We often see beautiful wooden bowls, cups, cheeseboards, pens, and different accessories. Have you ever wonder how these are so well designed. Well, the process of making such beautiful designs is known as woodturning, and the credit goes to the wood lathe. A wood lathe is an ideal tool for getting the best woodturning. And to get more précised and easy woodturning, you require the best wood lathe.
It is easy for the professional one to buy a wood lathe. Still, it is harder for beginners as wood lathe has many varieties and varies according to the features. But this buying process is not that hard if you follow this article precisely. In this article, we have discussed some optimal wood lathe for beginners. We have mentioned a buying guide, and some most asked questions related to the topic and this. Hope in the end you will be able to find the best one for yourself.
Check out Our other expert reviews on the best wood glue.
Top 10 Best Wood Lathe for Beginners
01. Delta Industrial 46-460 Midi Lathe
Product Features
- Made up of cast-iron
- Has a 1725 RPM motor
- 12-1/2-inch swing capacity
- Offers variable speed for more consistency
- Offers forward and reverse function for more precision
- Comes with a 6-inch, and 10-inch tool rests
Product Specifications
- Brand: Delta
- Model: 46-460
- Weight: 97 pounds
- Dimensions: 36 x 11 x 17.75 inches
Product Description and Performance
This wood lathe by Delta is well designed with heavy-duty cast iron for excellent strength and reliability. It consists of a powerful motor that can give up to 1725 RPM speed. For providing precision and consistency, it offers incredible variable speeds. This machine is also straightforward to use and has excellent reverse and forward functioning for better cutting. This high-performing machine comes with toll rests that make the cutting process stress-less.
Pros
- Plenty of power
- Excellent speed variations
- Great for sanding
- Runs smoothly
Cons
- Does not have any digital speed readout
- Poor quality control and service
02. Jet JWL-1440VSK Wood Lathe
Product Features
- Has sliding headstock pivots that can move 360 degrees
- Gives great user comfort
- Comes with improved tailstock quill locking
- Comes with a tool rest
- Offers speed variations from 400-3000 RPM
- RPM display can be easily read
Product Specifications
- Brand: JET
- Model: JWL-1440VSK
- Weight: 400 pounds
- Dimensions: 88 x 58 x 39 inches
Product Description and Performance
JET JWL-1440SK is another unique wood lathe for getting immense comfort while turning. It gives speed variations from 400 to 3000 RPM that help in both slow and fast. It is ideal for turning small workpieces and comes with an optimal display screen. This advanced technology lathe offer improves tailstock quill locking.
Pros
- High-quality product
- Very easy to adjust
- The motor is much quieter
- Works perfectly with plenty of power
Cons
- Vibrates a lot
- The lowest RPM is 400, which is not low for many projects
03. RIKON Power Tools 70-220VSR MIDI Lathe
Product Features
- Comes with a one horsepower battery
- Offers great turning capacity
- Variable speeds from 250-3850 RPM
- Comes with an electronic display
- Offers reverse and forward functions
Product Specifications
- Brand: Rikon Power Tools
- Model: 70220VSR
- Weight: 124 pounds
- Dimensions: 12 x 40.75 x 18 inches
Product Description and Performance
This wood lathe by RIKON power tool comes with a powerful one-horsepower battery that offers variable speed variations. It has excellent speed variations from 250 RPM to 3850 RPM. Also, the electronic display on this lathe helps in reading the speed of the belts. Moreover, it offers excellent reverse and forward functioning for preferred sanding and better precision.
Pros
- Excellent speed variations
- Very quiet and smooth
- Manual is accommodating
- Heavy and well made
Cons
- At times master control switch comes out
- Not suitable for heavy cuttings
04. JET JWL-1221VS Wood Lathe
Product Features
- Provides best speed control
- Comes with speed variation from 60 to 3600 RPM
- Offers great forward and reverse functioning
- Comes with ratchet style belt
- Has different speed ranges
Product Specifications
- Brand: JET
- Model: JWL-1221VS
- Weight: 136.4 pounds
- Dimensions: 32.82 x 14.56 x 21.25 inches
Product Description and Performance
If you search for a wood lathe with a brilliant locking mechanism and minimum RPM, this one is ideal. With a minimum RPM of 60, this lathe works precisely on every small piece. It offers excellent forward and reverses functioning for getting excellent sanding and finishing touch. The speed control of this wood lathe is unrivaled. It performs exceptionally well on small wood pieces.
