I wouldn't say it's too small for bowls. It's just hard to make full-size bowls on a lathe like that. I have a Jet 12x20 with the same swing as OP's, but OP's motor is 1HP, and mine is only 3/4HP. I've done things like this.

It's hard to make anything all the way out to the 12" diameter, both because you have to start with perfectly round stock and not move in much from there, and because it does slow down a lot under tool pressure out at that radius, but it's possible. It's not ideal, of course, but if you're only doing 8"-10", it's fine. Vibration can be handled by mounting it to a solid workbench.

I'm not saying OP shouldn't go for a bigger lathe, but the Jet was already around $700 (~$560 on Amazon currently), and I bought a floor model with some dings in it which dropped the price quite a bit, but that was the limit for me. I couldn't spend any more than that. I'll upgrade one day, but for now it's been great to learn on.

Of OP's choices, I'd go with Delta, but neither really look as beefy as my Jet.

u/daggum · 1 point r/woodworking

I'm aching to get one of these:
http://www.amazon.com/708359-JWL-1642EVS-Horsepower-Electronic-Woodworking/dp/B00064NGRE/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&amp;colid=34KGFQMYY58HA&amp;coliid=IEN3I3M8D2S2L

But this may be to large for your needs. Check into mini lathes or medi lathes. This may be more to your liking:
http://www.amazon.com/Jet-708376-JWL-1220-12-Inch-20-Inch/dp/B0011TEG7C/ref=lp_16426771_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1377028560&amp;sr=1-2

u/carycary · 1 point r/woodworking

Its an older model, this one.

http://www.amazon.com/Jet-708376-JWL-1220-12-Inch-20-Inch/dp/B0011TEG7C/ref=pd_sxp_grid_i_2_0

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