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Written by Douglas Smith
Best Wood Lathe under 1000 for woodturning
In the society we are living in, the budget can be one of the most crucial aspects that can play a vital role in pursuing your career or what you do best. Most people leave their dream jobs or could not start their own business because they don’t have enough money to buy equipment. If we take a look at the woodturning industry, we would know that this industry is not cheap too. It does not matter if they are lathes or simple tools; you will have to spend quite a significant amount to get your hands on the things that are required for woodturning.
But what if I actually told you that you could get the expensive-looking best wood lathe under 1000 dollars? Well, it might seem impossible to get a lathe that is affordable and offers good functions too. For that, I am here with this premium list that has the entire best wood lathe under 1000 that can not only offer you woodturning services but can also make it efficient and easy for you. You will have to know how to use the lathe, even as a beginner, and you will be good to go.
Top 7 best wood lathe under 1000 dollars in 2021
Well then, let’s check what are the seven best wood lathe under 1000 that you can purchase in 2021.
The Best Wood Lathes Under $1000
1.Mophorn Wood Lathe
There are always users who prefer to start with a low budget so that they can gain experience and know-how different things work. If you are one of those actual users, this Mophorn woo lathe is definitely for you. It is very cheap, durable, and most importantly, offers good specs and features to its users. If we talk about the motor infused in this lathe by the brand, then you will be able to find a powerful motor enough to handle small and medium projects.
One exciting thing about this lathe is that the RPM range is pretty good, even for its price. You can go till 3800 RPM, which is definitely not typical for lathes in this range. Also, the size that this lathe can support is 12”x18,” and you can also control it with the features integrated right on the lathe. A digital meter is also provided so that the users can check the RPM of their lathe and adjust it as they want.
Key Features
Max 3800 RPM
Digital Meter
Great Size Support
Easy Features
2.RIKON Power Tools 70-105
If you are finding the best budget lathes on the internet, then Rikon has undoubtedly a wide range of lathes that you can buy even on a meager budget. For this time, if you want to buy the best lathe for under 1000 dollars, then this variant can be an excellent pick for you. Do note that this lathe is a mini lathe and not a midi lathe, so you might have to compromise s little on the size a little. But the best thing is, size support is still not drastic as you can easily place the wood pieces of size 10”x18”.
It comes with a ½ HP motor that efficiently runs all the time and offers you a good experience while woodturning. There are five-speed modes available in this lathe that you can opt for according to your projects. As I stated earlier, sturdiness can be vital for a lathe, and this lathe indeed has what you want! You won’t feel excessive vibration while you are working, and you will be able to work without any distractions.
Key Features
1/2 HP Motor
5 Speed Modes
No Vibration
Great Design
Good Size
3.SHOP FOX W1704 Wood Lathe
Shop Fox is known for its unbeatable prices and outstanding performances in almost all ranges. If you have a low budget, you might get low specifications, but you will surely get what is agreed upon without any adjustments. Shop Fox W1704 is a good wood lathe, especially for beginners or the ones who are trying to understand how a lathe works and how different things are done. This lathe has a small size which makes it perfectly portable for everyone. You can easily place it around anywhere in your shop and start working with it without any issues.
The motor integrated into this lathe is 1/3 HP, which produces 60 Hz of frequency. As the size of this lathe is small, it is evident that the size support will be short too. You can only fit the wood pieces of size 8”x13”, which is only suitable for small projects. You can turn pens or bowls on this lathe with efficiency by crafting your best ideas. There is variable speed control available to control the RPM. You won’t have to choose different modes to run the lathe at different speeds.
Key Features
1/3 HP Motor
Small Size Support
Variable Speed
Great Portability
4.WEN 3421 Wood Lathe
If you are looking relentlessly for a lathe for more significant projects, then this is not the one you are looking for. It is an extremely affordable and reliable wood lathe that is only best for turning medium-sized or small projects. The maximum size support kept in this lathe is about 8”x12”. But you cannot expect more in this price range and budget.
If we talk about the other features and specs, it comes with a 3.2 amp motor that can produce up to 3200 RPM as per the preferences of the user. The overall build and quality of the lathe is premium, too, and the design has also been pretty fascinating. You will see a combination of different colors in it, making it even better.
Key Features
3.2 AMP Motor
8"x12" Size Support
Adjustable RPM
Unique Design
5.JET JWL-1015 10″x 15″ Wood Lathe
Here is something that you would want for more significant projects and the projects that require attention to detail. You can unquestionably turn the wood very well with this lathe because of its quality features and long-lasting reliability. As the title suggests, the size support of this lathe is 10”x15”, which might only work for medium projects. But if you are not interested in taking big projects, this lathe won’t hassle you much in the future. Jet has not offered variable speed in this lathe; instead, there are six spindle speeds available to choose from. You will have to decide which speed is best for you and then opt to start working.
