What You Need to Know When Buying a Lathe

Last Updated on October 24, 2021 by

When I started my journey, I had shut to nil noesis almost buying a forest lathe. But fortunately, my offset lathe was Rockler Mini- A bang-up slice of kit and served me very well for a skillful few years.

But every bit my skills improved and ambitions grew, I found information technology just didn't have a powerful enough motor to cope with some of the demanding tasks.

So, I researched diverse machines in the price range that I could look at and included customer service as an essential consideration. And that's when I upgraded to a trade-rated Jet 1221vs, which is an impressive auto.

Now, let me assist you lot with this buying guide before considering ownership a wood lathe for your workshop, whether it's a brand new or garage/g sale or annihilation under your budget range.

The Rule of Thumb for buying a wood lathe:

These are three fundamental questions that need to exist asked before buying any wood lathe.

ane. What project practice you desire to turn?

Yous can do several turning projects in a woods lathe. For example, pens, bowls, platters, ornaments, chess pieces, lidded boxes, java mugs, tool handles, and the list goes on. I mean, you can come upwards with almost any idea every bit an experiment too.

You tin go to a club meeting or join a club to try a few projects out and know what attracts yous the most, so you take a point to commencement. But, if you are somewhat experienced and already have feelings of what y'all gravitate towards, and then information technology's time to set up the budget.

2. What is the Budget?

Always recollect that the lathe is not the last thing you lot are going to need. The lathe is at that place to give you lot the room and rotate the workpiece at your preferable speed. It's more than similar the engine of the car. Y'all don't but start the car and expect it to take you to the destination.

Then, no matter the project, yous'll need to score woods, buy accessories, and woodturning tools to assistance you mount and turn on the lathe.

That existence said, the accessories are going to be your navigator, like how do you want to turn and shape the blanks. So, the budget combo should consist-

• The lathe
• Wood
• Turning Tools (chisels, gouges)
• Grinding tools
• Jaw chucks
• Grit extraction
• PPE
• Waxes

Now, you could have complimentary admission to the woods, but that's not going to be the case always. So, keep an eye on your environment for scoring wood.

iii. Can you lot grow with the woods lathe after buying?

Afterwards deciding the budget, this is time to fill up out the last bare, and that is- if the lathe has the room for me to grow. Nosotros often don't consider this while buying a new forest lathe.

But call up, what would you do if you lot desire to brand something even more significant later on? How do yous desire to develop your turning skill?  What projection can you move on to when you lot take the skills and the tools. I know that's a much more difficult prediction to make.

So that brings usa back to the budget. As with many other tools and machinery, my communication would be to get the best you lot tin afford out of the biggest yous tin can fit into your workspace. Get the biggest lathe possible even if you lot don't want to turn bowls. 1 twenty-four hours yous will accept fun.

A big lathe tin can plough small things, but not the other way around, of course, so your investment will concluding longer. At present let'south see what are the feature you should consider earlier buying a wood lathe.

11 Major Features and specifications To Check Earlier Buying

Some features may become benign equally your skills develop, such as a swiveling headstock (for turning bowls larger than the ordinary swing distance in a higher place the bed-ways) or a reverse gear perhaps. Let'south see what the important things y'all should look at before buying a wood lathe are.

1. Size Consideration

The very first feature yous should look at is the overall size of the woods lathe that will determine your project limit, and you have iii options in the market.

Full-size

First comes the standard professional full-size wood lathe that volition permit yous to grow every bit loftier every bit possible. You tin can mountain whatever project similar- large bowls, platters, big furniture legs, any unbalanced chunk of woods, I hateful anything.

Midi Lathe

A practiced-quality Midi Lathe could be a worthy option to choose between unless you need the extra swing capacity like a total size. But you can plough 12 to xiv inches bowls with these lathes quite comfortably as they have a decent Horsepower and adequate torque while working at lower rpm.

Mini wood Lathe

Mini wood lathes are about 8" swing over the bed with 12" to 14" between the centers. If the project is only modest items like pens, pots, candlesticks, then a modest bench-meridian unit will exist plenty. But if the need arises and y'all want to go high, you need to upgrade to a bigger size.

2. The Construction

Weight

Retrieve, vibration is the most common problem that woodturner faces. And so, cheque if your lathe has the weight information technology needs to sit down firmly during any work. Without the proper weight, it can non handle the unbalanced logs. Likewise, I accept seen lathes vibrating without even mounting anything on it.

So, the heavier the lathe is, the more than it tin can take the unbalanced forest.

Materials

The most common type of cloth used in the wood lathes is cast iron. It is great at absorbing the vibration and that'south why most of the lathes are made from Cast Iron. You can as well run into materials like- steel or stainless-steel bed with cast fe legs. These lathes are much more efficient at dampening vibrations.

