The Ultimate Guide to Wood Lathes for Woodturning and Bowl Making
Mini and mini lathes, affordable and premium lathes. A lathe for every level and budget
My small wood lathe is perhaps the most fun woodworking tool I personally have in my small workshop.
I’ve used it to make everything from wood pens, keychains to chisel handles. It’s the one tool that I can use for a couple of hours and produce something beautiful!
If you’re looking for the best wood lathe, there are lots of options you can choose from. They are, generally speaking, a mini or midi lathe. The difference is size and horsepower.
Both are smaller than standard wood lathes, and great for a hobbyist or new woodturner.
- Mini Lathes: Ideal for small spaces, mini lathes offer swings of 8 to 12 inches, perfect for crafting pens, ornaments, and drawer pulls. Despite their compact size, they’re budget-friendly with around ½ horsepower.
- Midi Lathes: Balancing size and power, midi lathes are versatile and beginner-friendly. With swings starting at 12 inches and optional bed extensions, they handle both small and large projects with ease.
- Full-Size Lathes: Standing tall with robust motors, full-size lathes are for serious projects like bowls and porch posts. They require ample space due to their sturdy bases, with footprints larger than their project capacity.
While a mini lathe may seem enough at first, you’ll soon wish you went for something slightly larger. This is why I recommend getting a Midi lathe. It will not leave you wanting more after a couple of months.
Most of the lathe machines listed here have at least a four-star rating on Amazon and other online retailers. Please see the full reviews on Amazon.
** Small metal working lathes are commonly referred to as “mini lathes”. To avoid confusion, every wood lathe machine I’ve listed here is operated by hand and wood lathe tools or chisels. While they can be used to turn softer metal like aluminum or brass, they are designed for woodturning.
Typical Lathe Components
1 – Headstock
2 – Handwheel
3 – Indexing Lock
4 – Belt Diagram
5 – Top Belt Access Door
6 – Belt
7 – Spur Center
8 – Toolrest
9 – Tailstock Lock
10 – Quill Lock
11 – Tailstock Hand Wheel
12 – Tailstock
13 – Tailstock Live Center
14 – Variable Speed Dial
15 – Safety Lock
16 – Power On/Off Switch
17 – Power Supply
18 – Lathe Bed
19 – Faceplate
20 – Motor
21 – Belt Tensioner
22 – Warning Label
23 – Belt Access Doors
24 – Knockout Tool
Wood Lathe Buying Guide
Best Mini Wood Lathes
In the mini lathe class, this Rikon model is unbeatable for the price and features. It is most definitely the #1 mini lathe.
Rikon apparently designed this model for pen turners, but can do so much more! With extension beds that are available seperately, you can even turn baseball bats and table legs with ease.
With the Rikon, you’ll be set for life.
Details:
- 10" x 18" turning capacity
- 1" x8 TPI spindle, MT2 tapers
- 1/2 HP motor
- Manual speed 500 - 3,200 RPM
- Self-ejecting tailstock
- Extension bed available separately
- Five year warranty
Pros:
- Great build quality overall
- Most versatile mini lathe in this list
- Includes faceplate, tool rest and live center
Cons:
- Expensive in the midi range
- No variable speed
This is one of the best-selling mini lathes on Amazon simply because of the price. Lots of pen turners use this WEN model to kickstart the addiction hobby.
I have personally used this lathe to turn wood pens, 6″ wood bowls, vise handles and even chisel handles.
However, you’ll soon outgrow it. The 8″ maximum swing capacity and 1/3 HP motor are the two main limiting factors. The weak motor is no good for turning heavy and large stock.
The price, however, is hard to resist.
Details:
- 8" x 12" turning capacity
- 1" x8 TPI spindle, MT1 tapers
- 1/3 HP motor
- Variable speed 750 - 3,800 RPM
- Extension bed available separately
- Three year warranty
Pros:
- Most affordable mini lathe in this list
- Includes faceplate, drive spur, live center and two tool rests
- Great starter lathe for hobbyists
Cons:
- MT1 taper accessories are harder to find
- Underpowered for larger turnings
- 750 RPM is too fast for some applications
- No hand wheel
In the Mini lathe segment, Jet has always had good models. The JWL-1015 is no different.
It’s a well-built, powerful machine for its size. It also has indexing, which no other mini lathe is this list has. Plus, extension beds are available.
The big con is the price. For a mini lathe, the price is only a $100 cheaper than a decent midi-sized lathe.
Details:
- 10" x 15 1/2" turning capacity
- 1" x8 TPI spindle, MT2 tapers
- Manual speed 500 - 3,900 RPM
- 1/2 HP motor
- 24 indexing positions
- Extension bed available separately
- Five year warranty
Pros:
- Impeccable build quality from JET
- Features no other mini lathe has
- Includes faceplate, tool rest and live center
Cons:
- Expensive in the midi range
- No variable speed
The ShopFox mini woodturning lathe is in the same class as the WEN. It also uses MT1 tapers, which are not as popular as MT2.
However, just like the WEN, it does have a 1×8 TPI spindle which makes it compatible with a lot of jaw and collet systems.
This will be a great hobby lathe for turning pens and other small craft. However, for the price, you may as well get the WEN.
