Best Power Lathes of 2026
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Power lathes are versatile tools used in woodworking and metalworking. They are designed to shape, cut, and sand materials with precision and speed. With their powerful motors and adjustable speeds, power lathes can handle a range of projects, from creating intricate details on furniture to turning metal parts for machinery. Many models come with a variety of accessories, such as chucks, tool rests, and faceplates, to enhance their functionality. Power lathes are ideal for both hobbyists and professionals looking to achieve high-quality results in their work.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks
Top 10 Power Lathes
VEVOR Mini Metal Lathe, 7"x14"
VEVOR Mini Metal Lathe is a precision machine ideal for professionals. Its high-precision 3-jaw chuck handles square and round objects with ease, making it perfect for accurate tasks like threading. With a 550W motor, it can manage small to medium projects effectively. The metal gear design ensures durability, while features like automatic power-off protection and an LED lamp enhance safety and visibility. You can control the rotational speed from 50 to 2500rpm with the digital display, giving you complete command over your work.
WEN LA3421 Mini Benchtop Wood Lathe
The WEN Mini Wood Lathe is a versatile and compact lathe that is perfect for turning pens, bowls, cups, chess pieces, and other small workpieces. With its 8-inch swing over the bed and a 13-inch distance between centers, it provides ample space for your projects. The soft-start 3.2-amp motor ensures a gradual start to prevent damage and maximize safety. The variable speed feature allows you to adjust the speed anywhere from 750 to 3200 RPM, giving you full control over your turning projects. This lathe comes with a 2.3-inch face plate, an MT1 spindle and tailstock taper, two interchangeable tool rests, and a two-year warranty. Experience the convenience and precision of the WEN Mini Wood Lathe for all your woodworking needs.
VEVOR 14" x 40" Wood Lathe
The VEVOR Wood Lathe is designed for both professional and DIY woodworkers, featuring a spacious 40-inch workbench that allows you to tackle various woodworking projects with ease. Its sturdy aluminum alloy base and solid steel headstock minimize vibrations, providing you with precise and stable operations. With a powerful 0.5 HP motor, you can achieve speeds of up to 2425 RPM, making high-speed cutting and planing effortless. The four adjustable speeds ensure that you can customize your cutting pace to suit different tasks, giving you greater control over your work.
JET JWL-1221VS 12" x 21" Wood Lathe
The JET JWL-1221VS Wood Lathe features a patent-pending ratchet-style belt tension system, three speed ranges that can be easily adjusted with digital readout, and convenient controls. It also includes a tool storage caddy on each end of the machine, a removable safety key, and smooth directional control. Recommended circuit size is 10 Amps, and it falls under the category of Power Metal Lathes.
WEN 6-Amp 14-Inch by 20-Inch Variable Speed Wood Lathe
The WEN 6-Amp 14-Inch by 20-Inch Variable Speed Wood Lathe is perfect for turning bowls, cups and other workpieces up to 20 inches long and 14 inches wide. With a variable speed range from 250 to 3550 rotations per minute, it can tackle a wide variety of tasks. The lathe is equipped with a 4-inch faceplate, MT2 tailstock and headstock tapers, and a 1"- 8 spindle thread to accommodate different lathe accessories. It also features a 6A motor, MT2 spur center, MT2 live center, 8-inch tool rest, and onboard accessory holder for added convenience.
VEVOR Mini Metal Lathe Machine
The VEVOR Mini Metal Lathe offers powerful motor performance that lets you work at speeds up to 20,000 RPM, helping you complete cutting and polishing tasks faster. Its compact design is perfect for small projects and learning purposes. You can precisely shape materials up to 2.76 inches in diameter and 5.12 inches in length, making it great for detailed work. The solid all-metal build keeps the machine stable and prevents warping, so your finished pieces come out smooth and accurate. Plus, with built-in cooling and safety features like overcurrent and overheat protection, you can use this lathe with confidence and reliability.
