I have some money coming the end of January. It's not enough to get a full sized lathe. I don't have anything specific in mind to use it for right now, and I have toyed with the idea of perhaps upgrading to a Jet 1220. What do ya'll think? Should I upgrade, knowing I will eventually move on to a full sized lathe, or should I wait. I think it will probably be a couple of years before I end up in a full sized.

If I don't go the 1220 route, I will need to decide on what other goodies to get. I've tried holding onto my extra money and end up frittering it away on nickel and dime stuff, with little to show for it down the road.

Hmmm, tuff one. I'd say wait untill you have the money to do the full size, but I too know how the money just seems to slip away as time goes on. When I need to save for a period of time I go to my human bank, the wife. Now she doesn't pay any interest, but the girl knows how to hold on to money. She's funny, she'll ask me on what terms can I get the money back, before agreeing to take it. If I tell her not to give it to me until I have the amount needed for purchase, so be it. It's my money, but it is safer in her hands

Give it some thought first. The other thing is to consider doing a slightly used lathe. You can get a good deal every now and then.

My question would be, "What will the 1220 allow you to do that your current lathe would not, and is that difference enough to justify the investment?" Also, if you did decide to get the 1220, you could probably sell your current lathe and get a few goodies with that income.