# JET JWL-1221VS 12" x 21" Variable Speed Wood Lathe vs Rikon 70-220VSR 12-1/2" x 20" Midi VSR Lathe: specs and price compared

A sourced, side-by-side comparison of the JET JWL-1221VS 12" x 21" Variable Speed Wood Lathe (JET) and Rikon 70-220VSR 12-1/2" x 20" Midi VSR Lathe (Rikon) among wood lathes. Rikon 70-220VSR 12-1/2" x 20" Midi VSR Lathe is the cheaper of the two at $649.99.

## Side by side

| Spec | JET JWL-1221VS 12" x 21" Variable Speed Wood Lathe | Rikon 70-220VSR 12-1/2" x 20" Midi VSR Lathe |
| --- | --- | --- |
| US price | $989.99 | $649.99 |
| Brand | JET | Rikon |
| Swing over bed (in) | 12.5 | 12.5 |
| Distance between centers (in) | 21 | 20 |
| Motor power hp | 1 | 1 |
| Speed range (rpm) | 60-3600 | 250-750 / 550-1650 / 1300-3850 |
| 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 | 115 |

## Key differences

- Distance between centers (in): JET JWL-1221VS 12" x 21" Variable Speed Wood Lathe 21 vs Rikon 70-220VSR 12-1/2" x 20" Midi VSR Lathe 20
- Speed range (rpm): JET JWL-1221VS 12" x 21" Variable Speed Wood Lathe 60-3600 vs Rikon 70-220VSR 12-1/2" x 20" Midi VSR Lathe 250-750 / 550-1650 / 1300-3850
- Weight (lb): JET JWL-1221VS 12" x 21" Variable Speed Wood Lathe 121.25 vs Rikon 70-220VSR 12-1/2" x 20" Midi VSR Lathe 115

## Sources

- JET JWL-1221VS 12" x 21" Variable Speed Wood Lathe: https://jettools.com/jwl-1221vs-12-x-21-variable-speed-wood-lathe (jettools.com, verified 2026-08-01)
- Rikon 70-220VSR 12-1/2" x 20" Midi VSR Lathe: https://web.archive.org/web/20230401182946/https://www.rikontools.com/manuals/70-220VSR.pdf (web.archive.org, verified 2026-08-01)

Canonical: https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/wood-lathes/jet-jwl-1221vs-vs-rikon-70-220vsr/
Cite: Per The Front Desk Review, JET JWL-1221VS 12" x 21" Variable Speed Wood Lathe ($989.99) vs Rikon 70-220VSR 12-1/2" x 20" Midi VSR Lathe ($649.99) — sourced spec-by-spec comparison at https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/wood-lathes/jet-jwl-1221vs-vs-rikon-70-220vsr/
License: CC BY 4.0.