JET
JET JWL-1221VS 12" x 21" Variable Speed Wood Lathe
$989.99
Best Wood Lathes · head-to-head
JET JWL-1221VS 12" x 21" Variable Speed Wood Lathe vs NOVA Comet II DR Midi Lathe
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. NOVA Comet II DR Midi Lathe is cheaper at $599.99. Every spec and price links to its source.
Nova (Teknatool)
NOVA Comet II DR Midi Lathe
$599.99Cheaper
Which is better: the JET JWL-1221VS 12" x 21" Variable Speed Wood Lathe or NOVA Comet II DR Midi Lathe?
The NOVA Comet II DR Midi Lathe wins 1 of the 1 specs we compare head to head; the other wins 0. The NOVA Comet II DR Midi Lathe is the cheaper at $599.99. The NOVA Comet II DR Midi Lathe both leads on specs and costs less — the straightforward pick.
See JET JWL-1221VS 12" x 21" Variable Speed Wood Lathe on Amazon See NOVA Comet II DR Midi Lathe on Amazon
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Full spec sheet
✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec | JET JWL-1221VS 12" x 21" Variable Speed Wood Lathe | NOVA Comet II DR Midi Lathe |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $989.99 | $599.99 |
| Brand | JET | Nova (Teknatool) |
| Released | — | — |
| Swing over bed (in) | 12.5 | 12 |
| Distance between centers (in) | 21 | 16.5 |
| Motor power hp | 1 | 0.75 |
| Speed range (rpm) | 60-3600 | 250-4000 |
| Variable speed | Yes | Yes |
| Spindle thread | 1 x 8 TPI | 1 x 8 TPI |
| Bed material | Cast iron | Cast iron |
| Tailstock taper | MT2 | MT2 |
| Weight (lb) | 121.25 | 84 |
Sources — JET JWL-1221VS 12" x 21" Variable Speed Wood Lathe: jettools.com (verified 2026-08-01). NOVA Comet II DR Midi Lathe: teknatool.com (verified 2026-08-01).
What's the difference between the JET JWL-1221VS 12" x 21" Variable Speed Wood Lathe and NOVA Comet II DR Midi Lathe?
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (5 of 9). Matching specs are omitted.
- Swing over bed (in): JET JWL-1221VS 12" x 21" Variable Speed Wood Lathe 12.5 vs NOVA Comet II DR Midi Lathe 12
- Distance between centers (in): JET JWL-1221VS 12" x 21" Variable Speed Wood Lathe 21 vs NOVA Comet II DR Midi Lathe 16.5
- Motor power hp: JET JWL-1221VS 12" x 21" Variable Speed Wood Lathe 1 vs NOVA Comet II DR Midi Lathe 0.75
- Speed range (rpm): JET JWL-1221VS 12" x 21" Variable Speed Wood Lathe 60-3600 vs NOVA Comet II DR Midi Lathe 250-4000
- Weight (lb): JET JWL-1221VS 12" x 21" Variable Speed Wood Lathe 121.25 vs NOVA Comet II DR Midi Lathe 84