Pros
- The locking mechanism works great
- Runs smooth and quietly
- Great reverse capacity
Cons
- Lack of quality control
- The LCD is a bit smaller
05. Laguna Tools Revo Lathe
Product Features
- Comes with a 250 Volt motor
- Great outboard swing of 32”
- High RPM it 135-3500 whereas low RPM is 50-1300
- Has a digital display board for RPM
- Comes with a spring-loaded spindle lock
Product Specifications
- Brand: Laguna Tools
- Model: MLAREVO 1836
- Weight: 441 pounds
- Dimensions: 40 x 36 x 50 inches
Product Description and Performance
This perfectly designed lathe by Laguna is perfect for turning small wood pieces like a bowl. Also, the bed of this great lathe is steel to give smooth functioning while turning. Moreover, it has a wide display screen to provide details about the speed of the belts. Overall this high-performing lathe is well constructed to give the best and précised results to the users.
Pros
- The induction motor is super quiet
- Smooth and consistent power delivery
- The LCD is very bright
- Easy speed controls
Cons
- Not handy while using
- The tailstock is at back
06. NOVA 46300 Mini Lathe
Product Features
- Great speed variation from 250-4000RPM
- Comes with ¾ horsepower motor
- Has 12” bowl turning capacity
- Digital display with dial-in speed control
- Has forward and reverse switch
Product Specifications
- Brand: Nova
- Model: 46300
- Weight: 82.4 pounds
- Dimensions: 33 x 9 x 18 inches
Product Description and Performance
NOVA 46300 wood lathe is one perfect solution for all those looking for a great turning experience. With a fantastic ¾ horsepower motor, this machine offers a significant speed variation range. It has both 250RPM minimum and a maximum that is 4000 RPM speed variants. Also, it comes with a digital display that includes a speed control system too. Furthermore, it also comes with a forward and a reverse switch to make functioning easy.
Pros
- No tools required for changing the belt
- Great speed variations
- Easy alignment
- No vibrations
Cons
- Product quality is not good
07. PSI Woodworking KWL-1218VS Midi Lathe
Product Features
- Made up of cast iron
- Has one horsepower variable speed motor
- Has 12” swing over bed
- Offers two belt options 500-1800 RPM and 1950-3800 RPM
- Built-in handles are very convenient while using
Product Specifications
- Brand: PSI Woodworking Products
- Model: KWL-1218VS
- Weight: 106 pounds
- Dimensions: 32 x 11 x 10 inches
Product Description and Performance
This KWL-1218VS wood lathe by PSI has a powerful one-horsepower motor that offers excellent strength to all wooden works. In addition to this, it has two belt options, unlike other wood lathes. The belts vary according to the speed. One can offer 500-1800 RPM speed while others can provide 1950-3800RPM. The design of the machine includes heavy-duty cast iron that makes it more robust and reliable.
Pros
- Runs very smooth
- Gives great precision
- Well build
Cons
- No reverse switching
- The light attached is of bad quality
08. Grizzly Industrial G0462 Wood Lathe
Product Features
- Has a variable speed motor of 600-2400 RPM
- Made up of heavy-duty cast iron
- Has excellent stability and minimal vibration
- Comes with quick lock and release lever
- Very handy and easy to use
Product Specifications
- Brand: Grizzly
- Model: G0462
- Weight: 354 pounds
- Dimensions: 17.5 x 63.25 x 20 inches
Product Description and Performance
Grizzly G0462 is another brilliant wood lathe for giving perfect finishes on small works like bowls, cups, and pens. It is specially designed with heavy-duty cast iron that offers excellent strength to the machine. Also, the motor of this fantastic machine offers speed variation from 600 RPM to 2400 RPM. This wood lathe is among the best as it has minimal vibrations to give précised cutting experience.
