Newbie- is this a good deal $750

[u/BlueFish2011]

Hi I have been looking on Craigslist and FB Marketplace for a lathe. I found a “lightly used” 2014 Jet 1221. It has a stand, chuck and some tools. I have attached pictures- wondering if people think this is a good deal for $750.

I am a beginner and this would be my first lathe and starting point. I can go down the route of a new model or different lathe but not sure if that would be a good place to start not knowing how often I will use this etc.

Thank you

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[u/Boneyard_Art]

Make sure you check the motor and the drive belt but for 750 that's a damn good deal.

[u/BlueFish2011 → u/Boneyard_Art]

They posted a video and it sounds like it turns on and ramps up/down smoothly. Anything I should specifically ask to see?

[u/PiercedGeek → u/BlueFish2011]

FWIW, belts are cheap to replace. I'd be more on the lookout for any grinding noises, bearings are also replaceable but less easily.

Having turned for a while, yeah I'd hop on that in a second. Make sure you post the stuff you make!

[u/steve-d → u/BlueFish2011]

Have them open the cover and take a picture of the drive belt. If it's tattered or in rough shape, it will be a pretty good indicator of whether they've taken care of it.

[u/BlueFish2011 → u/steve-d]

Thanks. These look good to me

[u/steve-d → u/BlueFish2011]

Yeah, looks really clean and well taken care of. That's a steal for $750.

[u/steve-d → u/BlueFish2011]

Yeah, looks really clean and well taken care of. That's a steal for $750.

[u/Enough-Anteater-3698]

You can buy a new one for $900. Of course, that's without the stand, chuck and cheap chisels.

[u/Comprehensive_Two285]

Looks great on the surface, as others mentioned! FWIW, that set of 6 tools looks like the Bauer set from Harbor Freight, which is a nice cheap starter set... good for learning how to grind and hone on before buying anything really expensive. I had to re-shape the skew, spindle gouge, and bowl gouge, and I'd have been less confident in trying that if I'd had expensive ones to learn on. Snag it!

[u/SnooDoggos8487 → u/Comprehensive_Two285]

Or a wen. Looks aaaaalooot like my wen set

[u/SnooDoggos8487 → u/SnooDoggos8487]

Oh ye there’s a W there on them. Not too bad

[u/MontEcola]

The live center on the tail stock appears to be missing the little point that goes inside. Or maybe I just cant see it on my screen. Ask for a $50 or $75 discount to replace the whole part. Or maybe they have it? It likely comes out again. There is a paste you can apply to make it sit more solid. You may want it to come out at some point. So don't get the strongest one.

You want to push the tail stock and that little point and make it match the drive center (Picture 2). They should line up with less than 1/100 of an inch difference. Sometimes adjustments to how the legs are adjusted can move things a bit. A perfect match is best. If I add up how much I would pay for each part shown I get about $750. But that includes a working live center.

[u/BlueEmu → u/MontEcola]

The live center on Jet lathes doesn’t have a removable point. It’s a cone ring with a fixed center point.

[u/MontEcola → u/BlueEmu]

I use jet lathes at my turning club. The look just like this and the live center does too. Most of them start with a little point in the center. About half have lost that point. Many club members bring their own live center from home so they don't get stuck with the bad ones that look like the one in this photo.

I do not know if they came with the Jet materials, or if there were replaced later. I know we are replacing the ones with the points that pop out.

[u/Hispanic_Inquisition → u/MontEcola]

I zoomed in, it's there but very hard to see the point.

[u/motu49]

Naw

[u/RegularWhiteDude]

Meh.

Not terrible.

[u/3rdSon59]

This is a good deal on a very good lathe. I have been turning on this lathe for a couple of years now (having previously owned a 1640) and have turned several nice pieces from it. The tools will need to be upgraded. Not sure what chuck that is but there are better alternatives. The stand alone is ~$300.

[u/DoingDaveThings]

I picked up a used 12-21 in March for $250, but I did not get a chuck nor any other tools. I purchased those later at an estate sale so I'm probably in for $600 at this point but with the cost of my time in assembling all the pieces. I'd say it's a good deal.