For better quality work, there are 24 indexing positions available so that you can attach the wood with different techniques and patterns. The overall durability of this lathe is good enough to serve you for years. In fact, Jet is famous for its remarkable quality among the woodturners. There are no complicated features or options given in this lathe so that it can become easy for the woodturners to turn the wood.
Key Features
Durable
Reliable
24 Indexing Positions
Different Spindle Speeds
6.WEN 34018 Lathe
WEN 34018 wood lathe can be a great addition to your workshop if you want something separate on which you can turn the small and medium projects. It is always a good idea to have a portable lathe that you can carry anywhere, and this model is undoubtedly one of them. It is relatively priced higher than the ones we discussed before, and the main reason behind it is the features available in this lathe. There is the option available to adjust the variable speed from anywhere between 450 till 3500. You can go for any number between the range, and the lathe will run on it without any difficulties.
The size support given in this lathe is pretty big than the ones we discussed before. You are allowed to place the wood pieces of size 12”x18”. Not only that, but this lathe also comes with a digital meter and tool rest to keep various things related to your work in that. The iron cast construction gives this lathe good strength to hold for many years, even if you use it for big projects.
Key Features
12"x18" Size Support
Variable Speed Control
Iron Cast Construction
Tool Rest Offered
7.PSI Woodworking KWL-1018VS Wood Lathe
This lathe can work best for the woodturners who like to work with advanced lathes with unique features and no compromise on any single thing included in the lathe. As PSI has always been offering good woodturning machines and tools, they have done the same with this specific variant. If you are looking tirelessly for the best wood lathe for under 1000 dollars to cope up with your work, then you might like this variant a lot. This lathe is powered by a ¾ HP motor, but it does not mean that you will get lower RPM even if you want to increase it. You can push this lathe to the maximum RPM of 3600, which is unquestionably more than enough for any project.
If you love to explore various features and functions and make use of it in any way in your projects, this lathe will give you many chances to do so. But the most important thing is, you will not have to open a guidebook in order to understand various features. You will be able to access and understand them with ease without any significant help. There is also a digital RPM meter infused on this lathe that can also help you keep track of the RPM while busy crafting the best designs possible.
Key Features
3/4 HP Motor
Max RPM of 3600
Digital Meter
Different Options Available
Great Adjustment
Best Wood Lathes Under $1000 Buyers Guide & FAQ’s
What to check when buying the best wood lathe under 1000 dollars?
If you have saved the money to buy a lathe for months, then you would not want to spend it without having a basic understanding of what you need. That is why there are some critical things that you can keep in mind that will make it elementary and effortless for you to pick the lathe.
- Sturdiness: Sturdiness and vibration can make your woodturning even worse and can make you uncomfortable while you are working. As you know, every little detail is essential in woodturning, and that cannot be achieved when you are working with a lathe that has massive vibration. So it is better to check how sturdier your lathe is before getting it.
- Indexing Positions: Different people and projects require different types of indexing positions so that they can attach the wood pieces according to their demands. Many wood lathes offer multiple indexing positions, but you will have to check the number available as per your needs.
- User Experience: If you are going with the best wood lathe under 1000, you are either a beginner or low on funds. In both cases, user experience matters a lot as it will become easier for you to navigate various functions available in your lathe.
- Power: Power is usually measured in HP in wood lathes. Power requirement solely depends on the size and type of the project you are going to turn. So if you already and specifically know what type of projects you will have, it will be easy to conclude how much HP will be sufficient for you.
Portability and Size: If you think that you can get a full-sized lathe in this budget, then you might not have visited the market. But still, midi or mini lathes can offer you great sizes for turning projects. So it is better to check it and see if your lathe has good portability too or not.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1- Why are lathes so expensive?
A- The efficiency, motor, and features integrated into the lathes make them expensive. You can also find cheap lathes in the market as well as super expensive lathes too. It depends on what lathe you are planning to buy.
Q2- Are there any dangers while turning wood with a lathe?
A- Yes, there are some dangers that should be avoided at all costs by taking necessary precautions. The precautions include wearing safety gear, adjusting the lathe in the proper manner, and some more.
Q3- Should you spend too much money on a full-sized lathe?
A- If your work can be done on midi or mini lathe, there is no point in going for a full-sized lathe. But if you want to work on more significant projects, full-sized lathes can offer you great feasibility.
Q4- What should be the minimum RPM in a lathe?
A- Your lathe must offer more RPM than 2000 if you want to work on different types of projects. This is because some projects need higher RPM to turn well, and it cannot be possible with lower RPM lathes.
Q5- Is it hard working on a lathe?
A- If you are a fast learner and have a keen interest in woodturning, it will be effortless for you to get a grasp on lathes. So keep going, and you will indeed become an expert in this field.
Summary
It becomes effortless to pick one specific lathe if you have taken your preferences into consideration. It does not matter how briefly you check the products, and if you don’t know what you want, you will not be able to pick it. So it is better to make a checklist and pick the best lathe from the list above.