Amazon.com Review
If you’re just getting started in turning, welcome to a fantastic hobby and you’re looking at the right lathe. This Turncrafter is perfect for beginners, because it’s not a big investment, yet it’s surprisingly good quality for the price. On a lathe this size, you’ll most likely be making pens, ornaments, candlesticks, small bowls and cups, so the 1/4-horsepower motor is plenty of power. We were frankly impressed that a lathe at this price would have variable speeds, and the speed range is an impressive 750 to 3,200 rpm. You’ll use the slower speeds for roughing your column, and the higher speeds will give you great fine cuts. At 43 pounds, it’s sturdy and heavy enough to dampen any vibration you might feel, but it’s also light enough to be completely portable, perfect for the home workshop where several benchtops share the same bench top. Its footprint is minimal, at about 2 feet long and just 5 inches wide. The largest diameter piece you can turn (more…)