Details:
- 8" x 12" turning capacity
- 1" x8 TPI spindle, MT1 tapers
- 1/3 HP motor
- Variable speed 700 - 3,200 RPM
- 1 HP motor
- Extension bed available separately
- Three year warranty
Pros:
- Includes faceplate, drive spur, live center and two tool rests
- Great starter lathe for hobbyists
Cons:
- MT1 taper accessories are harder to find
- Underpowered for larger turnings
- 700 RPM is too fast for some applications
- No hand wheel
Best Midi Wood Lathes
Without a doubt, the JET JWL-1221VS is the best midi-sized woodturning lathe you can buy. With thousands of good ratings on Amazon, it looks like Jet has a winner with this model.
Stock full of features, this lathe is just perfect for most woodturners. From turning bowls to spindles and even wood pens, the Jet is up to the task with its’ powerful 1HP motor.
Equipped with a reverse switch, spindle lock, and 24 indexing position, the Jet gives you more creative options that most of the other midi lathes in this list. It is also able to operate at an ultra-low 60 RPM.
Details:
- 12" x 21" turning capacity
- 1" x8 TPI spindle, MT2 tapers
- Variable speed 60 - 3,600 RPM
- 3-step pulley system for speed ranges
- Forward / reverse switch
- 4.5 Amp, 1 HP motor
- Integrated spindle lock
- 24 indexing positions
- Five year warranty
Pros:
- Exceptional build quality
- Includes faceplate, drive spur, live center and tool holder
- Extension bed available separately
Cons:
- Poor torque at lowest speeds
- No digital display
This is the latest midi-sized wood-turning lathe from WEN, replacing the older 12″ version.
It has the most powerful motor in this list, and is WEN’s answer to JET’s popular mid-sized lathes.
Equipped with a reverse switch for sanding, just like the JET lathe above.
Details:
- 14" x 20" turning capacity
- Variable speed 250 - 3,550 RPM
- Powerful 6 Amp motor
- Forward / reverse switch
- Onboard tool holder
Pros:
- Includes faceplate, drive spur and live center
- MT2 headstock & tailstock taper
- Excellent overall build quality
- Quiet & low vibrations
Cons:
- No indexing features
- Possible problems with the circuit board
Delta lathes have made a name for themselves, and this Midi lathe is no exception. The cleanest and most futuristic-looking lathe on this list, all the buttons are neatly organized in one central location.
The 1HP motor coupled with the reverse function and spindle lock allows you to work on almost any type of bowl or spindle turning.
The extra 1/2 inch turning diameter alone is worth the money for some woodturners.
Details:
- 12.5" x 16.5" turning capacity
- 1" x8 TPI spindle, MT2 tapers
- Variable speed 250 - 4,000 RPM
- 3-step pulley system
- 1 HP motor
- Integrated spindle lock
- 24 indexing positions
- Extension bed available separately
- Three year warranty
Pros:
- Exceptional build quality
- Includes faceplate, drive spur, live center and tool holder
- Centralized location for all switches
- Good torque for heavy-duty jobs
- Extension bed and stand available separately
Cons:
- No digital display
- Only 16.5" between centers
Rikon makes several wood lathes, in both mini and midi sizes. This Rikon model qualifies as a “midi” lathe due to the 12″ swing capacity.
Although it lacks in features like spindle locking and a reverse function, it’s a pretty good lathe for woodturners who want to level up their game.
Details:
- 12" x 18" turning capacity
- 1" x8 TPI spindle, MT2 tapers
- 450 - 3,500 RPM variable speed
- 3-step pulley system for speed ranges
- 4.5 Amp, 3/4 HP motor
- Digital display
- Five year warranty
Pros:
- Includes faceplate, drive spur, live center and tool holder
- Extension bed available separately
Cons:
- Less power and torque than the Jet or Delta
The Nova Comet series captured the imagination of woodturners specifically for the ability to add a grinder and other “Smart Accessories” directly to the lathe.
Besides the hype the Comet gets, it’s actually pretty choked of features such as a spindle lock and 24 indexing positions.
However, the maximum turning distance is only 16.5″, shorter than other midi lathes in this list. You can, however, buy the Nova extension bed separately.
Details:
- 12" x 16.5" turning capacity
- 1" x8 TPI spindle, MT2 tapers
- Variable speed 250 - 4,000 RPM
- 3-step pulley system for speed ranges
- Forward / reverse switch
- 3/4 HP motor
- Integrated spindle lock
- 24 indexing positions
- Digital display
- 1-year motor, 5-year parts warranty
Pros:
- Includes faceplate, drive spur, live center and tool holder
- Lots of NOVA Smart Accessories
- Extension bed available separately
Cons:
- Older model had some worrying quality issues
An outlier among wood lathe brands is the Turncrafter Commander by PSI, the popular supplier of pen kits and other woodturning items.
However, it does more than just turn pens. With a powerful 1HP motor and features that match the Nova Comet, the Turncrafter is perfectly suited for anyone who wants to level-up.
It comes with an integrated lamp, but many people report of it being flimsy and low-quality. The Turncrafter is available in both manual and variable speeds.
Details:
- 12" x 18" turning capacity
- 1" x8 TPI spindle, MT2 tapers
- Variable speed 500 - 3,800 RPM
- 2-step pulley system
- 1 HP motor
- Integrated spindle lock
- 24 indexing positions
- Digital display
- Extension bed available separately
- Three year warranty
Pros:
- Exceptional build quality
- Includes faceplate, drive spur, live center and tool holder
- Longest warranty period in this class
- Extension bed available separately
Cons:
- Poor torque at lowest speeds
- Flimsy and poor quality light
