10 Best Wood Lathes of 2022 – Reviews, Top Picks & Guide

Wooden lathes are an important resource for all woodworkers, from newbies to the professionals.  There are no other tools that can do what they can do, but it can be tough to find a very good brand name amid the a lot of offered, and at a number of hundred pounds, there is no room for mistake.

We have chosen 10 distinct brand names that are effortless to uncover on the web and in components merchants across America. We’ll go above each one’s professionals and downsides and inform you about any add-ons or functions they contain. We’ve also included a brief buyer’s information to go over the things you ought to seem for although shopping.

Be a part of us although we take a close search at the middle distance, swing, RPMs, horsepower, and far more to assist you make an knowledgeable decision.

A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites

Rating	Image	Product	Details
Best Overall		JET JWL-1221VS Variable Speed	Forward and reverse Spring-loaded spindle lock Ratchet style belt tensioning system	CHECK PRICE
Best Value		WEN 3421 Variable Speed Mini Benchtop	12” long 8” wide 2-amp motor 750 – 3200 RPM	CHECK PRICE
Premium Choice		Powermatic 1352001 3520B	Digital RPM readout 2 HP motor Heavy-duty cast iron	CHECK PRICE
		SHOP FOX W1704 Benchtop	Two tool rests 700 – 3200 RPM 52 lbs	CHECK PRICE
		Delta Industrial 46-460 Variable-Speed Midi	Variable speed Patented belt tensioning system Three pully speed ranges	CHECK PRICE

The 10 Best Wood Lathes – Reviews 2022

1. JET JWL-1221VS Variable Speed Wood Lathe – Best Overall

The JET JWL-1221VS Variable Speed Wooden Lathe is our choose for the ideal overall wooden lathe. It functions a effective motor that can produce among sixty and 3600 revolutions for each minute (RPMs), adjustable by way of a control knob, which ought to be more than adequate for most projects. The lathe effortlessly switches between ahead and reverse at the flip of a switch. The spring-loaded spindle lock helps make it straightforward to modify wooden assignments, and belt rigidity is easy to adjust with the distinctive ratchet design belt tensioning system.

We enjoyed the easy operation, particularly and higher RPMs afforded by the JET JWL-1221VS, and we could only complain that it is a small large at 136 lbs ., and the motor sits below the headstock, which triggers it to gather a great deal of shavings and dust. It gives 21 inches among facilities and a twelve-inch swing.

2. WEN Variable Speed Benchtop Wood Lathe – Best Value

The WEN 3421 Variable Velocity Mini Benchtop Wood Lathe is our choose for the best wooden lathe for the income. The operate spot is 12 inches lengthy and 8 inches broad and is ideal for smaller assignments like pens, cups, bowls, and far more. The three.2-amp motor will switch the wooden in between 750 and 3200 RPMs. The two.3-inch faceplate, MT1 spindle, and tailstock taper are all durably constructed, and regardless of being primarily forged iron, it only weighs 44.nine lbs ..

The draw back to the WEN 3421, specially when compared to our prime choice, is that the RPMs are a little slower, and there’s considerably less variable range in RPMs. We also located that it bogged down effortlessly, so you need to be conscious of your application strain. It gives 12-inches in between centers and an eight-inch swing.

3. Powermatic 3520B Wood Lathe – Premium Choice

The Powermatic 1352001 3520B Wooden Lathe is our choose for the high quality selection wooden lathe. It makes use of a powerful six.two-amp two-HP motor to produce up to three,200 RPM. It contains two interchangeable pullies that you can switch to change the RPMs. A single pully operates in between fifty and 1,200 RPM and the other in between one hundred twenty five and three,200 RPM. It is created of heavy-obligation forged iron and supplies you with a huge twenty X 35-inch perform location. A digital RPM meter is straightforward to go through, and it consists of a number of components, including a guard, instrument relaxation, faceplate, wrench, knockout rod, and spindle lock.

The Powermatic 1352001 is very powerful and never ever bogs down. You can full a extensive assortment of tasks in the massive workspace, and the only point we can complain about is its excessive 682-pound bodyweight, which can make for a tough assembly. It provides 35-inches between facilities and a twenty-inch swing.

