The Best Wood Lathe For Beginners

There are many wood lathes available online, but you should pay heed while buying the one that suits you the most. This is because you don’t want to buy some third-class wood lath. Furthermore, many things need to be considered while purchasing the best wood lathes. We have created this guide to make it easier for you to choose the best wood turning. We have taken many things into account to make this purchase easy for you.

Key Considerations When Buying the Best Wood Lathes?

Motor power

Horsepower (HP) is the unit of motor power measurement, and it runs from 3/4 to 2 HP. An excellent HP motor will boost the lathe’s speed, allowing you to complete your task more rapidly. The light-duty woodworking mini-lathes mostly have a 3/4 HP output. For light turning applications, a midi lathe with a 1HP output is ideal. You should go for the one depending on your project. If you are working on a small project, buy the light-duty one. If you are working on a large task, buy the one which has a horsepower of 2hp. Lastly, if you are working on an average-sized project, then you should buy the midi lathe.

Type

Mini/bench-top, midi, and full-size wood lathes are the three basic types available for wood turning lathe projects. Based on the amount of space available in your workshop and the project requirements, you must choose the appropriate kind of wood lath. A micro lathe is a way to go if you just have smaller space and manufacture small items like candle holders, pens, cups, or bowls. If you have a large workshop and wish to produce more oversized products such as baseball bats or table-chair legs, a full-size lathe is a route to go. A midi lathe is an excellent choice to tackle more extensive work while conserving floor space.

Stability

It’s an essential element to think about before choosing a wood turning lathe since it allows you to apply force with accuracy and consistency while shaping a workpiece. A shaky wood turning lathe, on the other hand, will destroy the workpiece. Most companies employ cast iron to make different parts of the lathe. This is so because the cast iron absorbs vibrations caused by the spindle and motor spinning. Outside of the lathe’s construction, non-slip feet and the option to mount the lathe to the floor or bench will help it stay stable.

Headstock and tailstock

The headstock of a wood turning lathe is the side that has a power converter for the motor and hence provides you speed control over its operation. The headstock spindle is a short metal element that readily extends from the headstock to the middle of the lathe. It’s designed to penetrate the project and offer powered rotation. The tailstock of a wood turning lathe may be readily adjusted to properly suit the length of wood that we have to insert in the center of the lathe. The tailstock is then locked to prevent any horizontal or vertical movement of the wood while rotating evenly. So, while the wood with this pincer-like grip will ensure that the completed object is symmetrically formed, you’ll need to gain some ability and experience before the results begin to resemble the original idea.

Safety

Working with a solid and dangerous item like a wood lathe necessitates caution. Simple errors like wearing jewelry or loose-fitting clothing might get caught in the lane rotation and draw you into the quickly spinning wood. As a result, injuries and accidents occur. So, you should be careful while working with it.

Features To Look For in the Best Wood Lathes

Speed

The speed of power tools is measured in revolutions per minute (RPM), and the wood lathe’s speed range is 250 to 4000 RPM. Because smaller pieces require more delicate cuts and rotate faster than huge and heavy parts, speed is essential when purchasing a wood turning lathe. As this cutting device goes through the wood, it ensures that the cutting is appropriately controlled. The excellent wood turning lathe will have many speed settings, allowing you to shape various types of materials or wood according to your needs. Depending on the material being molded, different speeds perform better or worse — more rigid materials demand quicker speeds, while softer materials require slower speeds.

Base

We know that even a minor vibration on the wood turning lathe can result in unintentional gouges and cuts, which can wreak havoc on your projects and pose a safety risk. For this reason, you should inspect the base of a wood lathe to see if it provides a stable basis for absorbing vibrations or not. A wood turning lathe with a cast iron base is the finest choice for keeping the wood steady and reducing vibrations while working. Because iron is solid, hefty metal, it keeps the lathe stable, ensuring that any vibrations created while working don’t impact your project.

Capacity

The capacity of a wood lathe is determined by the distance between centers (DBC) and swing over bed (SOB). DBC refers to the distance between the tailstock and the headstock. The DBC range for a wood turning lathe is 12 inches (small) to 40 inches (large). This measurement will assist you in determining the maximum wood length that a specific wood lathe can handle. The SOB determines the maximum diameter of a piece of wood that can fit in the wood turning lathe. The SOB of a small wood lathe can be as low as 6 inches, whereas the SOB of a full-size wood lathe can be as high as 15 inches, allowing you to handle much larger projects.

Which Size of Wood Lathe Is Ideal?

Before you buy a wood turning lathe, think about how much space you have in your garage or workshop, as well as where you want to put it. In general, power tools are extremely hefty, so they won’t push the wood around while working. As a result, midi and micro wood lathes require a stable surface (compact, lightweight, and portable). While a full-size wood turning lathe is set on the ground at the height of 4 feet, it is neither small nor portable. If you want to buy this large model, you’ll need a lot of floor space. To do so, measure your available space and compare it to product measurements to see whether it will fit in your area before purchasing.

What Is the Price Range of Wood Lathes?

You have to pay between 35$- 9999$ if you want to buy wood turning lathes. The expensive wood lathes can be used for a variety of projects. They have high precision, and they have excellent motor power and speed. The cheap ones don’t have that much of a great motor, and hence their price is less.

Getting Started With a Wood Lathe

Once you have your wood turning lathe, you’ll probably want to start using it. This video from YouCanMakeThisToo will show you some easy wood lathe projects for beginners to the tool: