An artist can only ever be as good as the tools that he is working with. That is why it is an incredibly important decision as a woodworker to decide upon the best quality Wood Lathe that you can find.
This can be difficult but that is why we have put together our list of the top 10 best wood lathes you can find in 2021.
Your Wood Lathe will form one of the centerpieces of your workshop. You will use it anytime that you need to turn wood. They are instrumental in helping to carve bowls and many other types of pieces that you may find yourself crafting.
Product | Details | Rating |
|---|---|---|
OUR #1 RATED  NOVA 46300 Mini Lathe | 4.5 out of 5 | |
 SHOP FOX W1704 Benchtop Lathe | 4.5 out of 5 | |
 JET JWL-1221VS Wood Lathe | 4 out of 5 | |
 WEN 3420 Benchtop Wood Lathe | 4 out of 5 | |
 Delta Industrial Midi Lathe | 4 out of 5 |
A high-quality Wood Lathe will allow you to quickly and efficiently process your wood without nearly as much of the physical strain that would typically be required.
In order to efficiently use our guide make sure to reference any terms with the buyer’s guide found after the reviews towards the bottom.
We have compiled all of the research necessary to make an informed decision. We hope that you find our buyers guide and our reviews to be of great assistance in your quest to select the best piece of equipment for you and your workshop.
PSI Woodworking KWL-1018 Midi Lathe
the PSI Woodworking KWL-1018 Midi Lathe is one of the highest quality Wood Lathe that you will find on the market today. It weighs 84 pounds so it can be easily moved with two people and repositioned within your workshop at ease.
The PSI Woodworking KWL-1018 Midi Lathe features a 110 V power source and is made out of cast-iron so it will be able to keep up with the demands of your woodworking shop. This is a manual speed model with a 10-inch diameter. It supports an 18-inch turning capacity.
The manual speed can be adjusted through five RPM settings: 650, 1000, 1450, 2000, and 3000
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NOVA 1624 Speed Wood Lathe
The NOVA 1624 Speed Wood Lathe is another high-quality option for those of you that are looking for something with a little more power in your workshop.
It weighs 273 pounds and it's dimensions measure 43×11×19 inches. It also carries a five-year limited warranty from the manufacturer.
There are some woodworking projects which are a little more demanding than others. This is a great Wood Lathe for those projects that you need a little extra horsepower on.
It has a 1 ½ hp motor that can cycle through eight different speed settings from 215 RPM all the way to 3600 RPM
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Grizzly G0462 Wood Lathe
The Grizzly G0462 Wood Lathe is another great option for the woodworker who is looking for a high-quality piece of equipment that will not break the bank. It has a digital readout for the speed and has 10 options for speed between 600- 2400 RPM.
There is a 43-inch gap between the centers and it also has a 2 hp motor. It weighs 354 pounds and has optional legs which can help to add even more mass to the machine. It is made out of precision ground cast-iron and comes with a manufacturer’s warranty.
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Jet JWL-1015 Wood Working Lathe
At only 499.99 the Jet JWL-1015 Wood Working Lathe is a great lathe for the woodworker who is looking to add a new piece of equipment without breaking the bank. It has a wider bed system that helps to make the overall performance sturdier and has six-speed options between 500 RPM and 3975 RPM
This is a great lathe for the woodworker who is looking to purchase their first lathe. It is very easy to work with and only weighs 77 pounds so it can be set up on your own without the need for assistance from others. It also has a five-year manufacturer’s warranty.
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Goplus Wood Turning Lathe
this is a great Wood Lathe for the woodworking beginner who is looking to get in an easy to use a piece of equipment without any of the additional wells and whistles that are on some of the other lathes.
It is one of the smallest pieces of equipment on this list and also has the most limited range of speeds.
The Goplus Wood Turning Lathe will be able to handle all of the work for your pen turning needs. It has a ½ hp motor and a 120 V power source. It is capable of adjusting through four-speed options from 1100 all the way to 3400 RPM.
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Delta Industrial Midi Lathe
The Delta Industrial Midi Lathe is another great piece of equipment for the novice to intermediate woodworker who is looking to upgrade their workspace without breaking the bank. It retails for $649 and it has a one horsepower motor with a 12 ½ inch swing capacity.
It also has an electronic variable speed selection system that is capable of both forward and reverse function which can allow the woodworker to achieve a superior finish for their final product. This means that you can send a piece against the grain to create a smoother finish.
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WEN 3420 Benchtop Wood Lathe
The WEN 3420 Benchtop Wood Lathe is a fantastic piece of equipment for the woodworker who is looking to improve their performance with their pieces. There are several different models available in this line to accommodate the woodworker with any experience level.
It has a 5-inch faceplate that allows the use of non-spindle workpieces. It has a continuously adjustable variable speed system that ranges from 750 to 3200 RPM. It can support workpieces that are up to 12 inches long and 8 inches wide.
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JET JWL-1221VS Wood Lathe
now we are moving on toward some of the higher end pieces of equipment on our list. The JET JWL-1221VS Wood Lathe retails for close to $1000 and has a very wide range of speeds available.
The speed range has been optimally designed and is able to switch between forward and reverse smoothly.
It also uses a ratchet style belt tension system that keeps the belts and pulleys under the correct amount of tension at all times. This is an incredibly safe to use piece of equipment that would find a good home in just about any workshop.
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SHOP FOX W1704 Benchtop Lathe
to follow up the previous piece of equipment that we mentioned here is another piece of equipment that can fit in the budget of just about any woodworker.
The SHOP FOX W1704 Benchtop Lathe retails for only $250 so it should be able to find a way into just about anyone’s workshop.
This has a 1/3 hp motor. It also has a 12-inch gap between the centers along with an 8-inch swing over bed. It has infinitely variable speed control and is made from cast-iron so it is relatively durable in its construction.
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NOVA 46300 Mini Lathe
finally, we have the NOVA 46300 Mini Lathe. This is the most popular piece of equipment for the beginning woodworker. It has a three-quarter horsepower variable speed motor that is capable of a speed range from 250 to 4000 RPM.
The three-step pulley system is capable of dialing in low medium and high-speed ranges. It also has a 12-inch swing over bed and 16 ½ inches between the centers. At under $500 it represents a great piece of equipment to purchase the four-door workshop.
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Which Wood Lathe Should You Buy?
There we have it I hope you have found our review guide for some of the best Wood Lathe that you can purchase for your workshop to be helpful. Once you are ready to make your purchase I recommend going through these your selves in deciding which features are most important to you.
There is a handy buyers guide which can help to define any terms that you do not understand and should make the buying process incredibly simple and stress-free.
Lauren Gamble is an author, mompreneur, co-founder of Naturally Made Essentials. She is on a mission to help thousands of women across the world achieve a healthy, happy lifestyle through teaching natural health practices.
