For starters, this is the first wood lathe on my list with a little bit more power, its motor able to push 1 hp and 6 amps– both of which allow it to work better under load. To make matters worse, the Grizzly Industrial H8259 Benchtop Wood Lathe leans on its name and reputation and is an expensive entry. 8-INCH WOOD LATHE. The lathe provides woodworkers with a 12-inch frame in a compact package. Apart from that, I also enjoy weightlifting and swimming. JET JWL-1221VS Wood Lathe, 25 pounds, Workpiece sizes of 20.5 x 9.45 inches. Granted, the motor required to generate that kind of power makes this wood lathe extremely heavy and not one that you can move around– even within your workshop. you’re not limited to potentially dangerous fixed-speed steps. WEN 3421 is the best mini wood lathe you can get. However, that relatively compact profile does not seem to impact the NOVA 46300 Comet II Mini Lathe’s capacities too much as it can support a 16 ½” long workpiece with a 12” swing over capacity. Grizzly is another professional-grade power tool brand that has a bit of an up and down reputation but generally still performs reasonably well. This positions the SHOP FOX W1704 Benchtop Lathe at a lower price point than you might expect given its affiliation with Woodstock International Inc. It is also worth noting that the RIKON Power Tools 70-105 Mini Lathe gooses the workpiece capacity a bit with an 18” length capacity and 10” swing over capacity. Instead, different speeds work better or worse depending on the material being shaped with harder materials requiring faster speeds and softer materials needing slower speeds. On the other hand, the Grizzly Industrial H8259 Benchtop Wood Lathe has an odd speed range of 826 to 3337 RPMs which is a narrower range without adding anything special to the mix. While some lathes may need to rely on plenty of power, mini benchtop lathes generally do not require as much power as others— depending on the kind of projects you have in mind. To choose the best wood lathe for your workshop, you first have to know what specifications you have to consider to make the best buying decision possible. I spend a good chunk of my time working on wood projects and contributing to this blog. The RIKON Power Tools 70-105 Mini Lathe is an odd model in that it uses parts for large and small projects without committing to one or the other. It features a variable speed motor that lets you select any speed you want between 750 to 3200 RPM. Read on to find out why. When it comes to consumer-grade power tools, WEN has a solid reputation for offering well-made products at budget-value prices. Still, you do not have to worry about a lack of power with this wood lathe as its motor ties my list, pushing 2 hp and 14 amps. If it's in your budget, I would get the larger harbor freight lathe (12x33). Specifically, the Bachin Mini Wood Lathe is one of the few models I found that does not include non-slip feet nor can bolt down, though it is easier to use than most. 3420 lathe pdf manual download. Finally, the WEN 3421 Mini Benchtop Lathe also provides 2 different tool rests, providing plenty of options for tools to shape the wood as you practice. Wen may not be the biggest name on my list and is generally understood better as a consumer-grade brand, but it has been around for over half a century. Mophorn is another company without that much experience, founded a few years ago and does not even specialize in power tools– let alone woodworking tools. One of the biggest issues with this mini lathe is that it does not generate as much power as some of the competition with a motor that only pushes 3 ⅕ amps. On top of that, you can quickly transition this mini lathe from one spot to another thanks to its lightweight design that comes in at 45 lbs– the lightest on our list. The WEN 8-Inch by 12-Inch Variable Speed Benchtop Wood Lathe features an MT1 spindle and tailstock taper to tightly grip workpieces, two tool rests (4-1/2 inch and 7 inch) to provide needed support for chisels and tools during operation, and a 3.2-amp motor to keep things turning. While the maximum RPMs is nothing to get excited over compared to the competition, the minimum RPMs of 60 is perfect for the softest materials. Required fields are marked *. Grizzly is easily the only company on our list known primarily for professional-grade power tools with more than 3 ½ decades of experience. 【UNRIVALED SPEED CONTROL】- Turning speed control knob clockwise or counterclockwise to adjust the speed freely within 760-3200 RPM. One of the reasons that wood lathes can be difficult to master is that it takes a steady hand to properly shape the wood without making mistakes. The WEN 3421 Variable Speed Mini Wood Lathe is also a wood lathe designed for small jobs, therefore suitable for both creative craftsmen and hobbyists, in particular for those who practice shipbuilding. Moving tailstock to adjust proper distances for workpieces. Regardless of your experience or intentions, it is generally a good idea to get a mini lathe with larger capacities as it is better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. As if that were not enough, the SHOP FOX W1704 Benchtop Lathe also comes with a 5 ¾” which is one of the largest on my list and perfect for irregular designs. This WEN 3421 wood lathe is present in the 3rd position in this article as it is the cheapest option present here in this article. If you do leave it unbolted, this wood lathe’s cast-iron build will help reduce any wobble, making sure that you can accurately shape the wood. WEN 3421 Mini Benchtop Wood Lathe. WEN have long built power tools which are budget-friendly, and the 3424T is no different in this regard. Nova power tools may not be the most well-known on my list, but they have plenty of experience and are noted for innovations particular to wood lathes. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Nova is a brand of Teknatool which may not be the most well-known company but has plenty of experience and specializes in woodworking power tools. As any woodworker advances in skill, there will come a time that they need to learn how to use a lathe– but there are many options to choose from. VARIABLE SPEED WOODWORKING LATHE. WEN 3421 is the best mini wood lathe you can get. Bachin is easily the newest company on my list only having been founded last year, though it at least focuses on woodworking power tools. What exactly should you be looking in a mini wood lathe? More often than not, wood lathes rate the power of their motor with a couple of different specs, but the two most important ones are horsepower and amps. One of the most vital qualities when shaping a workpiece is the ability to apply force with precision as an unstable wood lathe will ruin your workpiece. And, because its a WEN product, your lathe comes backed by a 2-year warranty, a nationwide network of skilled service technicians and a friendly customer help line. 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