Wood lathes are key tools for woodworkers everywhere, of all types, whether they’re a beginner or professionals. If you plan on doing any work as a woodworker, then it’s crucial that you have this tool.
However, it’s sometimes challenging to find a good wood lathe from the many different kinds that are available. Also, with the money invested into this tool, there’s just not much room for error.
That’s why I’ve put together a list of some of the best wood lathes that are easy to find both online and in hardware stores. In this guide, I compare the different brands and list their features as well as their pros and cons.
COMPARISON CHART
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | |
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1. POWERMATIC MODEL 3520B
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2. Laguna Tools Revo Lathe 220v 2HP
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3. JET JWL-1840EVS
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4. SHOP FOX W1704 1/3-Horsepower Benchtop Lathe
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5. Mophorn Wood Lathe
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1. POWERMATIC MODEL 3520B
Specification
| Weight | 682 pounds |
| Style | Lathe |
| Length | 50x24x44-inches |
| Type of Lathes | Full size |
| Variable Speed | 220-volt |
| Reverse Direction | N/A |
| RPMs | You can choose from two-speed ranges: 125-3500 RPM or 50-1500 RPM |
| Swing | 20-inch swing |
Features
- Made of heavy-duty cast iron.
- Digital RPM readout.
- Many accessories included.
This wood lathe is made of heavy-duty cast iron and provides a large work area, giving you the opportunity to complete a wide range of projects. Their digital RPM meter is simple to read and it includes various accessories as well. This extremely powerful tool never bogs down, but its only downside is that it has an extreme weight of 682 pounds, making for a challenging assembly.
Size and Weight
It provides you with a large 20 x 35-inch work area.
Base
This wood lathe uses a cast-iron base.
Headstock and Tailstock
It has a cleverly designed headstock for easy adjustments and a tailstock that includes built-in storage.
Power and Speed
It’s powered by a 2-horsepower, 220-volt, variable-speed motor.
Capacity
It provides 35-inches of the distance between centers and a 20” swing.
Tool Rest
Has a tool rest swing of 15-3/4″.
Safety
This powerfully built motor enhances safety, with its handy feature designed to eliminate surging, by preventing them from occurring.
Accessories
The accessories included are a guard, tool rest, knockout rod, wrench, faceplate, and spindle lock.
Horsepower
It features a 2HP motor.
PROS
- Digital RPM readout.
- 2HP motor.
- Heavy-duty cast iron.
- It has several accessories included.
- 5-year warranty.
- High RPM.
- 35” of the distance between centers.
- 20” swing.
CONS
- 682 lbs.
2. Laguna Tools Revo Lathe 220v 2HP – Best for professionals
Specification
| Weight | 610lbs |
| Style | Lathe |
| Length | 40 x 36 x 50 inches |
| Type of Lathes | Full size |
| Variable Speed | 135-3500 rpm motor |
| Reverse Direction | Has a reverse switch |
| RPMs | The highest is 135-3500 and the lowest is 50-1300 |
| Swing | 24″ |
Features
- Emergency stop button.
- Speed display.
- Cast iron legs.
The Laguna Tools MLAREVO 1836 is recommended to experts and professionals and features a powerful 2HP, 220-volt electric motor. It has a swing capacity of 32” and a 41.5” distance between centers, so you won’t need to worry about any extensions for even large projects. It’s a sophisticated system with maybe one of the best build quality and attention to detail of many products on the list.
Size and Weight
It weighs 610 lbs at 40 x 36 x 50 inches.
Base
This has a steel bed with cast iron legs.
Headstock and Tailstock
This machine has a tailstock and sliding headstock to accommodate smaller working areas.
Power and Speed
It offers a quiet, smooth-running motor and variable speed control.
Capacity
It has a 24″ swing and 36″ between the centers.
Tool Rest
It comes with a standard tool rest of 12″.
Safety
This has a highly visible emergency stop button that will lock in the OFF position when fully depressed.
Accessories
No accessories included.
Horsepower
This powerful wood lathe is of 2HP.
PROS
- Ergonomic, angled control panel design.
- Steel bed.
- Headstock and tailstock lock handles to ensure uninterrupted work time.
- Digital readout that gives accurate RPM readings.
CONS
- Potentiometer issues.
- Relatively heavy.
3. JET JWL-1840EVS – Best for beginners
Specification
| Weight | 418 pounds |
| Style | Lathe |
| Length | 73 x 52-1/2 x 20 inches |
| Type of Lathes | Full size |
| Variable Speed | 40–3200 RPM |
| Reverse Direction | N/A |
| RPMs | 40 to 3,200 RPM |
| Swing | 18 ½” |
Features
- Secure holding.
- Convenient safety.
- Four-inch cast iron risers.
This simple yet firm wood lathe is perfect for woodturners just beginning, as it’s both solid and versatile enough for more complex jobs. The Jet JWL-1840EVS is designed to be versatile as it features a headstock that slides the full length of the bed. It also includes four-inch cast iron risers, which allow you to easily choose the working height that maximizes your comfort.
