavy, but one person can easily assemble it with a hand cart and a pair of saw horses. Beautifully built. Everything goes together without any adjustments or rebuilding. The true variable speed is a joy to use. The sliding head stock makes bowl turning feasible for left-handers. If you are going to use a lathe, hock the family silver and consider this one.

Jet really thought of everything on this lathe. I previously had a 1/2 HP lathe with turning headstock and one of those cheap stands they typically come with. This thing is HEAVY. The stand is basically two sets of cast iron legs that weigh quite a bit all by themselves. The features on this lathe make it a pleasure to use. The variable speed is simply a dial that works like one of those pushbutton/turning light switches so you can dial in any speed you like. The electronic readout is really neat too. It also has forward/reverse so you can reverse the direction for sanding.

If you're in the market for a lathe, don't opt for the cheap solution like I originally did. If you're going to get a lathe, get a good one like this one. The features it has and its convienences allow you to get better and better at the lathe over time instead of fighting the equipment. You will end up needing a little more than 1/2 HP over time. This lathe rivals ANY of those costing much more. The only way I wouldn't seriously consider this lathe was if I were going to do many large bowls.

It never has failed to do anything I asked it to do and I've had it for about 1 year now.

Excellent machine for the price, very sturdy construction, high quality build. However, it is slightly let down by the belt tracking mechanism. As reported by another reviewer, I also find I am constantly adjusting the tracking, and if the tracking lever is knocked it throws it out. Still a very nice machine though.

Awesome. Jet is the way to go! High quality and great performance.

Great piece of equipment. Very solid piece of top-notch equipment that operates quietly and vibration free. The direct-drive unit delivers plenty of power (especially when wired for 230 V) and has no belts to slip, adjust or wear out. The built-in dust collection with a single 4" connection make hooking it up to a dust collector a simple operation.

The sander weighs over 200 lbs., so have a friend or some good lifting equipment available for unpacking and assembly.

The closed cabinet base is very nice and has a much smaller footprint compared to an open stand. If you plan to move this unit, I recommend removing the installed wheels and brakes and put it on a mobile base. The no-swivel wheels are not much use unless you plan to move the sander in straight lines only. The wheels also narrow the base support enough to make the unit slightly unstable.

Like Hangtree, I have a rigid bandsaw and couldn't find a fence anywhere. This fence fits with only one modification. The rigid table is about one inch too narrow. I drilled one hole on the fence itself, now it fits great. The resaw guide is a bit too far back as well, but I don't do much resaw anyways. This fence is very sturdy and will make rigid and jet saw owners real happy.

Bought a Ridgid 14" band saw but Ridgid quit selling the rip fence for it. Tried a Craftsman, but found it to wobbly on the backside. Went for this Jet model and the rails fit right into my predrilled table holes. Had to drill a hole about 1.5" back from the end on the underside of the fence to fit my table and lock more securily. Had it installed in about 20 minutes and it locks down tight with no play. Also comes with a resaw block.

This fence is basically a miniature version of the fence found on the Jet 10" contractors style saw. It is built tough and easy to adust. Once it is adjusted, it stays that way. The fence scale is also extremely accurate and has a micro adjust pointer which can be used to bring your cuts accuracy to within a 32nd of an inch. By far, the best bandsaw fence I have seen and used.

It is heavy and well made. Comes with one sleeve. It was a wait to obtain. Seems to have limited availability. Great for
straight edges. Sleeves are also tough to find other than from Jet.

This 3" spindle assembly is substantially larger, and heavier than the standard spindles which comes with the Jet Benchtop Osciallating spindle sander. The advantage to having a larger drum is that it creates a flatter surface where the crown meets with the wood. That creates a smoother surface on larger pieces. The smaller spindles that come with the unit, range from the 2" on down to the smallest ones, which are great for getting into smaller corners etc, but on a large flat or gradual curved surface they can create dimples in the surface if you don't keep the material moving.
Is the 3" spindle neccessary? Not really, with a careful technique, you can accomplish it with the smaller spindles, but it definitely makes it easier. Highly recommended.

This kit gives you a whole different range of capability with your Jet sander. Take this kit, put your sander on a stable tool stand, and then pat yourself on the back for the money you saved by not buying a floor model sander. With this kit, your sander tackles a much broader range of tasks.

When sanding smooth, flowing curves (like the curvature in a bandsawn box, for instance), the added diameter of this piece keeps the sander from gouging troughs in your workpiece.

I highly recommend it!

I ordered 2 sets of 5 clamps. Both together with super saver shipping with other items. Each set of clamps was shipped separately, but both boxes showed up today. Big box, lots of packing bubbles. Once could fit 100 sets of these clamps in that box. And each set had its own box. Amazon can save MILLIONS of dollars just fixing their shipping and packaging problems.

The clamps look great. I have no doubt they will handle my needs. Wire clamps hold hoses (dust collection hoses) much better than band clamps. These look extremely well made, and 5 for $5 is a bargin. Great clamps, highly recommended.

This is a nice simple piece of critical equipment. If it didn't work properly, it could cause a lot of hassle (air gaps / hoses coming off). The two wires fit easily over the end of the hose and seated snuggly on each side of the hose groove and then clamped up nice with just a phillips screwdriver. The wires strattle the ribbing on the hose, creating a nice tight fit. I put a few of these wire clamps without one problem, air leak or lose hose.

The steel band clamps did not fair as well, they stripped and did not hold as tight. Go with the wire clamps!!

This wire clamp does not strip. The band clamps are worthless. I have used them both and returned all 60 of the bands.

I used to have trouble with the blade wandering. I couldn't seem to resaw stock on my bandsaw as well as other people could on their saw. One thing they all seemed to have in common was the Carter blade guides.

These guides improved the perfomance of my saw tremendously. This is so much better than replacing cool-blocks. These guides never wear out and hold the blade steady. I am very pleased.

The Carter-style roller bearings were very simple to install and adjust. I was able to go through the entire process in about 45 minutes (and that included cleaning the sawdust from the parts of the saw I haven't seen in years). Changing adjustments for different blades is also a snap.

The saw now cuts perfectly. The saw stays on the line and cuts exactly where I want it to. Jet ought to make this device standard equipment for their bandsaws.

I make a lot of bandsaw box's, so blade adjustment is pretty critical, especially with the smaller blades. This guide system is the way to go. The kit came with good instructions and only took twenty minutes to install. The added support that the guides give to the blade is worth every penny. I looked at the Carter set and the Jet set side by side and really couldn't tell the differance. So based on price I purchased the Jet guide set and am very pleased with it's performance. Adjustments are fast and easy to make even under the table. I bought another set to give to one of my friends as a birthday gift, and would reccomend them to anyone.
Update...I read somewhere that these guides are not suited for small blades...I have to differ with that opinion. I use 3/16" blades a lot, and have no difficulty adjusting these guides to the blade. I like the way they support the blade, especially in tight radius cuts. It's true that with cool blocks you don't have to be very precise in your setup, as the cool blocks won't damage a blade if they come in contact with the teeth, but they also limit the "flex" a bit. Still feel these guides are the way to go. Highly recommend.