3 Best Wood Lathes 2022 reviews

There are many different models of wood lathes that you can find on the market. Probably, you’re asking yourself now – how to choose the best wood lathe.

You don’t know which model or brand to choose. Well, first of all, you have to know what you want to do with the wood lathe.

So, there are a few things you need to think about before buying a woodworking lathe.

Do you have enough space for it?

How much money are you willing to spend?

What features of the woodworking lathe are you looking for?

Price is important when buying your first lathe. Since they can be expensive, you may want to invest in one you can practice with first, especially if you are a beginner. Hobby lathes are great to start with. They are not as good as professional lathes, but they will be good enough to get a feel for what you want.

Are you a hobbyist or are you a professional? 

If you are a  hobbyist and you want to make dollhouse items, pens, or model wood ships you will buy a small mini wood lathe.

The small pen lathe will cost you only a few hundred dollars. The bigger floor lathes cost several thousand dollars and will take up a good amount of room. If you do need a floor lathe, make sure you have enough space to move around it while you are working with it.

As you are thinking about what type of projects you will be doing, the features you want to focus on are speed and security. Say you are making a table; the legs you make for it will need to be rotated faster than other items, such as making a bowl.

Also, Find out if the speed of the lathe is easily adjustable. If you are a beginner woodworker, then it is recommended to have a top speed of about 2,000 RPM (rotations per minute).

Make sure the lathe has security features and that it is easy to use.

Consider the type of projects you will be doing so that way you will know how much money you will spend on a new lathe, how big it needs to be, and also what lathe's features are the best for your projects.

If you want to buy a professional woodworking lathe then you have to be very careful and you have to read reviews before your final decision. You don’t want to spend a big amount of money on some low-quality wood lathe that will not meet your needs. With our latest updated list of the best woodworking lathes reviews in 2022, our goal is to make your decision easier. Good luck.

FOX W1704

FOX W1704 Review:

Specification:

Features: 

 

FOX W1704 is a good quality mini wood lathe with unrivaled and variable speed control between 750-3200 RPM.

The weight of the lathe is 52 lbs.

The motor power is 1/3 HP and works on a 110V single-phase.

Construction is made of cast iron and it has two tool rests. It was built to fit on your workbench neatly.

8-inch swing over bed and 12-inch distance between centers. 3/4-by-16-inch TPI RH spindle, MT No. 1 live center, 1 spur center, 7-inch tool rests, 5-3/4-inch faceplate.

5-3/4-inch faceplate threads into the headstock spindle for non-spindle turning are included with this benchtop lathe.

3/4" x 16 TPI RH spindle, 5-3/4" faceplate, MT#1 spur center, 4-1/4" and 7" tool rests, MT#1 live center, and Safety paddle switch are included.

FOX W1704 lathe is intended for small projects and pen turning.

This is a great mini-lathe to start with if you're new to woodturning.

FOX W1704 is not without reason, placed in the category of Amazon'sChoice.

 

 

Powermatic PM2014

Powermatic PM2014 Review:

Specification:

Powermatic has been dedicated to woodworkers for nearly 100 years.

Here is the model of the woodworking lathe we choose to review. It is Powermatic PM2014.

The inverter delivers 1HP, 230V, 3PH performance, with a power source of 115V.

Vibrations of the motor are reduced thanks to the robust cast iron bed.

The capacity of Powermatic PM2014 is 20" between centers and 14" swing over bed. It can be increased with the optional 13" bed extension.

Greater clearance is possible thanks to the premium sliding headstock and removable tailstock.

With 24 positive locking indexing positions, the magnetic control box shows both spindle speed and digital indexing reading.

Wrenches, centers, and other accessories are kept in the attached tool caddy.

A knockout bar is included with a wrench to remove the faceplate, a faceplate, drive spur, and a live center.

The ergonomic stand adjusts from 34 to 46 inches from centerline to floor, making the Powermatic PM2014 accessible to users of various heights.

A 1-inch post is included with 8-inch tool rest.

You can choose speeds between 15RPMs to 3600RPMs.

The lathe is easily disassembled.

 

Powermatic 3520C

Specification:

With many new and improved features, the Powermatic 3520C is the fourth evolution of the lathe that comes from a reputable Powermatic company.

Powermatic 3520C includes all features you can find on previous models such as a digital RPM readout, a laser-etched quill that is self-ejecting, a headstock, an electronic variable speed with high and low-speed ranges, and the spindle lock.

It has adjustable riser blocks for 6 inches or more, an ergonomic spindle lock design, an Anti-rotation tailstock, and a digital indexing readout.

User protection is increased with fully-enclosed VFD.

The spindle size is 114 by 8 threads.

The bed of this lathe is 20” swing or 10” from center to bed.

The weight of this lathe is 726 LBS (814 LBS with the bed extension), 

4 inches of height adjustment are allowed by riset blocks.

On the back of the headstock is a main power disconnect switch.

An extended spindle nose gives better access to the workpiece and a magnetic-backed moveable control box gives more safety.

The robust 2 HP motor provides more constant performance when working at 15RPM.

We think Powermatic 3520C is the best woodworking lathe in its class. Many people use Powermatic 3520C in their working shops.