Pros
- Excellent machine for beginners
- Alignment is effortless to do
- Great functioning and power
Cons
- No reverse for sanding
- Not suitable for big projects
09. WEN 3421 Wood Lathe
Product Features
- Comes with a 3.4 Amp powerful motor
- The motor has speed variation from 750-3200 RPM
- Can fit up to 12” long and 8” wider workpieces
- Comes up with MT1 spindle and tailstock taper
- Has two interchangeable tool rests
Product Specifications
- Brand: WEN
- Model: 3421
- Weight: 44.9 pounds
- Dimensions: 28 x 13.3 x 7.6 inches
Product Description and Performance
WEN 3421 wood lathe is one ideal machine for small workpieces. It comes with a 3.4Amp motor that is strong enough to do the entire task easily. Talking about the speed variation, it offers 750 RPM as the lowest speed and 3200 RPM as maximum speed. Also, it comes with toll rests to keep the tools while working.
Pros
- Ideal for turning pens, cups, and small works
- Perfect for beginners
- Provides instant speed
Cons
- Not so durable
- At times comes with design flaws
10. Mophorn Wood Lathe
Product Features
- Made up of extreme duty iron cast material
- Comes with a 550-volt powerful motor
- Best speed variation from 500-3800RPM
- Offers large work capacity
- Comes with tool rests
Product Specifications
- Brand: Mophorn
- Model: B07KP6SD8V
- Weight: 80.8 pounds
- Dimensions: 35 x 17 x 12.5 inches
Product Description and Performance
The B07KP6SD8V by Mophorn is an excellent lather for beginners as well as professionals. It is specifically designed with a heavy-duty iron cast to provide continued strength to the machine. Moreover, it has a 550-volt powerful motor that has speed variations from 500 Rom to 3800 RPM. Overall this high-performing lathe is ideal for small-scale as well as large-scale works. It possesses excellent strength and is very reliable.
Pros
- Sturdy and durable
- Powerful motor
- Quiet and vibration-free
Cons
- The slowest speed is 700 RPM
- Quality is not up to the mark
Buying Guide
Buying a wood lathe is not easy, especially if you are a beginner and want to learn woodturning. But if you are a professional, it could be relatively easy for you. For all those beginners out there, it can be easy to buy a wood lathe. All you need to do is understand some fundamental aspects of it. Woodturning can become easy if you buy the best wood lathe for you, but if not, then it could be more difficult for you. This buying guide will discuss some essential aspects that you must consider before getting a wood lathe.
Quality
The quality of a product is the only feature that we cannot miss in any buying guide. Quality plays a comprehensive role in giving life to the lathe and giving the best results to the users. It is always suggested not to compromise with the quality. So whenever you are buying the lathe, always go for the one with a high-quality, heavy-duty metal base. Along with this, it must possess sheer strength and a powerful motor. Furthermore, it must have significant speed variations for getting précised and consistent cutting experience.
Dimensions
A wood lathe is a small machine used to make small wood pieces like a bowl, cup, pen, etc. Also, its size is not an issue if you have a garage or a shop. But if your place is too congested, it could be tough to fit the table like a lathe. It requires space equivalent to a study table. So you must consider the size of the wood lathe. If that suits your place, then go for it.
Also, dimensions play a vital role in cutting workpieces. If the tabletop dimension is too small, it will fail to cut large-size wooden pieces. So you must also consider the dimensions of the bed and the tabletop. Buy the one that perfectly suits your work.
Motor power
Motor power is vital for such time taking work. Woodturning requires much time and different RPM to get a perfectly précised result. For this, the motor plays a vital role. When we talk about ranges, every wood lathe has a different type of motor. Some are good at power, while others are good at speed. Some possess incredible strength, while others possess great technique.
Also, the RPM highly depends upon the motor. Some of the motors have significant speed variations and can touch both maximum and minimum points. So focus on getting the one that offers speed variations. As we all know, for sanding, we require minimum RPM. So consider all these points before getting the best wood lathe.
Ease of use
When we buy any product that we use for daily work, then ease of use becomes very important. As regularly, no one can afford to work with a specific tool. Similarly, wood lathe varies according to their designs. Some of them have locking features, while others don’t have. Some of them have significant speed variations, while others have less. Another difference is the size of the swing bed. Also, some wood lathe comes with a display screen while others do not have a display screen. So it depends upon the user what type of lathe he/she requires. Always go for the one which makes your work look effortless and worthy.
