Woodturning is a great hobby that allows you to do something creative, make beautiful pieces of art, or just give your mind a break.
There are many different types of wood lathes on the market today and it can be difficult to figure out which one will work best for your needs. In this blog post, we will discuss the Best Wood Lathe for Hobbyists!
This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something we may earn a commission. Thank you!
What Is The Best Wood Lathe For Hobbyists?
| Image | Product | Details | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
JET JWL-1221VS | Best Wood Lathe for Hobbyists | Check Price |
 |
Grizzly Industrial G0462 | Best Full-Size Wood Lathe for Hobbyists | Check Price |
 |
WEN 3421 | Best Budget Wood Lathe for a Hobbyist | Check Price |
 |
Grizzly Industrial T25920 | Best Mini Wood Lathe for a Hobbyist | Check Price |
The best wood lathe for hobbyists is one that allows you to work with a variety of projects. You need something affordable, but versatile enough so it will be worth your money and time while also meeting the needs of different types of projects.
Here are our top picks:
JET JWL-1221VS (Best Wood Lathe for Hobbyists)
JET JWL-1221VS Variable Speed Lathe is the perfect choice for your woodworking needs. With a wide range of speeds and a convenient design, this machine will provide hours upon hours of creative work.
The JET 12″x21″ Variable Speed Woodworking Lathe is built with your comfort in mind. With its gentle curves and chrome accents, this machine was created with style.
The easy-to-reach controls and digital readout allow for quick adjustments on the go, so you can focus on more pressing tasks.
At any time there are three speed ranges at your fingertips, giving you a light to a heavy-duty option that suits any job requirement. You can choose from three different speed ranges (60-900/110-1,800/220-3,600RPM).
In order to keep jobs running smoothly the ratchet-style belt tension system (patent pending) allows for greater precision when tensioning belts into place by hand – no tools are required!
The JET 12″x21″ Variable Speed Woodworking Lathe also offers several convenient features. It includes a digital readout, a one-piece cast iron bed for stability and accuracy, a tool storage caddy on each end of the machine, and weighs only 121 pounds to make transportation easy.
You can easily attach and extend the lathe bed to make way for other projects without having to remove or adjust any parts. You will need to buy a bed extension for this.
Grizzly Industrial G0462 (Best Full-Size Wood Lathe for Hobbyists)
Many woodworkers purchase a lathe to spin their logs into whatever shape they need, from table legs to kitchen utensils. The Grizzly Industrial G0462-16″ x 46″ Wood Lathe with DRO is perfect for this application, also being able to turn bowls and other small items.
It has 10 speeds which makes it possible for you to find the right speed depending on what you are trying to achieve. The speeds range from 600 – 2400 RPM.
Its 1″ x 8 TPI RH headstock spindle enables professional performance and prevents hobbyists from going through too much trouble in selecting a matching one themselves.
There is ample space between centers – 43 inches so that all projects can be easily accommodated without any problem.
The bed is heavy-duty, guaranteeing stability no matter what project you are working on. Best yet, this machine includes features like an MT#2 spindle and tailstock tapers that make it easy to change often when working on different tasks such as dry sanding or pen turning–both of which are necessary for successful projects in woodworking that can require skillsets from finishing to carving to sanding.
There are other features too, like a quick change gearbox with an indexing pin so that you can set it up for the project at hand. This machine weighs 354 pounds which makes it quite hard to move around. So make sure you have enough space in your workshop or garage.
WEN 3421 (Best Budget Wood Lathe For A Hobbyist)
The WEN 3421 Wood Lathe is an excellent machine for turning high-quality items from your small, round workpieces.
This 3.2-Amp wood lathe is more powerful than most 8″ lathes on the market and can handle 12″ long and 8″ wide pieces of wood without any problem at all!
With a Variable Speed Motor that can set anywhere from 750 to 3200 RPM, you will always be able to get the right speed for your tooling attachments.
The two built-in Tool Rests give you different options in how to approach certain tasks like hollow turning or faceplate work – there’s even a place where both rests could be used simultaneously if necessary!
WEN has made a mini wood lathe uncomplicated for beginners and hobbyists. Whether you’re looking to create amazing bowls, pens, or chess pieces, this little wood lathe is up for the challenge.
Featuring a 2.3-inch faceplate and interchangeable tool rests that can be moved anywhere on the working surface for even further customization options; the last thing holding you back is imagination!
