Top Tier Wood Lathe

[CoThG]

I hope this is the proper forum for this question. I'd like to get back into wood turning and while I have experience doing so, it was years ago. I'd like some feedback from knowledgable members on who makes top tier wood lathes. I'd be using it for mainly turning bowls, so a larger lathe is probably what I'm after.
Price really isn't a driver in my decision, but the budget is probably around $3000 or so.

 

[neophyte]

Oneway from Canada used to be considered the best.
Oneway manufactures a few different sizes, from a small almost benchtop size, to a very sturdy floor size.
Price might be higher than you budget though.

Lathes

oneway.ca

Teknatool Nova lathes tended to have a following, but I think that had more to do with the motor system, rather than the bed quality, which us the advantage to the Oneway lathes.
Teknatool have a basic cast iron bedway.

Home - NOVA, a Teknatool Brand

NOVA, Smart Tools, Powerful Solutions, a TEKNATOOL USA, INC. & TEKNATOOL INTERNATIONAL LTD brand specializing in offering premium inNOVAtive and smart woodworking tools and accessories.

www.teknatool.com

(The oneway used a tube onto which the bedway is mounted, helping to vastly lower vibration and improve stiffness)

There’s also Robust tools lathes, but these are more expensive than the Oneway lathes.

Lathes – Robust Tools

Otherwise, you shoul probably look for an older lathe with a larger thicker cast iron bed, or maybe an older USA design even if now imported. (Like Powermatic).
Lathes have gotten much more expensive than they used to be, except the lighter entry weight lathes.
If turning light stuff like spindles, you don’t need the extra stiffness.
If turning larger stuff, or wet wood, the extra stiffness from the Oneway designs is sort of necessary to eliminate vibration.

 

[CoThG]

Oneway from Canada used to be considered the best.
Oneway manufactures a few different sizes, from a small almost benchtop size, to a very sturdy floor size.
Price might be higher than you budget though.

Lathes

oneway.ca

Teknatool Nova lathes tended to have a following, but I think that had more to do with the motor system, rather than the bed quality, which us the advantage to the Oneway lathes.
Teknatool have a basic cast iron bedway.

Home - NOVA, a Teknatool Brand

NOVA, Smart Tools, Powerful Solutions, a TEKNATOOL USA, INC. & TEKNATOOL INTERNATIONAL LTD brand specializing in offering premium inNOVAtive and smart woodworking tools and accessories.

www.teknatool.com

(The oneway used a tube onto which the bedway is mounted, helping to vastly lower vibration and improve stiffness)

There’s also Robust tools lathes, but these are more expensive than the Oneway lathes.

Lathes – Robust Tools

Otherwise, you shoul probably look for an older lathe with a larger thicker cast iron bed, or maybe an older USA design even if now imported. (Like Powermatic).
Lathes have gotten much more expensive than they used to be, except the lighter entry weight lathes.
If turning light stuff like spindles, you don’t need the extra stiffness.
If turning larger stuff, or wet wood, the extra stiffness from the Oneway designs is sort of necessary to eliminate vibration.

Thanks!

 

[jdm5]

@neophyte has it. Robust is top tier but may be out of your budget.

You should probably swing by the American Association of Woodturners (https://www.aawforum.org/community/) - whole site focused on turning.

 

[AEAdam]

Never used a one way. Always wanted to. I have used some big powermatics that were really nice. I’m really just a (poor) spindle turner. Before you buy, be sure to watch this video:

I watch a lot of turners on YouTube and TV using their lathes’ power to scrape. Not great, really. I learned to turn on a treadle lathe. It teaches you to take shavings (and how to sharpen gouges and skews). Robin (in the video) makes his own hook tools and can produce beautiful bowls very quickly. May not change your choice of lathes, but could help you get more out of whatever lathe you end up with.

 

[neophyte]

I was just in Barnes & Noble, and the issue of Fine Woodworking on the magazine shelf had reviews on woodworking lathes, specificslly “Midi Lathes”, although some seemed to be a bit larger than what I might consider a “Midi Lathe”.
I don’t know whether it’s worth the $13 to you, but if you have a local B&N or other Magazine pusher that stocks Fine Woodworking, you might check the issue out.
The mid sized Oneway and Robust lathes seemed to have gotten the “Best Overall” awards.
A heavy duty Powermatic with what appeared to be a heavy but shorter bed was also listed.

 

[bpwoodworking]

Old and cast iron would be my choice. I have a Hapfo which is not really a bowl turners lathe but it’s cast iron and smooth. A Wadkin RS would be my choice for bowls.

I have a few one way things and find them to be lackluster. I personally do not like machines made with weldments where cast iron belongs.

 

[turner66]

In addition to the Oneway, Robust, Powermatic, and Nova mentioned, there is also the Omega Stubby and Vicmarc on the high end...