4. SHOP FOX W1704 Benchtop Lathe

The Store FOX W1704 Benchtop Lathe functions a 12-inch workspace for doing work on tiny projects. It has two resource rests for a variety of turning purposes. The 1/3 HP engine generates up to three,two hundred RPM,, and the speed is variable. It’s cast iron building is durable, but the complete equipment weighs only 52 lbs ..

While we have been making use of the Store FOX W1704 we felt it was not extremely effective, and it would usually bathroom down even when operating on tiny assignments, and the knobs would typically function them selves free from the vibrations. It supplies 12-inches between centers and an 8-inch swing.

5. Delta Industrial 46-460 Variable-Speed Midi Lathe

The Delta Industrial forty six-460 Variable-Pace Midi Lathe characteristics a one-HP motor that can produce up to one,725 RPM that you can adjust utilizing the variable speed controller down to seven hundred RPM. Different pulleys alter the range of RPMs, and the 12½-inch swing is perfect for scaled-down tasks. It weighs about a hundred pods and functions a patented belt tensioning method for generating quick adjustments.

What we didn’t like about the Delta Industrial 46-460 was that the mattress was not totally easy and made it difficult to use the tools in specific areas. It vibrates really a bit at greater RPMs, and they set up the forward and reverse switches backward. We checked the web to see if we ended up the only ones with a backward change, but seemingly, absolutely everyone does.

6. Nova 71118 Comet II DR Midi Lathe

The Nova 71118 Comet II DR Midi Lathe uses a ¾ HP motor to provide speeds between 250 and four,000 RPM. You can inform specifically how quick the wood is turning by checking the practical digital readout. sixteen.five inches amongst centers and a twelve-inch swing is lots of space for most tiny projects, and a forward/reverse swap enables you to use the machine as required for distinct initiatives. The six-inch instrument relaxation is totally adjustable and is an sufficient size, and the machine is reasonably light-weight at eighty two lbs ..

The difficulty we experienced with the Nova 71118 was that it continually bogged down with even the slightest pressure, and our electronic readout burned out a couple of months following we acquired it.

7. RIKON 70-100 Mini Lathe

The RIKON 70-a hundred Mini Lathe employs a ½-HP motor to deliver amongst 430 and 3900 RPMs by means of an effortless accessibility pace change technique. There are 16 inches between centers, and it has a twelve-inch swing, which need to be adequate room for all your small projects, such as bowl cutting. The self-ejecting tailstock can preserve time and minimize disappointment when you want to get rid of a middle. It’s not also large at near to 90 lbs, and you can broaden the mattress for greater initiatives.

We felt that the ½-HP motor in the RIKON didn’t have considerably power, and it bogs down no issue how light you are. The velocity changing program is not hard, but it does get tiresome if you find oneself on a undertaking that calls for frequent speed alterations. There is also a protective protect which is loose even although the bolts are tight.

8. Mophorn 10 x 18 Inch Wood Lathe

The Mophorn ten x 18 Inch Wood Lathe Is an eighty one-pound machine that can deliver between 760 and three,two hundred RPM. It provides you 18 inches between the facilities with a ten-inch swing, nicely suited to generating chair legs and other related assignments. It functions six-inch resource rests for functioning the wooden and the durable forged iron building will last several several years.

The issue with the Mophorn is that it is extremely underpowered. They really do not checklist the horsepower on the bundle, but we can notify you it bogged down continually, and we would put it on par with other designs that attribute an engine below one particular horsepower. There were also no directions to assist you get began if you are new to employing a woodworking lathe.

9. PSI Woodworking Turncrafter Commander Midi Lathe

The PSI Woodworking KWL-1018VS Turncrafter Commander Midi Lathe utilizes a a few-quarter horsepower motor to supply 500 to 3600 RPMs. It features a wide eighteen inches among centers, and a ten-inch swing enables lots of room for most little assignments. The provided perform mild will help illuminate your perform area even in low gentle situations, and the solid iron base supplies a sturdy system to work on although remaining light-weight at only eighty two kilos.

Like many other types on this checklist with little horsepower, the PSI Woodworking KWL-1018VS tends to bog down on all but the smallest employment. There are no directions provided with the purchase, so it is not the device for the inexperienced person, and there is no reverse change which is supplied on several other types. Even though we favored the notion of the operate light, but the shade was too small, and most bulbs adhere out, leading to glare rather of bettering visibility. The shade also collects sawdust, which can lead to a hearth hazard.