3. Motor

Check out how much horsepower the motor of your lathe can supply. This is the engine of your forest lathe, so it is 1 of the most vital features to consider. Cheque the power requirement to run across if it would be enough.

My Rockler mini produces ½ HP, just similar any other typical pen making small lathes. They will bog down if you push them to handle your bigger projects. It tin happen within the capacity that the lathe is supposed to have. So, don't exist surprised. The ideal HP to go with is a minimum of 3/4.

4. Swing Chapters

Okay, so what size of the forest can you mountain on the lathe? How much chapters your woods lathe will have? That depends on the measurement of the bed swing and the distance diameter between the headstock and tailstock cease.

You might too desire to consider the swing over the tool residual if yous need to put the tool rest directly beneath the logs. I am coming to that after.

5. Spindle Thread Size

It is imperative to know the size of the headstock spindle thread. The larger the diameter of your spindle, the more rigid information technology will be for the bigger piece of work. And you need to know the thread size of your spindle to get the accurate chucks and faceplate from aftermarkets.

Spindle thread size is determined by the bore first, then the threads per inch. The nigh mutual thread measurement is 1" ten 8 TPI. However, the fewer eatables are ¾" 10 10 TPI, i" x 10 TPI, 1" x 12 TPI, etc.

If you are to buy a second-mitt lathe that has a smaller spindle than 1 inch, and then it'south going to give you a hard fourth dimension, then, you might desire to walk abroad from that.

6. Spindle Bore

This is the hole that goes all the fashion through the spindle. It will determine what size knockout bar you can apply to knock out the centers and what type of vacuum chuck adapter you can buy.

Lathes that are direct drive don't have a spindle bore. You can still utilise this, but this makes life a bit difficult during knock out the centers.

vii. Morse Taper

You tin can come across the morse taper at the end of your centers and accessories that fit inside the spindle and the tailstock quill. They volition get in with a friction fit and are usually knock dorsum out.

In that location are 3 common types of morse taper-

• Morse taper one: Just used in very small mini lathes. I would non recommend getting a mini lathe with #one MT unless you are turning just pens. Bated from that, it's hard sometimes to find them available in the aftermarkets.
• Morse taper two: #two is the standard regular taper size for any forest lathes from Mini to Total size. As most of the standard lathes utilize a #2 MT taper, and so you can use the centers and mandrel on any lathe later on, if you desire to upgrade.
• Morse taper three: Okay, #3 MT taper is non that regular. It is used for detail purposes, like huge bowls or whatever other industrial works. The accessories are hard to detect likewise.

8. Drive and speed system

Belt driven: Wood lathes that come with an Air-conditioning motor will require you to change the belt to different pulleys in society to change the speed. They are referred to equally "speed lathe" instead of "variable speed lathe."

Variable or EVS: Electronic Variable Speed forest lathes accept a DC motor and a switch or knob to command the speed, so you don't need to change the belt manually.

A significant feature that changed the game for me when I upgraded was electronic variable speed control. My kickoff lathe had five speeds, adjusted by opening the headstock, loosening the pulleys, moving the chugalug, which all took time, and became a frustration when moving between stages of a project.

With variable speed, I tin adjust the speed without stopping the lathe. Information technology'southward a huge benefit. This is the most user-friendly feature of the modern wood lathes when it comes to turning bowls.

Reeves Drive: These are variables besides, but there are dissimilar opinions among the turners. However, reeves drive requires more maintenance and frequently changing of the belt. Y'all will see a lever with the headstock to modify the pulleys for different speeds.

DVR or VFD bulldoze: There are lathes with Digital Variable Reluctance motor. Information technology's useful for maintaining a non-stop speed with close to zero power loss.

You can also see a VFD or Variable Frequency Drive woods lathe that allows y'all to use a iii phase motor on a one stage power. This is for producing splendid torque when you are turning on low-speed.

nine. Some Headstock Features

Opposite Switch: The contrary is an extra advantage feature to have. Especially when y'all are working with a bowl, sanding is kind of a must to give the finishing polish on the surface of the workpiece.

Spindle Indexing and Lock: You tin lock the spindle in various positions to create any pattern or flutes. Most of the modernistic standard lathe has an Indexing option. You lot tin too lock the spindle and remove items that seem too tight.

Sliding headstock: Sliding or rotating headstock is another excellent feature for outboard turning.

Digital Readout: Yous can come across what speed you are turning the wood lathe with a DRO (digital readout meter). This is not necessity simply, it's good to have ane.

Extended spindle column: This is to allow more access around the back of a mounted workpiece.

Remote control for emergency stoppage: It tin be dangerous sometimes while reaching effectually a spinning log to stop the motorcar. Merely, with a remote command terminate, you tin do information technology by maintaining a prophylactic distance.

Handwheel: This lets yous rotate the spindle when the lathe is turned off.

Door to belt: The caster door needs to exist user friendly to make the speed changes more convenient.