Size and Weight
It weighs 418 lbs at 73 x 52½ x 20 inches.
Base
This is designed with a steel bed and cast iron risers.
Headstock and Tailstock
It has a newly designed headstock and improved tailstock.
Power and Speed
The motor is of high power with 2HP and a variable speed from 40–3200 RPM.
Capacity
The distance between centers is 40” with a swing of 18½”.
Tool Rest
It contains a tool rest.
Safety
There’s a remote emergency stop button that can be situated along the lathe bed.
Accessories
It comes with a lathe, legs, riser blocks, tool rest, tools, and hardware.
Horsepower
The motor is 2HP.
PROS
- Wide speed range.
- Digital variable control.
- Has a 24-position indexing headstock.
- Solid build.
- Runs smoothly for woodwork.
CONS
- Tool rests aren’t smooth.
- Spindles are occasionally reported out of alignment.
4. SHOP FOX W1704 1/3-Horsepower Benchtop Lathe – Best for small projects
Specification
| Weight | 52lbs |
| Style | Lathe |
| Length | 7.1 x 27.9 x 13.7 inches |
| Type of Lathes | Benchtop |
| Variable Speed | 3200RPM |
| Reverse Direction | N/A |
| RPMs | 700 – 3200 RPM |
| Swing | 8” |
Features
- Variable speed motor.
- Cast-iron construction.
- Safety paddle switch.
This is an ideal choice for beginners, DIYers, hobbyists, and students. It’s portable, reasonable, and can be used only for turning small pieces of wood. This wood lathe features a 12-inch working area for performing small projects. There are two tool rests for several turning applications and the engine speed is variable. It has a durable cast iron construction and only weighs 52 lbs. The downside is that the SHOP FOX W1704 is not very powerful and could possibly bog down as you work on small projects.
Size and Weight
Weighs approximately 52 lbs at 7.1 x 27.9 x 13.7 inches.
Base
It’s made of cast iron construction.
Headstock and Tailstock
It contains a headstock and tailstock with a faceplate threaded onto the headstock spindle.
Power and Speed
It delivers speeds between 700 and 3,200 rpm and a ⅓ HP.
Capacity
There’s a swing of 8” and a distance of 12” in between its centers.
Tool Rest
It includes two tool rests.
Safety
It features a safety paddle switch.
Accessories
It comes with many additional accessories like a tool rest and faceplates.
Horsepower
It has a motor of ⅓ HP.
PROS
- Cast iron construction.
- Two tool rests.
- 700 – 3200 RPM.
- 52 lbs.
- Variable speed.
- 12” between centers.
- 8” swing.
CONS
- Knobs come loose.
- Not very powerful.
5. Mophorn Wood Lathe – Best Budget
Specification
| Weight | 81 lbs |
| Style | Lathe |
| Length | 10″ x 18″ |
| Type of Lathes | Benchtop |
| Variable Speed | 500-3800 RPM |
| Reverse Direction | N/A |
| RPMs | 500-3800 RPM |
| Swing | 10” |
Features
- Large work capacity.
- Professional tool rests.
- Cast Iron Construction.
This 81-pound machine can deliver from 760-3,200 RPM and is well suited for creating chair legs and other similar projects. It features a durable cast iron construction that will last for many years and also features 6-inch tool rests for working the wood. One of the downsides is that it also doesn’t contain much power and will bog down more often than you may be willing to put up with. The horsepower isn’t listed, but the Mophorn performs like most engines under one horsepower. Also, there are no instructions included in the package to help you get started if you’re new to using this kind of machine.
Size and Weight
It weighs 81lbs at 10″ x 18″.
Base
It’s built from extremely sturdy cast iron construction.
Headstock and Tailstock
It has a headstock and moving tailstock to adjust proper distances for workpieces.
Power and Speed
There’s a 550W Power motor with a turning speed of 500-3800 RPM.
Capacity
There’s an 18″ distance between centers with a swing over bed of 10″.
Tool Rest
It has professional tool rests for easy replacement.
Safety
The powerful motor starts softly to offer motor maximize safety.
Accessories
No accessories included.
Horsepower
The horsepower is not listed.
PROS
- 500 – 3,800 RPM.
- 18” between centers.
- 10” swing.
- Cast iron construction.
- 6” tool rests.
- Lightweight.
CONS
- Poor instructions.
- Very underpowered.
Conclusion
When deciding on which wood lathe to purchase, we recommend considering something with high RPMs and enough room between centers. Our top choice, the POWERMATIC MODEL 3520B, offers both, with 35-inches between centers and a powerful motor of up to 3500 RPMs. For more information, visit our website or contact us today.
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I am a woodworker with over 19 years of experience crafting everything from furniture to ornamental pieces. I take pride in my ability to bring out the beauty of the wood I work with, creating unique and lasting objects. My passion for woodworking has been a life-long pursuit and I strive to push myself further and further with each new project. I am dedicated to the craft and take great satisfaction in the final product that I create.Read More.