CXRCY 8" x 12" Mini Wood Lathe
The CXRCY Mini Wood Lathe offers adjustable speeds from 750 to 3200 RPM, allowing you to control the turning speed precisely for different woodworking projects. With a 12-inch distance between centers and an 8-inch swing over the bed, you have enough space to work on a variety of wood sizes easily. The tailstock is adjustable, helping you achieve accurate and stable turning every time. This lathe is powerful enough to help you start creating beautiful wood pieces, and it comes with safety goggles to protect your eyes from flying wood chips. It’s a great tool for both beginners and experienced woodworkers.
RIDGID 48433 MegaPress 1/2" Jaw
The RIDGID MegaPress Compact Jaw is designed to work seamlessly with compact press tools, making it ideal for tight spaces where larger tools won’t fit. It’s specifically made for RIDGID press tools, ensuring compatibility and reliable performance. With a 1/2-inch capacity, this jaw is perfect for handling smaller pipes, giving you precision and control. The packaging is compact with dimensions that make it easy to store and transport, so you can take it wherever your job requires. This tool simplifies your pressing tasks, helping you work efficiently and confidently.
ARTYMASTER WM101A-Plus Mini Wood Lathe
The ARTYMASTER Mini Wood Lathe is designed to make your DIY woodworking projects easier and more precise. Its sturdy steel base and headstock reduce vibrations and noise, helping you work comfortably and accurately. Powered by a strong 96W motor, it can handle various materials like hardwood, copper, and plastic, allowing you to create items such as bowls, pens, or rings. You can easily adjust the speed to match the material you're working on, thanks to its infinitely variable speed control. Plus, the adjustable tool rest gives you better control, improving your cutting accuracy and overall project quality.
FesmTek Mini Multi-Purpose Wood Lathe
The FesmTek Mini Wood Lathe is perfect for beginners and hobbyists who want to create small wood projects easily. It offers versatile functions like turning, cutting, grinding, and polishing, so you can complete various woodworking tasks with one tool. The powerful 96W motor runs quietly and provides seven adjustable speeds, giving you control over your work. This lathe also includes durable, professional-grade cutters made from hardened steel, ensuring long-lasting use. Plus, it’s designed to handle different materials like wood, ceramics, and metal, making it a fun and practical choice for creative projects with your family.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What are the types of lathe?
There are several types of lathes, including speed lathes, center lathes, turret lathes, toolroom lathes, bench lathes, automatic lathes, special purpose lathes, and CNC lathes. Each type has its own specific features and applications.
2. What is a good horsepower for a wood lathe?
A good horsepower range for wood lathes is typically between 3/4 HP and 2 HP. Mini wood lathes usually have an output of 3/4 HP, while full-size wood lathes average around 2 HP. The horsepower requirement may vary depending on the size and complexity of the woodturning projects.
3. What is the most common lathe?
The most common type of manual lathe is the engine lathe or center lathe. It is widely used in machine shop applications and can perform various operations such as turning, end face, grooving, knurling, and threading. Engine lathes are versatile and suitable for a range of turning tasks.
4. What is the difference between a CNC lathe and a lathe?
The main difference between a CNC lathe and a conventional lathe is the control mechanism. A CNC lathe is computer-controlled and moves automatically, following instructions from a program. In contrast, a conventional lathe requires manual operation, with the operator controlling all the movements.
5. What type of wood is best for turning on a lathe?
Walnut wood is highly recommended for turning on a lathe. It produces excellent results when turned at speeds between 800 to 1,000 RPM. However, walnut wood can be tough and have challenging end grain, which may require extra care during sanding.
6. What is the easiest wood to turn on a lathe?
Pine and cherry are considered the easiest woods to turn on a lathe, especially for beginners. These softwoods are easy to shape and work with, allowing beginners to learn and practice woodturning techniques effectively. Starting with softwoods like pine and cherry reduces the complexity of turning wood.
During our power lathe research, we found 24 power lathe products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 14,084 customer reviews through our big data system to write the power lathes list. We found that most customers choose power lathes with an average price of $405.38.
The power lathes are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of power lathes, including VEVOR, WEN, Jet, CXRCY, RIDGID. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 447 consumers with an average rating of 4.1.
Harry Stack owns a small hardware store, his career landed him a depth of knowledge in categories such as tools, equipment, machinery and hardware. In his spare time, he usually repairs furniture, safes and appliances, and he knows how to make simple repairs to plumbing or electrical fixtures. His hobbies also include woodworking and fishing.