Best Wood Lathe Today

Best Wood Lathe – SHOP FOX W1704

The overall best wood lathe that outshines more than 40 of its competitors is the SHOP FOX W1704.

Considering its size, the W1704 might not look like much, but there’s actually more to this machine than meets the eye.

Here’s a quick rundown of the SHOP FOX W1704’s key specifications—

• 700-3200 RPM
• 8-inch Swing Over Bed
• 13-inch Centers Distance
• Comes with 2 Tool Rests

The benchtop W1704 is the ideal option for aspiring woodturners, DIYers, and even light-duty professional work.

This machine can turn 8 x 13-inch stock at speeds of up to 3200 RPM, which is a lot faster than many similar models you’ll find o the market.

Driven by a 1/3-HP motor, there’s very little doubt as to whether the W1704 is the right tool for making all sorts of wood-based art.

The 5.75-inch will help support larger stock while also enabling non-spindle turning for bowls and rings.

Along with the lathe, you’ll also get two rests that measure in at 4.25 and 7 inches in width.

The unit’s body is made of durable cast iron, which will withstand bumps and falls in the workshop.

Take a look at the W1704’s performance in this video.

Overall, we feel that the SHOP FOX W1704 would be the perfect addition in any aspiring woodworker’s garage shop.

Best Premium - Laguna MLAREVO 1836

Key Specifications

• 135-3500 RPM
• 18-inch Swing Over Bed
• 36-inch Centers Distance
• Comprehensive Remote Controller

The Laguna MLAREVO 1836 is arguably one of the best wood lathes for small woodworking businesses.

The 2-HP motor drives the spindles to turn wooden stock at speeds of up to 3500 RPM, making it a lot easier and faster to sand and remove tiny layers of material from the workpiece.

By its 18 x 36-inch capacity, you can immediately tell that the MLAREVO 1836 is made for heavy-duty woodturning.

The remote controller located near the headstock is what sets this unit apart from most.

On the control panel, you have easy access to the on/off switch and a forward/reverse operation dial.

There’s also a handy digital RPM readout, letting the user know how quickly or slowly the spindle is moving.

If you plan on making beautiful furniture legs, baseball bats, and other cylindrical objects, the Laguna MLAREVO is the most premium option available.

Best Budget - WEN 3421

Key Specifications

• 750-3200 RPM
• 8-inch Swing Over Bed
• 12-inch Centers Distance
• Comes with 2 Tool Rests

The WEN 3421 is one of the more fantastic benchtop lathes you can get today.

Seeing as how it’s a WEN product, you can expect high-quality performance on a budget.

This lathe can turn 8 x 12-inch stock at speeds of up to 3200 RPM, making it the ideal tool for beginners.

For turning bowls, pens, and rings, you’ll appreciate the 2.3-inch faceplate that comes with the kit.

Like the W1704, this tool with 4.5 and 7-inch tool rests that will help you glide your chisel on both smaller and larger stock.

There’s also a neat two-year warranty for the 3421 and other WEN products, though judging from the cast iron body, you probably won’t need to use it.

The WEN 3421 is designed for beginner woodturners and smaller workshops, meaning that you’ll need to replace this lathe as your skills as improve.

Delta Industrial 46-460

Key Specifications

• 250-1750 RPM
• 12.5-inch Swing Over Bed
• 16.5-inch Centers Distance
• Patented Belt Tensioning System

The Delta 46-460 is an incredibly unique wood lathe that lets you create masterful pieces of art in no time. The 1-HP motor produces up to 1750 RPM at max speed.

You can crank the speed down to a mere 250 RPM when working with thicker, unevenly shaped pieces.

This wood lathe comes with reversible EVS and a pullet system to reduce vibrations, not that the cast iron design needs it very much.

The patented tensioning system consists of three pulleys that let you fine-tune the turning speed based on your specific needs.

Despite being an entry-level wood lathe, the 46-460 is backed by a generous five-year warranty.

See what the 46-460 can do in this video. 

For its price and the astounding 5-year warranty, you really can’t ask for much more from the Delta 46-460.

JET JWL-1221VS

Key Specifications

• 60-3600 RPM
• 12-inch Swing Over Bed
• 21-inch Centers Distance
• Optional Bed Extension

The JET JWL-1221VS is a wood bowl turners dream.

The 12 x 21-inch capacity is neither too small nor too large for garage workshops, although its small size can make it irrelevant when you become more accustomed to lathing.

However, an optional bed extension is available to make this tool work for 40-inch-long stock.

The controller module is found on the right-hand side of the tool toward the tailstock end. There’s also a handy compartment to keep track of your chisels and wrench.

Switching between gears is pretty simple, thanks to the ratchet-style tensioning system. Except for your shaping tools, everything you need to get started comes in the box.

It can be confusing to see whether the JWL-1221VS is on forward or reverse gear, but this is a bit nitpicky compared to the astounding performance and ease of use this wood lathe offers.

WEN 3420T

Key Specifications

• 750-3200 RPM
• 8-inch Swing Over Bed
• 12-inch Centers Distance
• Digital RPM Readout

The WEN 3420T is a lot like the previous WEN model. It’s a budget-friendly option for beginner woodturners who want to try their hand at making bowls, pens, and rings.

The 3200-RPM max speed works beautifully for sanding and removing thinner layers of material.

At most, the 3420T can accommodate 8 x 12-inch blocks without excessive vibrations.

This wood lathe offers two different speed types: fixed and variable speed.