Grizzly Industrial T25920 (Best Mini Wood Lathe For A Hobbyist)
Introducing the Grizzly Industrial T25920 – 12″ x 18″ Variable-Speed Benchtop Wood Lathe. We know that nothing beats a good old-fashioned lathe, but not everyone has room for one in their garage or workshop.
Thankfully, this benchtop model is here to save the day! The three speeds range from 650 to 3800 RPM so you can find just the speed you need to finish whatever job your heart desires.
Knowing how many rotations per minute (RPM) is needed for various projects on a benchtop turner will always be an issue with some cheaper models but now it’s solved with this handy digital spindle speed indicator mounted on this lathe!
The variable-speed wood lathe’s turning radius measures 12″ and spindles up to 16-1/2″.
Different Things You Can Make With A Wood Lathe
The wood lathe is quite a versatile machine and can be used to make a large variety of items. Just look at some of the things you could do with a wood lathe!
- Bowls, plates & platters
- Baseball bats
- Table legs
- Kitchen utensils
- Handles for tools
- Lamps & vases
- Ornaments
- Chess pieces and other wooden toys for children!
Best of all is that these are just a few things you can make, there’s an infinite number of products.
How To Choose The Best Wood Lathe For Hobbyists
When you’re looking for the Best Wood Lathe, there are a number of things to consider.
The first is that your lathe must be sturdy enough so it doesn’t cause vibration or wobble while in use. Second; make sure it’s powerful enough to handle whatever projects come its way and finally take into account what tools need to be included with it.
Think about the projects you are going to be working on and how often. If you’re a beginner, it’s best to choose something in the middle of the power range – not too powerful but not too weak either.
Are you going to turn longer pieces? Then you need a full-size lathe that is going to be able to handle them and provide you with a large enough surface area for support under the wood.
If that’s not the case then it’ll need to have an extension bed. This is like a small platform that extends from the main machine itself, giving added support when needed. It also provides more room for larger workpieces!
Also, keep in mind that a full-size lathe will take quite a bit of space in your shop or garage. Make sure you prepare ahead of time and have the room to accommodate it. You can choose a mini lathe if you lack the space.
You’ll need to consider what kind of budget you have available. The more expensive lathes have extra features like reverse function and variable speed so for a beginner, it’s best to stick with the middle of the road. If you know you don’t need a specific feature then you can save some money by choosing a less expensive model.
Tips On Maintaining Your New Purchase and Preventing Any Accidents/Injuries
There are a few things you can do to keep your Best Wood Lathe in tip-top shape.
Always read over the product manual and follow all safety precautions – this is for both personal protection as well as making sure your lathe itself doesn’t get damaged.
If you’re going to turn wood on it then make sure it’s clean and free from any debris.
You have to clean your wood lathe after each use to prevent rust or other damage.
It’s a good idea to take the necessary steps for preventing injuries while using it – this includes wearing safety goggles and making sure your hair is tied back securely.
You should have a wood dust collection set up in your shop so that you don’t inhale harmful chemicals from turning the exotic hardwoods!
Wood lathes can be dangerous so it’s important to take every precaution you can.
Is Woodturning A Good Hobby?
If you’re looking for a hobby to get into, then woodturning is an excellent choice. It’s both fun and challenging while being rewarding at the same time!
Wood lathes also provide endless possibilities when it comes to what you can do with them – there are so many things that can be made from wood!
It’s a creative hobby as you’re able to make whatever your mind can dream up. Best of all, there are different levels of woodturning – whether you’re a beginner or advanced!
Just like any other hobby, you will need to invest in some tools and accessories for it. But if you enjoy the process of creating then that won’t be an issue!
You can make anything from Christmas decorations to chess pieces and even wood toys for children. Best of all is that these are just a few things you can make, there’s an infinite number of products. This means unlimited possibilities!
Some people end up making woodturning their full-time job!
Final Thoughts
When you need a hobby or just some time to yourself, woodturning is an excellent choice. There are so many different types of lathes available today and it can be difficult to figure out which one will work best for your needs.
In this blog post, we talked about the Best Wood Lathe For Hobbyists!
We hope our list has been helpful in guiding you through these options. Let us know what type of woodturning projects you’ve completed with your new lathe by leaving a comment below!