Cheap Lathes For Sale
There are a lot of reasons why investing in an expensive, high quality wood lathe is a good idea.
There are a number of benefits to moving up in price and quality range. You will get a larger lathe, which allows much more freedom and variety in the projects you can do and the pieces you can make and large lathes are heavier which reduces vibration. You will get better finish and machining, parts will be better aligned and the overall product will be much nicer.
Lathes are one area where you can still buy a tool that will last for years, or even decades. They are fairly simple devices, and solidly built, in general from cast iron.
So why would anyone ever invest in a cheap lathe?
Well there are several reasons you might consider a cheaper model of wood lathe. Some of them are good, others not so much, but it's a valid idea in any case.
The number one situation I think someone should invest in an inexpensive lathe is if they are a beginner. If you don't have a lot of experience buying a large expensive wood lathe could end up being a costly mistake.
I know a lot of people who go into things all gung-ho only to lose interest shortly afterward. In my opinion if you don't have a lot of experience you should consider investing in a a small inexpensive wood lathe initially, and consider it a starter that you will upgrade in a few years.
Another good reason to buy a cheap lathe is as a complement to a larger tool. If you already have a large wood lathe it could be useful, to have a smaller one for detail work, or small projects such as pen turning or lure making. Not all small lathes are created equal however, and some of them can be just as expensive as larger models.
A third reason for a smaller cheaper lathe is simply to save space, some people don't have a lot of room in their shops, or even a dedicated shop at all, and it wouldn't make very much to put a full sized lathe in your living room.
There are some decent lathes out there in the 300-400 dollar range, and even a few passable ones around 150 dollars, but I personally wouldn't go lower than that, or you risk getting a complete dud.
About the Author
You can find a good list of cheap wood lathes along with prices and specs at Wood Lathes Online. Also this article on cheap lathes is a good read. Happy Turning!
Recently Viewed Woodworking Items:
Lathe turned hand carved antique round wood small tea caddy herbal medicine box, Ambrosia Curly Maple Lathe Wood Turning Lumber 2 blocks 10 x 10 x 325, Figured Curly Maple Lathe Wood Turning Lumber 2 blocks 8 x 8 x 35, Figured Curly Maple Lathe Wood Two pieces Turning Lumber 12 x 4 x 4, Quilted Maple Lathe Wood Turning Lumber 24 x 3375 x 3375, Figured Curly Maple Lathe Wood Turning Lumber 2 blocks 8 x 8 x 3, Quilted Maple Lathe Wood Turning Lumber 125 x 45 x 45, Figured Curly Maple Lathe Wood Two pieces Turning Lumber 135 x 45 x 45, Quilted Maple Lathe Wood Turning Lumber 12 x 12 x 3375, CHERRY WOOD LATHE TURNING OLD DRY SPINDELS BLOCKS ACTUAL LOT OF 4, Antique Vintage Goodell Improved Wood Turning Lathe, Vintage Wood Turning lathe Motor Head Gap Lathes woodworking tools MANUAL on CD, Quilted Maple Lathe Wood Turning Lumber 12 x 12 x 35, Quilted Maple Lathe Wood Turning Lumber 115 x 115 x 375, Quilted Maple Lathe Wood Turning Lumber 25 x 325 x 325, Quilted Maple Lathe Wood Turning Lumber 10 x 10 x 375, Curly Maple Lathe Wood Turning Lumber, Curly Maple Lathe Wood Turning Lumber 115 x 115 x 375, Curly Maple Lathe Wood Turning Lumber 10 x 10 x 2625, 599 Heavy Spalted Maple Wood turning lathe craft pen blank knife scale, Four acrylic stabilized Maple dyed pen blanks turning lathe craft wood 848, Quilted Maple Lathe Wood Turning Lumber 9 x 9 x 375, 10 4 THICK BLACK WALNUT SLAB WOOD TURNING BOWL LATHE LUMBER WOODWORKING LUMBER, 12 X 3 FIGURED SILVER MAPLE WOOD TURNING BOWL BLANK LATHE LUMBER BLOCK, LOT 4 THICK HICKORY WOOD TURNING BOWL BLANKS LATHE LUMBER WOODWORKING BLOCKS, 10 X 35 FIGURED SILVER MAPLE WOOD TURNING BOWL BLANK LATHE LUMBER BLOCK, Curly Maple Lathe Wood Turning Lumber 23 x 375 x 375, Curly Maple Lathe Wood Turning Lumber 9 x 9 x 4, Four acrylic stabilized Maple Birch pen blanks turning lathe craft wood 847, Curly Maple Lathe Wood Turning Lumber 14 x 14 x 275, Curly Maple Lathe Wood Turning Lumber 24 x 3 x 3, Carbide tipped wood lathe turning tool hollowing boring gouge chisel scraper, New Industrial 4 Speed 1000MM 40 Wood Turning Lathe, Birdseye Maple Burl Lathe Wood Turning Lumber 12 x 12 x 55, Four acrylic stabilized Maple Alder pen blanks turning lathe craft wood 846, Curly Maple Lathe Wood Turning Lumber 17 x 3375 x 3375, Curly Maple Lathe Wood Turning Lumber 12 x 12 x 375, 20 2 x 2 K D cut offs Maple block turning bowl blank lathe craft wood 845, 3 4 HSS Dovetail Chisel Wood lathe Turning Tool, Wood Lathe Turning 1 2 Bowl Gouge HSS, Wood Lathe Turning 3 8 Captive Ring Cutting Tool HSS, 1950s Lathe Turned or Made Wood Lamp or Light 19 inches Tall, HEAVY DUTY 5 SPEED BENCH TOP POWER TURNING WOOD LATHE TOOLS NEW 10 x 18 X5049, Hand crafted Mesquite wood pen pencil turned on my lathe MADE IN AMERICA, Hand crafted Caragana wood pen pencil turned on my lathe MADE IN AMERICA, OLD FOLK ART AMERICANA LATHE TURNED WOOD HAND PAINTED COVERED BRIDGE BOX SIGNED, Hand crafted Osage orange wood pen pencil turned on my lathe MADE IN AMERICA, Case of 2 New 8 Pc Wood Lathe Turning CHISEL SET Craft, Quilted Maple Lathe Wood Turning Lumber 15 x 425 x 425, WOOD LATHE CUP SPUR TURNING CENTER SET MT1 ARBOR NEW, Hand crafted mixed wood pen pencil turned on my lathe MADE IN AMERICA, Hand crafted mesquite wood pen turned on my lathe MADE IN AMERICA, Curly Maple Lathe Wood Turning Lumber 10 x 10 x 375, Curly Maple Lathe Wood Turning Lumber 14 x 14 x 35, Curly Maple Lathe Wood Turning Lumber 12 x 12 x 3, Curly Maple Lathe Wood Turning Lumber 11 x 11 x 4, Curly Maple Lathe Wood Turning Lumber 85 x 85 x 4, Curly Maple Lathe Wood Turning Lumber 10 x 10 x 3875, Useful Beauty Turning Practical Items on a Wood Lathe How to Book, 2 HAND RESTS FOR WOOD TURNING FOR A 9 SOUTH BEND LATHE ORIGINAL BOX,
Tags:
lathe,
turning,
turning wood lathe,
turning wood lathe accessories,
turning wood lathe chuck,
turning wood lathe project,
turning wood lathe video,
wood,
woodturning,
woodworking
Related Posts
This entry was posted
on Tuesday, May 22nd, 2012 at 6:37 am and is filed under Woodworking.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
