Wood Lathes

The size of wood lathe you need depends on several factors: 

1. The diameter of pieces you want to make
2. The length of pieces you want to make
3. Your available workshop space
4. The electrical power available in your workspace

Let’s take a look at each of these in more detail.

Workpiece size: If you are turning pens and other mandrel based projects, any size wood lathe will do. As you start getting into turning larger diameter pieces you’ll want a wood lathe with a larger diameter capacity, which is commonly referred to as “swing”. A mini lathe may have a swing of 10”, but it may not have enough motor torque to efficiently turn a piece that size. Midi lathes typically have a 12” swing and a more powerful motor and can more easily handle a 10” blank that may bog down a mini lathe. If you are interested in making pieces 12” or larger, you’ll want to move to a full-size wood lathe. Not only does a full size lathe have more swing capacity, it will have a more powerful motor and importantly, have more mass to safely spin up a larger diameter blank. For most turners, a wood lathe with a 18-20” capacity is the sweet spot. 

If you are interested in spindle work, you have a lot of options. Because most spindles are smaller diameters, typically 3” or less, they don’t require as powerful a motor or as much lathe mass as a bowl blank. Most mini and midi size lathes have the option to add a bed extension to increase the between centers capacity. Many full-size lathes also offer optional bed extensions.

Available shop space: This one is pretty straightforward, if you have a small amount of space you’re going to need a wood lathe with a smaller footprint. Another consideration is portability. If your wood lathe will need to be moved out of the way when not in use, a smaller, lighter weight lathe will be the option. Full-size lathes are very heavy by design to give them stability. But that stability means they aren’t easy to move. 

Power requirements: The available power in your workspace will greatly influence your options for a wood lathe. If your workspace has a standard 120V/15A outlet, your options may be limited to a mini or midi size lathe. While some full-size lathes do run on 120V, they typically require a 20A circuit to provide power. Full-size lathes with more powerful motors (typically 1.5hp or more) will require 220V power with varying amp ratings depending on model. You should always consult a licensed electrician to make sure you have an appropriately sized electrical circuit for the wood lathe you are interested in.

We generally recommend a mini or midi size wood lathe for beginners. They are more affordable for those just getting into the woodturning hobby, and are sized to handle the kinds of projects a beginner should start with.

Many turners are introduced to the hobby with pen turning and other similar mandrel based projects. All the mini lathes we offer, like the JET 1015 lathe and Rikon 70-105 lathe, are great for pen turning, but a midi size lathe, like the JET 1221 lathe or the Artisan 1420 lathe, will allow you to grow your skills even further with capacity to turn small to medium size bowls, boxes, and platters. Not only are they physically larger than a mini lathe, but they have more powerful motors to handle larger pieces and heavier cuts than a mini lathe. If you have the budget, the JET 1221 lathe or the Artisan 1420 lathe are fantastic lathes for the beginner woodturner.