Mini (Midi) Wood Lathes

[bdbecker]

A little Christmas money burning a hole in my pocket combined with watching Frank Howarth videos to help me fall asleep at night has got me looking at wood lathes again. I don't really have room for a floor unit, so I've focused my search on benchtop mini/midi lathes. While I do not have a specific purpose or project in mind for the lathe other than to play around with it and learn a new skill, I do know that I want something that has a decent capacity so I'm not limited to just turning pens or cork stoppers.

Originally, I was looking at the 1/2hp 10x18 wood lathes that everyone seems to sell a version of.

HF - https://www.harborfreight.com/5-speed-bench-top-wood-lathe-65345.html?_br_psugg_q=wood+lathe
Rikon - https://www.rikontools.com/product/70-105
Excelsior - https://www.rockler.com/excelsior-mini-lathe
Grizzly - https://www.grizzly.com/products/grizzly-10-x-18-benchtop-wood-lathe/h8259

Reviews are generally positive and they seem to be a fairly safe option for someone who is just starting out, and are well within my budget which would let me make a purchase soon and get turning. On the flip side, I upgraded my table saw over the summer and my eyes were really opened up to the difference a good quality tool can make. I worry that if I go with one of the basic units, I might rob myself of the true wood turning experience one might get with a better machine.

So in looking at options that are a step up from these machines, I think I've pinned down a good combination of features, capacity, and cost in the Nova Comet 14 and the Jet 1221VS.

https://www.teknatool.com/product/nova-comet-14-dr-midi-lathe/
https://www.jettools.com/us/en/p/jwl-1221vs-12-x-21-variable-speed-wood-lathe/719200

Kind of a toss up for me as both check most of the boxes of what I'm looking for, but have a few trade-offs here and there. Jet has a wider speed range and is truly variable, whereas the Nova has a bigger diameter capacity and is priced a bit lower. The downside to going with one of these machines is that they both are above the initial budget I set for myself, so I'll have to wait and save up more cash.

So I guess my question is are the 10x18's worth considering, or would I be better off to just save/wait for a deal on a bigger unit? I am not in a hurry and I'm not opposed to buying used - if something like a Jet 1221SP or Nova Comet II popped up on CL, I'd definitely consider it if it was priced fairly. Finally, is there an in-between model that I'm missing and should consider?

Thanks!

 

[camardelle]

I started out on the HF lathe. It served its purpose to see if it’s something I would enjoy. I did! I quickly moved up to the Jet 1221 and have two of those as well as a Jet 1015. The wife and I use the 1221’s, the 1015 is used to sand and put pen ends flush, and nothing...absolutely nothing comes out of my shop and on to my table at shows without hitting my old HF lathe that I have set up as a buffing station. It’s the one tool that touches everything.

We’ve made and marketed pens and stoppers and openers for several years now.

My .02 for what it’s worth. Good luck with your search.

 

[tulowd]

I've been half heartedly looking into a small table top lathe.....cant decide between metal and wood/plastic or both.

On the wood front, variable speed and the appropriate accessories and functions seem to be super important. Easy to buy a nice new machine and spend the same amount again on a tool rest, chisels, head, tail stock etc.

I have had very good luck buying good quality used and complete woodworking tools and equipment - woodworkers tend to be older, more concerned with taking care of their equipment and also...most of them have been quite well off.

I like my Rikon table top bandsaw a whole bunch and would look at their brand again on a lathe for sure.

Probably not a bad idea to keep current on Craigs List or Kijiji or Marketplace and find a nice clean lathe with all the bells and whistles for half of new.

 

[3robert 1]

Any of these you mentioned will be more than sufficient, what I'll emphasize you concern yourself with more is to start off with a good set of knives appropriate to the kind of turning you plan on doing. It's the difference between doing good work and great work. It can be HSS or carbide don't cheap out on these.

 

[bdbecker]

I started out on the HF lathe. It served its purpose to see if it’s something I would enjoy. I did! I quickly moved up to the Jet 1221 and have two of those as well as a Jet 1015. The wife and I use the 1221’s, the 1015 is used to sand and put pen ends flush, and nothing...absolutely nothing comes out of my shop and on to my table at shows without hitting my old HF lathe that I have set up as a buffing station. It’s the one tool that touches everything.

We’ve made and marketed pens and stoppers and openers for several years now.

My .02 for what it’s worth. Good luck with your search.

Thank you very much for your insight! I was hoping someone who had run both machines would chime in. It sounds like a 10x18 would be worthwhile.

Also, I didn't mean anything derogatory when I mentioned pens and stoppers - those are projects I do intend on trying out - I just meant that I didn't want a small machine that limit me to those types of items.

...I have had very good luck buying good quality used and complete woodworking tools and equipment - woodworkers tend to be older, more concerned with taking care of their equipment and also...most of them have been quite well off...

I've also had good luck with used equipment. Now that I think about it, most of my equipment is secondhand. I might have to replace a belt or a bearing, but its a good excuse to go through the machine and get familiar with it. There is an Excelsior for sale near me. Price isn't anything special, but I'm going to keep my eye on it.

Any of these you mentioned will be more than sufficient, what I'll emphasize you concern yourself with more is to start off with a good set of knives appropriate to the kind of turning you plan on doing. It's the difference between doing good work and great work. It can be HSS or carbide don't cheap out on these.

For sure. From what I've read, it sounds like the tools are just as important (if not more important) than the lathe itself.

 

[camardelle]

Also, I didn't mean anything derogatory when I mentioned pens and stoppers - those are projects I do intend on trying out - I just meant that I didn't want a small machine that limit me to those types of items.

And certainly no offense taken. When I first started turning I had aspirations for doing huge bowls then figured out that one of yge practices was to turn green wood bowls to about an inch thickness and then put them on a shelf fit six months.

I’m overweight, an ex smoker, ride a motorcycle, and have type 2 diabetes.

Heck I could be dead in six months. LMTO!!

I turned a few pens to learn technique and have discovered how much I enjoy finishing a turning the sand day I start it.

Everyone finds their niche. Find yours. It’ll be great to see where you land.

For the record I know guys who are incredibly talented at turning bowls. Their homes are littered with examples. I use crappy pens at home because people pay me for what I produce. [emoji23][emoji23]

 

[camardelle]

Also I’d prefer you turn bowls. I’ve got enough competition trying to sell pens. LMTO!!

 

[RTM]

I have the jet 1014vsi, which has been a good starter. I bought them before the price doubled, true variable speed, but limited on size. I mostly do tool handles so far, just don’t have time to branch out right now. I also don’t have space for a large one, but do have a bed extension for bigger projects.

A recommendation I received from those more knowledgeable was to buy HF chisels, and learn on them, then upgrade as needed. I bought a 6 or 8 piece Windsor design set, and it has served me well. I’ve bought a few Sorby tools, and a few second hand quality tools since, but mostly use the HF. If I grind off a bit due to a mistake, it doesn’t hurt as much as grinding down an Ashley Iles.