Getting Started in Woodturning - 5
WHICH LATHE SHOULD I BUY?
So, let's assume you've done your research on the items presented to this point. You've made up your mind that woodturning is definitely in your future, you hopefully have some idea of what you'd like to turn, and you understand the associated costs and have a realistic budget in mind. Now it's finally time to return to our original question:
"Which lathe should I buy?"
We'll start with a simple fact: there is no such thing as "The Perfect Lathe". Whichever lathe you eventually choose will be a compromise in one area or another - be it in price, size, features, quality, etc. I don't say this to discourage you, I'm just stating a fact. The secret to choosing the perfect lathe for you is in deciding what is important to you. We've already mentioned two important factors: budget and project requirements.
Another fact is that many turners own more than one lathe. Why? The reasons vary but for most it's simply the continual lust for bigger and/or better iron. (Is this your personality type? If so just save yourself the time and money by skipping the budget lathes and go straight for the "Big Iron".) Many turners start with a mini lathe and eventually upgrade to a full-size. Others start on a budget full-size lathe and later move to a better quality lathe with more capacity. The root motivation in nearly every case is simple: Turning can be very addictive.
Mini vs. Full-Size
One of the early decisions many folks face is whether to buy a mini lathe or full-size lathe. Some prospective buyers tend to discount mini lathes as a toy because of the name. We often hear, "Aren't they only good for turning pens?"
Nothing could be further from the truth. Most experienced turners will tell you that a good quality mini lathe is a serious tool and very well suited to a new turner looking to learn the craft with minimal investment. This makes the mini a great entry point for those who can't afford to start with that infamous and elusive "Last Lathe I'll Ever Own". Minis are ideal for bowls, vases, hollow forms, etc. up to 10" or 12" in diameter. Do you really need to turn a bowl larger than 12" in diameter?
The main advantage of a full-size lathe is obvious - capacity. A common argument for the full-size lathe is: "You can turn small objects on a full-size lathe but you can't turn large objects on a mini."
If you need to turn long spindles, such as table legs, you'll probably be looking at a full-size lathe. But again, give some thought to a mini with a bed extension. These generally extend the bed length up to 40" or 50" depending on the lathe model.
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