There is a variable speed conversion available for the jet delta and turncrafter lathes. I am wondering if anyone has done this, how hard is it and how well does it work. The ads indicate the need for drilling a hole in the motor mount. I have never been very successful in drilling metal but now I have more tools available. I am particularly interested in the low end range. Is it really true variable speed from nearly 0 to max on the given belt pulley or is there a minimum speed? I know on my small variable speed lathes the beginning speed is about 650 or so. I really do not like changing pulleys.

John
God bless the troops and USA

I added it to my Turncrafter Pro and it was the best thing I ever did. I didn't have to drill anything and it took about 5 minutes. I think the hole drilling depends on what lathe you have. There are 3 belt position/speed ranges (I THINK this is true on all lathes) Low 6 to 1450 rpm, Medium 1250 to 2800 and Fast 1600 - 3800. I have never taken mine off of medium and bore/turn woods and acrylics. I would highly recommend this kit to anyone. BTW, it is a NEW motor

Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!

How old is your turncrafter. I have one (I am at the other house now) and I recall more than three pulley positions. Of course when I get home I can just look.

There are for positions on the upper pully on the Turncrafter Pro, but the new motor and pul;ly with the conversion kit has only 3 and they line up with 3 of the 4 on the upper pully. If you already have the Turncrafter Pro, yousimply mount the new unit!! The motor/bracket/pully was alredy assembled when it came and all I had to do was switch it out - 5 minutes!!

Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!

I added the Turncrafter vari-speed kit to my JET mini(1014) with very little adaptation. In fact the Jet conversion instructions were with the kit. In a nutshell, you don't use the motor plate from Turncrafter. You remove your existing motor and adjustment plate and drill your plate to match the new vari-speed motor. It requires you to be fairly precise on where the holes are drilled but nothing that the average guy couldn't do. About a 1/2 hour is all it took. Like Mike, I use the middle pulley setting and the rheostat gives me all the range I need. Can you live without it? Of course, but for a little over $100, I sure like it better now.