10. Grizzly Industrial H8259 Benchtop Wood Lathe

The Grizzly Industrial H8259 Benchtop Wooden Lathe is the last wood lathe on our checklist to review for you. This equipment is fairly lightweight at just 77 lbs ., and it can provide speeds in between 826 and 3,337 RPM. You have 18-inches in between centers to suit your wooden and a ten-inch swing.

The Grizzly Industrial draw back is that there is not adequate horsepower to operate without having repeatedly bogging down. This model also gets incredibly hot in just a few minutes even when using it at reasonable RPM, and you have to adjust the belts to modify speeds, which is simple ample but will get tedious if you need to modify it a number of moments.

Buyer’s Guide – Picking the Best Wood Lathe

The wooden lathes can seem like a complicated overwhelming device, but it’s really not that sophisticated, and there are only a handful of essential factors you want. Let’s look at a few crucial things to search for although you store for a wood lathe.

Horsepower

The horsepower the motor generates is the coronary heart of the device. You can modify speed with pulleys and other techniques, but horsepower is liable for the torque, and with no adequate torque, your venture will repeatedly lavatory down when you push your resources from it.

Unless of course you are heading to limit by yourself to creating pens and pencils, we extremely advise a lathe with at the very least a single horsepower to provide ample torque for the undertaking.

Distance between Centers

The facilities keep your wooden in area, and the length between them tells you how lengthy your wood can be. Most of the equipment on this listing have a length between centers of about sixteen-inches, but it can differ considerably, and in some situations, you can also lengthen it by incorporating further pieces to the lathe.

Given that a bigger distance among facilities means you can tackle a larger undertaking, we advise getting the most significant you could find.  If you know you only want to develop scaled-down objects like ink pens or chess parts, then the shorter distance among facilities might be in buy.

Swing

Swing refers to how broad your wood can be when it’s mounted on the centers before it bumps the table. Like the length between centers, a bigger swing value indicates you can deal with a greater venture, so consider to get the most significant you can afford unless you know you will not need it.

RPMs

In most situations, large RPMs will consequence in a more rapidly workflow and a smoother finish. If the lady doesn’t transfer rapidly ample, the equipment won’t minimize well, and they could seize the wood, leading to chips. Greater RPMs are often much better but make certain extra horsepower is also component of the offer.

Variable Speed

The capacity to alter velocity is a crucial portion of how a wood lathe works, and there are a number of strategies for changing the speed, which includes dials, shifting pulleys, or modifying the stress. We identified that dial adjusting pace is the greatest way to go because it is the easiest, and you can usually do it in real-time. The other strategies are not tough supplied you have appropriate instruction, but they are much better suited to initiatives that continue to be at the same speed long term.

Reverse Direction

Whilst several models really don't supply it, reverse direction can offer the person really a little bit of versatility, especially when sanding or cleaning up your function. In most cases, a flip of the change is all that is essential to reverse route.

Weight

1 far more thing you may possibly want to think about prior to you purchase a wood lathe is how considerably it weighs. Whilst most of the versions on this checklist are below one hundred kilos the place can exceed that by numerous moments. It is not unusual to purchase one particular of these equipment only to find out later you require to put it collectively by your self. Constantly make positive you can deal with the weight, particularly during assembly before acquiring and lathe.

Conclusion

When selecting the very best wooden lathe for you, we suggest one thing with high RPMs and lots of area between facilities. Our choice for the ideal wooden lathe, the JET JWL-1221VS Variable Pace Wood Lathe, provides both with 21-inches among centers and a powerful motor that can achieve up to 3600 RPMs. We did not experience any bogging down, and the motor remained great through our initiatives. The WEN 3421 Variable Pace Mini Benchtop Wooden Lathe is an additional wonderful choice for individuals looking for a considerably less expensive design to get them began with more compact assignments. The engine nonetheless packs lots of energy, and fifty five kilos, you can practically take into account it moveable.

We hope you have enjoyed reading in excess of our reviews and found them helpful for picking your following wood lathe. If you consider it can aid others, please share this information to the greatest wooden lathes on Fb and Twitter.

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