Durability
The last but the most crucial aspect is durability. The lathe’s durability depends upon the quality of the motor and the material used in making it. If the lathe’s quality is higher, it will be durable and serve for a long time. The durability of the lathe can be identified by reading the reviews of the customer. It will help you in getting knowledge about its previous performance. Also, go for the one which uses a high-quality motor and material in the making.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is woodturning?
Woodturning is doing crafting and designing on wood. It is done with the help of a wood lathe and hand tools. With the use of these tools, various shapes you can give to the wood. Woodturning is done by craftsmen or people who are skilled in it. These tools are effortless to shape and can be reshaped very easily without any device.
What is a wood lathe?
A wood lathe is a machine tool that is used for years in designing wood. This process can perform various activities like cutting, sanding, knurling, drilling, deformation, facings, turning, and more. This machine tool you can use to give different shapes to wooden pieces. The person who uses this machine is known as a watchmaker. In some cases, metal or copper pieces can also be designed for making various items.
Is woodturning difficult?
Woodturning is not that difficult if a person is taking proper skill training. The wood tuners have to be very devoted while learning this skill. This is a traditional skill carried from years and used to make different designs on wooden furniture and more. A skilled person can perform woodturning with the help of a lathe. In this process, you do not require a prominent Man force to complete. A single professional person is more than enough to craft.
What are the safety measures for using a lathe?
While using a lathe, specific safety measures are used. It has three basic principles which one should never ignore. They are,
- While tuning the correct uniform is mandatory, you also have to keep in mind that all the jewelry like rings or bracelets, etc. should be removed.
- Whenever you are making any kind of adjustments, always stop the machine. One should never do it in a running engine.
- Wearing eye protection is a must. Never use the device without covering your eyes; it is dangerous for a person’s eyes.
Can we use the wood lathe for cutting large woods?
The wood lathe is mostly used to design and do detailing work. It is used to create detailed and giving final finishing to wooden furniture. But the lathe machine you can use for more giant woods, but it needs different adjustments for doing so. You can use this machine for metal pieces, but further adjustments are preferred for doing so. This machine can also use for cutting arches, beads, or covers. If we compare, on bigger surfaces, excellent finishing is not possible as this machine is specifically designed for detailing work.
Which type of wood is suitable for woodturning?
Maple, cherry, and black walnut woods are known as the best for woodturning. These surfaces are very flexible to work on, and you will get your desired results very quickly. Although you can use any kind of wooden surfaces, those mentioned earlier are known for their incredible outcomes.
Moving forward, pinewood is also known for its excellent results. Pinewood is easy to shape on the lathe, as they are softwood. You can gouge or a skew chisel during the cutting process for getting a better finish.
What can we make using a wood lathe?
There are a lot of wooden projects which can be performed with a lathe. Some of the most commonly performed tasks are bangles, wooden rings, wooden spoons, flowerpots, pens, bowls, goblets, and more. All of the things mentioned above are performed by skilled personnel. You can keep a blueprint design if you are a beginner craftsman for an idea. You have to be very précised and attentive while crafting, as a small distraction can damage the whole design. While making things from a lathe machine, you should be very careful and thoroughly follow the safety guidelines.
Is using a wood lathe hard?
Using a lathe machine is not a very tricky task. It entirely depends on what surface you are using it onto. If you are crafting on softwoods, then designing is relatively easy. But when you are composing on metal copper surfaces, this may require a bit of experience. Also, if you are using the best wood lathe, then the task becomes more manageable.
Conclusion
So we have discussed some best wood lathe to help you in getting the right one. If none of these suits your work or location, then you can check the buying guide. Woodturning is an enjoyable profession, and with an ideal lathe, it becomes more pleasant. To get the best one, you must consider some facts like quality, size, and capability. Along with this, you must consider the one that is more comfortable and durable. As such, the lathe will make you love your work. So hopefully, we made it simple for you to choose the ideal lathe for your work. Happy turning!
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