Best Mini Wood Lathes Reviewed
In our search for the best mini wood lathe that is currently available on the market, we will take a look at four of the ones that we think are the best. From these we will make make our recommendation as to which of these is the best of them all. This is based on the functions, features, pros, and cons that each of them possess. In addition to this, we will also answer some frequently asked questions about wood lathe.
Mini Wood Lathes: Our Top Picks
Table of Contents
#1 RIKON 70 100 12 by 16 Inch Mini Lathe
NOTABLE FEATURES
- Versatile
- Easy to use
- Easy to change speeds
- Largest mini lathe in the industry
The RIKON 70 100 12 by 16 Inch Mini Lathe is manufactured by a well known and much respected power tool brand so you know you are getting a high quality product. Since this is the largest lathe that is currently available on the market for purchase, it does come with the drawback of being a very heavy weight, making it harder to transport when needed. However, thanks to its user friendly design, it is extremely easy to use.
Some of the user friendly features include a nylon face plate washer, a flip up handle for easier mobility and also a tool holder. Additional features include a 12 inch swing, 8 inch tool rest and the power of turning up to 16 inch between centres. The lathe also has a twelve position indexing head which enables locking the workpiece in other positions. Different designs are easy and possible due to this indexing head.
The RIKON 70 100 12 by 16 Inch Mini has an easy to change six step motor and the spindle pulleys for different spindle speeds. The belt is used to control the speeds and there is also a chart included for the spindle speeds. The motor of the lathe is strong and can be changed to various speeds beginning from 430 to 810, and all the way up to 3900 revolutions per minute.
When purchasing the lathe, it comes with a knockout bar, an adjustment wrench, an 8 inch tool rest, a live centre, a spur centre, a spindle lock assembly, a knockout bar for live centre pointer, a tool holder, and a panhead screw.
PROS
- Versatile
- Easy to use
- Easy to change speeds
- Largest mini lathe in the industry
CONS
- Heavy – difficult to transport
#2 SHOP FOX W1704 1/3 Horsepower Bench top Lathe
NOTABLE FEATURES
- Made from cast iron
- Variable speed motor
- Cheaper price
The Shop Fox W1704 1/3 Horsepower Bench top Lathe is very sturdy power tool as it is made from cast iron. It is very stable even though it is not very heavy or big in size. It is not the most powerful bench top lathe available but for a beginner it is the perfect machine, especially for those smaller woodturning projects, such as making bowls and rings. The variable speeed motor can deliver speeds between 600 and 3300 revolutions per minute.
The strong motor that is at the heart of the lathe is able to deliver lots of power and not generate many vibrations. This means that it is ideal for use in many different wood wood working applications with all types of wood. Thanks to the variable speed settings, which can be easily controlled via a handy dial. Given the fact that the power tool is within a cheaper price bracket, it is accessible to the masses.
When you purchase the Shop Fox W1704 1/3 Horsepower Bench top Lathe it also comes with a spur centre, an MT number 1 live centre, a 1 inch and 7 inch tool rest, a 5 inch faceplate, and a 1 inch by 16 inch spindle.
PROS
- Made from cast iron
- Variable speed motor
- Cheaper price
CONS
- Lacks power
#3 WEN 3420T 2 Amp 8 in. x 12 in. Variable Speed Bench top Mini Wood Lathe
NOTABLE FEATURES
- Affordable price tag
- Five speed settings
- Comes with lots of accessories
For those individuals who are new to the world of woodworking, the WEN 3420T 2 Amp 8 in. x 12 in. Variable Speed Bench top Mini Wood Lathe is a great power tool to use. Despite the fact that it is highly affordable, it does not lack in either performance or quality. It has a powerful 4.5 amp motor, along with variable speed settings. Because of this, it is easy to turn small and medium sized wooden objects.
The wood lathes has a bed that is 18 inches by 12 inches, which provides you with all of the space that you need to turn a wooden object of a medium size. The five different speeds that the motor produces really allow you to control the speed of the power tool. It has a tool rest for a chisel that is over 7 inches in size and provides you with extra support when in operation. The clamps that it has are easy to adjust via either the tail stock or the tool rest.
The WEN 3420T 2 Amp 8 in. x 12 in. Variable Speed Bench top Mini Wood Lathe has a faceplate that is over 3 inches in size and is ideal for making pieces that do not need a spindle, such as a bowl or a cup. Some of the accessories that come with the power tool include a headstock spur centre, a tailstock cup centre, a flat wrench, a knockout rod, a 3 mm and a 5 mm hex wrench, an accessory holder, and a faceplate.
Thanks to the different speeds that you can generate with this wood lathes, you are able to produce things to a premium level. These speeds range from 520, 900, and 1400 revolutions per minute all the way through to 2150 and 3400 revolutions per minute at the top end. This means that you can even work on very small and intricate wood wood turning projects.
PROS
- Affordable price tag
- Five speed settings
- Comes with lots of accessories
CONS
- Not the best quality
#4 Delta Industrial 46 460 12 1/2 Inch Variable Speed Midi Wood Lathe
NOTABLE FEATURES
- Good swing capacity
- Made from cast iron
- Belt tensioning system
Delivering both a large amount of power and adjustability all in one, the Delta Industrial 46 460 12 1/2 Inch Variable Speed Midi Wood Lathe can be used by all skill levels of woodworkers. This is because it is very user friendly and has many different functions and features that both novices and experienced professionals will benefit from using. This also includes the many accessories that it comes with.
