Wood turning can be an expensive hobby, but it doesn’t have to be, and certainly for beginners it’s worth looking at some lower cost models before investing a ton of money. If you’re looking for a cheap wood lathe there are a few good options.
My personal recommendation is the Shop Fox W1704. Reviews are generally very favorable and for the price there is nothing available right now that can match it in terms of features and quality.
Depending on what kind of work you want to do with your lathe I would consider the following:
Inexpensive Wood Lathes |
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If you already have a power drill, this is a very inexpensive option for some light wood turning. Essentially an adapter for your drill plus a lathe bed. Swing over the bed is 6 inches, and distance between centers in 24 inches. The power will depend on the drill of course, but this is a reasonable setup for a beginner. If you want to do more serious turning I would recommend a more conventional lathe however. |
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The Shop Fox W1704 is a very nice mini lathe at a very affordable price. It features a 1/3 HP variable speed motor that should give you more than enough power for small projects. Distance center to center is 17 inches, with an 8 inch swing. Cast iron body, weighs in around 45 pounds. Great value and much cheaper than similar offerings from other manufacturers. |
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The least expensive option available for a fully featured lathe. 14″ by 40″ with a 0.5 HP engine. |
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Click here for more lathes for sale |
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Happy turning!
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