The latter gives you full control over how much material you remove, and the digital readout will help you reach the ideal turning rate.

Users claim that even at its highest speed, they haven’t had trouble keeping the 3420T in place.

The WEB 3420T isn’t going to run for hours and hours at a time, but it can certainly help you craft small wood-based items rather efficiently.

NOVA 46300 Comet II

Key Specifications

• 250-4000 RPM
• 12-inch Swing Over Bed
• 16.5-inch Centers Distance
• 12-Point Index

The NOVA 46300 Comet II comes equipped with a powerful ¾-HP motor that’s perfect for noncommercial use.

This beginner-friendly wood lathe offers an extremely wide speed range of between 250 and 4000 RPM, letting you work with all kinds of stock thicknesses effortlessly.

Not very many wood lathes offer this kind of flexibility.

The 12-point indexing system is incredibly easy to use. It locks the headstock in place, allowing you to make accurate measurements and pencil in cut marks for more intricate pieces.

You can use this machine to make anything from small furnishings to plates with easily.

You can overcome the stubbiness of the Comet II’s bed by purchasing the bed extension attachment, but as is, novice woodturners will definitely find this wood lathe an incredible purchase.

RIKON 70-100

Key Specifications

• 70-1720 RPM
• 12-inch Swing Over Bed
• 16-inch Centers Distance
• Self-Ejecting Tailstock

The RIKON 70-100 might not look like much. In fact, compared to other models on this list, this is probably the least appealing of them all.

However, the ½-HP motor at 1720-RPM max turning speed are nothing to scoff at. Plus, it can accommodate foot-wide stock measuring 16 inches in length between the centers.

If need be, you can remove the tailstock to make room blanks for baseball bats and even vases.

You don’t need a knockout bar to remove take the tailstock off; instead, you can remove it simply by sliding it off the rail.

There’s also a 12-point indexing system that lets you pencil in marks for cutting intricate designs into the nearly-finished product.

The RIKON 70-100 is hardly takes up any space while also offering more power output compared to most benchtop lathes.

Grizzly Industrial G0462

Key Specifications

• 600-2400 RPM
• 16-inch Swing Over Bed
• 43-inch Centers Distance
• 360° Swivel Headstock

The Grizzly Industrial G0462 is one of the most sizable beginner-friendly wood lathes on the market.

As you can see, its 43-inch-long holding capacity is several times longer than most DIY lathes you’ll find.

Its max speed is capped at just 2400 RPM, which is a lot slower but still adequate for woodturning projects.

One of the most unique features of this GI lathe is the flexible headstock. Operators can loosen it from the rail and swivel it up to 360°.

This will allow you to work with blanks longer than 43 inches by pointing it in the opposite direction of the tailstock.

However, this can affect the tool’s balance, and you won’t have access to the tool rest.

The G0462 is noted for its flexible, 360°-swivel headstock and long bed, but lathing smaller items shorter than 16 inches long could be problematic.

Mophorn Wood Lathe 10 x 18 Inch

Key Specifications

• 500-3800 RPM
• 10-inch Swing Over Bed
• 18-inch Centers Distance
• Digital RPM Readout

The Mophorn Woode Lathe 10 x 18 Inch is a super-straightforward wood lathe that doesn’t offer very much in terms of capacity.

With just a 10-inch swing, the sort of woodturning projects this lathe can handle is extremely limited.

However, the tool rest slides smoothly across the length of the bed, giving you the best control and precision possible.

Surprisingly, this affordable, beginner-friendly wood lathe comes with a digital RPM readout, which most people wouldn’t expect from its price range.

The accuracy of the readout seems on point, and you can turn blanks up to 3800 RPM for quicker sanding and carving.

The bed and stocks are made completely out of durable cast iron.

The rubberized feet can also help absorb most of the Mophorn’s shock while turning wood at the highest speed.

PSI Woodworking KWL-1218VS

Key Specifications

• 500-3800 RPM
• 12-inch Swing Over Bed
• 18-inch Centers Distance
• Halogen Work Light

The PSI Woodworking KWL-1218VS is another 12 x 18-inch wood lathe that’s a lot more high-tech than it looks.

First, it comes with a 1-HP motor that delivers between 500 and 3800 RPM that lets you work with super-small to super-large blanks.

It even has a digital RPM readout if you get the variable speed version.

Connected to the headstock is a halogen work light, which is actually quite helpful at lighting up the bed and turned object.

You also have a 24-point indexing system, which lets you pencil marks for complex designs for bowl, ring, and pen exteriors.

The tailstock can also slide all the way off to accommodate stock longer than 18 inches.

You might need to lean the halogen work light against a wall or other object to keep it pointed at your workspace, but you can certainly make do with it.

RIKON Power Tools 70-220VSR

Key Specifications

• 250-3850 RPM
• 12.5-inch Swing Over Bed
• 24-inch Centers Distance
• 24-Position Index

Last up, we have another RIKON product for you. The 70-220VSR isn’t unlike many of the wood lathes on this list, except that it can reach turning speeds of up to 3850 RPM.

This machine will let you work with smaller blanks for pens and larger ones for bowls and furniture legs (up to 20 inches in length).

The tailstock slides off to accommodate larger pieces later on.

This RIKON lathe also has a 24-point indexing system, which lets you create more intricate design on your wood-based art.

There’s also a digital readout, but some users claim it doesn’t actually measure the speed correctly.

This RIKON lathe certainly does the job incredibly well, but the inaccurate readout can make things harder for first-time users.