Woodworker's Journal 2009-33-5, страница 54

Tool Review

I JWL-1220VS $599.99

Motor size: 3/4 hp, 110 volts Swing: 12" over bed; 9³/s" over rest Distance between centers: 20" Speed range: 200-4,300 rpm Weight: 106 lbs www.wmhtoolgroup.com (800) 274-6848

JET JWL-1220VS

The manual-speed brother of this lathe has been around for years. It's probably the most popular first lathe for new turners, with good reason: here's a proven tool with sturdy components, two tool-rest sizes and enough power to get modest-sized turnings done right. It's also the only one with carry handles to make the machine reasonably portable. After repeatedly hulking these machines on and off my bench, trust me: the handles are worth their weight in gold. The rest of this test group should come with handles, too.

Adding variable speed control makes this "steady Eddie" lathe even more convenient, and I love the on-board worklight and both 6" and 10" tool-rest sizes. But, I have two concerns about the speed control box. It's hinged to double as the bottom pulley-access door. The steel clip latch was finicky to adjust, so the box either wouldn't stay

closed or was too tight to open. It just needs a better latch. Second, lathes can be dangerous, especially to a curious child. The basic toggle switch that powers up this tool has no lockout provision. A safety switch would be a sensible improvement.

All in all, this JET is a respectable tool, but it falls a little short on some important features.

Rikon 70-200EVS

Brand-new to market, Rikon's 70-200EVS lathe seems thoughtfully engineered and ready to take the competition to task with a couple of impressive features. First, it is outfitted with a 1/2 hp AC motor, controlled by a variable frequency drive inverter. Rikon tells me that this sophisticated controller adjusts line frequency to help reduce electrical and mechanical stress at startup. It also provides soft start, monitors torque output and helps the motor run cooler. In testing, the motor purred like a kitten and ran noticeably cooler than the rest. In fact, it barely warmed up to the

When spur and live centers line up, it's a good indication that spindles will turn on one axis. JET's accuracy was spot-on in this regard.

Carry handles make it much easier to tote this lathe off-site or on and off your benchtop.

JET (and Delta) provide both 6" and 10" tool-rests — a beneficial combination for working in either tight quarters or on long spindles.

touch, while the other lathe motors became really toasty. Since heat is a motor's undoing, I imagine this inverter will extend the motor's service life, which means good return on investment over time.

Motor controls aside, the 70-200EVS sports four bearings in the headstock instead of two, to help spread out spindle loads and keep things spinning smoothly. In an effort to combat creeping along the bed, Rikon designed the tailstock's sole several inches longer than the other machines. It locked down like a vise. I appreciated the 8" tool-rest provided here, as well as the pushbutton kill switch. A safety lock-out would make that even better.

During testing, the lathe powered through my turnings. But, moving the belt's position to different speed ranges would have been easier if the doors had a latch instead of an Allen bolt. I also noticed that chips accumulate on top of the motor and inverter box, and they're tougher to clean out of the narrow bed slot.

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October 2009 Woodivorker's Journal