These include the likes of a 6 inch and a 10 inch tool rest, a 3 inch chrome face plate, a tool rest base, a knockout bar, a live centre, and a wrench. The 1 horsepower motor that the power tool has is able to generate a maximum speed of 1725 revolutions per minute but it does have variable speed settings. In addition to this, it has a swing capacity that is greater than 12 inches.
Because the controls for the various speed settings are in a location on the Delta Industrial 46 460 12 1/2 Inch Variable Speed best Midi Wood Lathe that is convenient, it negates the need for you to have to constantly change the position of the belt. With its cast iron construction, the power tool is highly durable and stable. Coming with a quick switch that is user friendly, it is easy to use the reverse functions of the lathe for wood.
The power tool has a patented system for keeping the belt tensioned. This allows for faster changes of the speed setting, as well as increasing the overall longevity of the lathe wood. This will help you to safe money in the long run, as you would not need to purchase a new or replacement one for a long time.
PROS
- Good swing capacity
- Made from cast iron
- Belt tensioning system
CONS
- Better suited to experienced users
FAQs – A Buyer’s Guide
Below we aim to provide a means to answer to some of the most frequently asked questions about wood wood lathes so that you are fully armed with all of the information that you need to make make a sound purchasing decision. To help us with this we have enlisted the help of several industry experts and professional wood workers who, together, have many years of experience of using these types of power tools tools.
What is the best beginner wood lathe?
There are a number of different lathes wood that are currently available on the market that are suitable to beginner woodworkers. These include the Powermatic 1352001 Model 3520B 20 x 35 Inch Wood Lathe, the JET JWL 1221VS 12 Inch by 21 Inch Variable Speed Wood Lathe, the SHOP FOX W1704 1/3 Horsepower Benchtop Lathe, the Delta Industrial 46-460 12-1/2-Inch Variable-Speed Midi Wood Lathe, and the NOVA 46300 Comet II Variable Speed Mini Wood Lathe.
However our favorite mini wood wood lathe for beginners of all is the RIKON 70 1000 12 by 16 Inch Mini Lathe. What we like best about this power tool is its ability to spin at various speeds, enabling you to use it for a number of different applications. It is quick and easy to change the speed, and can even be done whilst you are still working on a project – there is no need to stop and do it.
Even though the motor on the wooden lathe is small, its 0.5 horsepower engine is still able to produce enough power so that you can do what you want, in terms of a woodworking project. Whether that be for something small, such as a pen or a bowl, or for something much larger, such as a sculpture. Another thing that we like about this power tool is that it has a self ejecting tailstock.
In addition to this, the RIKON 70 1000 12 by 16 Inch Mini Lathe also has a laser engraved ram, comes with a number of different accessories, and a five year full warranty. This means that should you experience any issues with the wood lathes during the first five years that you have it, you can return it back to the manufacturer to either be fixed or replaced completely free of charge.
A couple of things that we do not so much like about this wood lathes is that the protective cover that goes over the headstock does not always close all of the way down. The power tools is also prone to having some assembly defects. However, both of these issues are covered by the extensive warranty that comes with is and so are not massive concerns for most wood wood workers.
What can you do with a mini wood lathe?
Some of the best and easiest things that you can do with a wood lathes include making bangles, wooden rings, bottle stoppers, wooden spoons, flowerpots, pens, bowls, goblets, and vases. However, in order to be able to do these, you must take your time and learn to develop your woodworking skills. By setting easily obtainable goals, you will quickly see yourself advance onto harder and more complexed projects.
Are mini lathes any good?
There are lots of different mini lathes that are currently available on the market for purchase that are good for performing certain projects with. These include the Erie Tools Tools 7 x 14 Precision Bench Top Mini Metal Milling Lathe, the BestEquip 8 x16 Inch Metal Lathe, the Mophorn Metal Lathe Precision Mini Lathe, the Central Machinery 7 x 10 Precision Mini Lathe, and the Shop Fox M1015 6-Inch by 10-Inch Micro Lathe.
What is good about these mini lathes is that they take up very little space in your workshop or on a construction site whilst also producing an end result that is of good quality. They are able to work with a variety of different materials, including hard and soft wood wood, plastic, acetal, aluminium, steel, and brass, and so can be used for a whole host of different projects. This is because they possess lots of power even despite the fact they are small in size.
What is a MIDI wood lathe?
This is a smaller type of lathe that was introduced to the woodworking market back in the late 1990s. They differ from mini lathes in that they are typically bigger and chunkier than them but are still much smaller than the full size versions of this power tool. Because of their smaller size they are, of course, cheaper than their larger counterparts and take up less space in your workshop.
This means that for any individual who is thinking about getting into wood wood turning, a midi lathe is the perfect option for testing the waters. Despite the fact that midi lathes are smaller and cheaper, they do not lack power and so still allow you to perform a variety of different tasks and produce a good mix of products. Some of the best best on the market include the JET JWL 1221VS 12 Inch by 21 Inch Variable Speed Wood Lathe and the Nova 71118 Comet II DR – Midi Wood Lathes.
The Best Mini Wood Lathe Of Them All
RIKON 70 1000 12 by 16 Inch Mini Lathe
Now that we have looked at all of the above four mini wood lathe in a good amount of detail, we are now able to make make our decision as to which of them is the best best of them all. However, before we state which is our favorite, we must state that all of the mini wood lathe that featured in the list of Our Top Picks are good quality power tools tools that would all work fine and do a job.
Because it is highly versatile, easy to use, easy to change the speeds, and is the largest mini lathe in the industry, the RIKON 70 1000 12 by 16 Inch Mini Lathe is our favorite. However, it is really heavy, which makes it difficult to transport from job to job should you need to. But for most people this is not an issue, as they leave their lathe in one position in their workshop.