10. Quality Tailstock

Tailstock supports the more elongate workpiece to concur and spin tightly and so information technology doesn't fly off of the bed, giving you a smooth rotation. So, it'south a back up feature. Y'all can slide it and move towards and away from the headstock.

Withal, the well-nigh essential feature of the tailstock is the quill. It moves in and out to bring the support you need and aid you during drilling and dull. Meet how long your quill can travel freely and smoothly. Also, check if it has a self-ejecting feature.

11. Banjo and Tool Rest Quality

A versatile banjo will take multiple sizes of tool rests beside the default one. Then, cheque if it tin lock downwardly firmly and can move to reach everything it needs to get. You may demand to alter the tool rest in lodge to work on multiple projects. If the banjo is not friendly to that, you might demand to change that later.

You can also change the bandage atomic number 26 tool balance to a stainless-steel to avoid the catches. The apparently surface of the stainless steel will ensure smooth movement of the tools over the tool rest and then you tin can avoid catches.

Four Powerful Wood Lathes I Would Recommend

I have used quite a few forest lathes in my journey of woodturning till at present. I have 3 lathes in my workshop (including a metal lathe) where I spend my leisure fourth dimension. As a machinist, I know what makes a wood lathe great. So if you are serious most buying a woods lathe that will concluding longer, giving you the best service, I strongly suggest checking these iv units.

Disclaimer: As an Amazon affiliate, I may earn a minor percentage from qualifying purchases. This ways no actress cost to y'all. I will only promote products that give the best values.

one. Grizzly G0766: Best heavyweight at a low cost

• 22″ swing and 42″ between the centers
• Motor: 3 HP, 220V, 3-phase, 8A
• Required power supply: 220V, unmarried-phase, 20A
• RPM: Loftier: 100-3200 Low: 100-1200 Variable speed
• Opposite and Forwards
• Spindle taper: #2MT
• Spindle thread: 1¼" Ten eight TPI RH
• Swing over banjo: xviii″
• Swing over tool rest: 16"
• Tool Rest: xiv″
• Weight 584 lbs
• Warranty: 1 twelvemonth

2. Jet JWL 1221vs: Best amongst all the Midi

• 12″ swing and xx-i/2″ betwixt centers
• 1 HP, 115V, Recommended Circuit Size (Amps.)10
• Spindle Taper: MT2
• Spindle Diameter: 3/8″
• Indexing position: 24
• Spindle Thread: 1″/8 TPI
• 60-3600 RPM variable speed
• Forward to opposite
• Weight: 136.4lbs
• Warranty: 5 years

3. Nova Comet Ii DR: Best Choice Around $500

• 12″ swing and 16.5″ between centers
• HP: 3/4HP, 230v single phase, 60Hz,
• Speed range: 250 – iv,000 RPM Variable Speed
• Tailstock: 2MT hollow
• Quill travel 1.vi″/40.60mm.
• Spindle Thread: 1″ 10 8TPI RH.
• Forward and Reversing
• Weight: 82.4lbs
• Warranty: 1 Year Motor and Controller, ii Year Mechanical and parts

4. Delta 46-460: Closest Alternative For The Jet

• 12.5″ swing and 16.5″ between centers
• 1-HP, 1-Phase, 120V, 60-Hz, 1725 rpm motor
• Speed: 250-700, 600-1,800 and one,350-four,000-RPM
• Electronic variable
• Head and Tailstock Taper: #2 MT
• Bulldoze spindle: one inch -8 RH TPI thread
• Forward and Opposite
• Weight: 97 lbs
• Warranty: 5 years

5. Rikon 70-220 VSR: Heavier Than Delta

• 12.v″ swing and xx″ between centers
• 1-HP, 1-Phase, 120V, 60-Hz, 2,900 rpm motor
• Speed: 250 – 750, 550 – 1,650, 1,300 – iii,850
• Electronic variable
• Head and Tailstock Taper: #two MT
• Drive spindle: 1" x 8
• Forrad and Reverse
• Weight: 115 lbs
• Warranty: 5 years

Terminal Thoughts

I desire to remind you one time over again, that it's crucial to build your budget effectually non just the lathe itself, merely also the other tools and accessories you may need to go you lot started. For instance, Gouges, and something to sharpen the tools, could be a chuck and some jaws for it, and the list goes on.

Always get for a full-sized or at least a Midi lathe than you think you volition ever need. Y'all tin can turn pocket-size things on a big lathe, just you cannot plow big with a small lathe. People typically commencement with a mini lathe only to lament their short-sightedness, and soon they outgrow it.

If yous don't know whether you would like turning or not so go for anything on the budget. Get into a club or guild to spend some time on other machines. You lot will sympathize what you want and like.

That is all I had to say and I hope this guide volition help with your buying decision.

Plough Large, Plough Safe. Welcome to the turning globe!

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Source: https://www.lathematters.com/wood-lathe-buying-guide/