Main Features

Not everyone wants a full-sized monster of a lathe or even has the space to accommodate one. If you’re on the trail of a mini lathe that offers almost the capability of a midi, you’d be well advised to look into the JET JWL 1221VS.

The 1HP motor is more than fit for purpose and it kicks out a surprising amount of torque. This motor drives some rugged sealed bearings making use of a drive belt with 6 grooves.

Although it’s termed a mini lathe, the JET weighs in at a hefty 137 pounds so it gives you all the weight you need, an advantage rather than a handicap with wood lathes.

Speed control is first-rate. You can start as slowly as 60RPM and crank it right on through to 3600RPM when the application calls for it. All you need to do is turn a simple dial and there’s a digital readout to let you work without breaking your stride. If there’s any issue, you’ll get an error reading on the display so you can make the necessary tweaks to the speed.

Comfort needs to be uppermost when you’re woodturning. JET has placed all motor controls in one place in a handy panel. You’ll be able to access the on/off, spindle speed and forward/reverse without fiddling around.

Another time-saver is the ability to switch between forward and reverse without needing to turn the lathe off. Continual motion is key when you’re turning and this is a nifty feature.

You’ll be able to enjoy full customization thanks to the 24 positions on the indexing head.

The belt tensioning system features a pioneering ratchet for which JET has a patent pending. This comes into its own for belt changes meaning you can deal with this awkward task much more easily.

If you need to remove any threaded accessories, you’ll appreciate the indexing pin and spindle lock.

The scale on the tail stock comes with both imperial and metric measurements so you won’t need to undertake any tiresome mental arithmetic when you’re trying to focus on your work. The tail stock itself is extremely rigid and it slides over the bed like a dream.

The center aligns effectively which is one of the core needs if you want an efficient wood lathe.

Vibration is kept to a complete minimum. If you scour user reviews, you’ll find a handful of people complaining about the vibration but we have to disagree. It’s more than weighty enough and absolutely stable giving you a seamless woodturning experience.

The crowning glory with this fantastic mini wood lathe is a first-class 5-year limited warranty. This shows how JET stands behind this lathe and allows you to buy without a headache.

The JET JWL 1221VS is one of those rare beasts, a redesigned product that features genuinely worthwhile tweaks.

There’s no such thing as the best wood lathe period because it’s very much a case of horses for courses. That said, if you’re looking for a smaller mini lathe that punches well above its weight, you’d have to search far and wide to come up with a better machine.

While it’s not exactly cheap, when you consider what you’re getting for your money and the enormous variety of applications at your disposal, it represents pretty solid value.

Give the 1221VS a crack and we can guarantee you won’t be disappointed.

Next on the list in our best sander reviews is another random orbit sander from the highly reputable Bosch.

While this sander is not as cheap as the BLACK + DECKER, it’s still remarkably affordable and it offers uprated functionality along with more power so it’s not money spent for nothing.

A glimpse at the main features before we explore this sander in detail…

With home workshops, there’s always a degree of compromise involved and that usually concerns space constraints. If you have limited room and you need a lathe with a small footprint but packing a decent punch, the Nova 46300 Comet II is a winning solution.

Although the 3/4HP motor is not the most powerful on the block, it’s able enough to cope admirably with modest woodturning projects. The fact it’s a direct current motor means you can plug it into a standard outlet fuss-free.

Assembling lathes can induce an immediate headache but the Nova comes almost good to go. Just attach the hand wheel and feet – or attach it to a stand – then pop on the adjustment handle and tool rest. It really is as simple as that and you can get right down to turning your first project.

You can fine-tune the speed from 250RPM up to a mighty 4000RPM at the upper end. This is accomplished thanks to a user-friendly 3-step pulley system in tandem with the controller. The reversible motor is a nice touch in a mini lathe at this price point, too.

The Nova swings 12 inches over the bed and 16 ½ inches from center to center so allows you to turn a diverse range of projects. You can also roll with a bed extension if your needs are slightly more ambitious.

The composite guard is nicely reinforced and set off with an easy-access latch to simplify things. The On/Off switch is responsive and equipped with a no-vault release to put your safety uppermost.

If the motor or electronics let you down during the first year, you’ll get a complete replacement. There’s also a 2-year limited warranty on all parts so Nova has your back all the way.

Before rounding out, there are a couple of drawbacks worth mentioning…

The housings have pretty sharp edges so bear this in mind to avoid slicing your fingers. Some users have reported that the tool rest feels a bit too short but this is subjective and you should make up your own mind about this rather than being put off.

Overall, the shower of benefits found with the Nova Jet II more than compensate for its minor downsides.

Check out our honest appraisal of its pros and cons and judge for yourself…

The first thing worth pointing out is that for a lathe of this stature, the price is incredibly competitive. It’s also worth noting that this is a lathe for the hobbyist rather than the seasoned pro.

Once you have this straight, you can focus on what the Grizzly offers which, in our opinion, is far more than many competing and pricier lathes.

The motor is a single-phase 110-voltunit with 2HP so you get a great deal of punch from it with plenty of torque.

You can adjust the speed between 600 and 2400RPM. You’ve got 10 options affording you total flexibility in your woodturning. Match the pace to the application and enjoy a fantastic finish. Making these speed changes is simplified as you don’t need to fiddle around with belts at all. There’s a handle instead so this lathe is perfect even if you’re a novice woodturner.

Tipping the scales at 350 pounds and made from cast iron, the Grizzly is built solidly as its name hints. This also helps to damp down the vibration, although there are occasional complaints about this lathe vibrating at lower speeds. You can even add more mass by slotting a custom shelf into the legs which are built to accommodate this.

You’ll enjoy a 16-inch swing over the bed with 13 inches over the tool rest. The head stock rotates fully through 360 degrees. Combined with the tool rest extension, this makes outboard turning a breeze.

Although, as we’ve pointed out, this is not the type of lathe to slot into a busy turning shop, the fact it’s simple and user-friendly makes it the ideal lathe for its target market of home hobbyists. It couldn’t be simpler to get up and running and the Grizzly features excellent ergonomics married to deceptive performance.

Price always plays a role in any purchase and, with some wood lathes costing a fortune, it’s a pleasant surprise to come across something like the Grizzly G0462 which gives you a great deal of bang for your buck.

With a powerful variable speed motor, rugged construction and digital readout, you’ll be able to use this lathe at home for a nice assortment of turning projects. If you keep your expectations in check and don’t wade in expecting an industrial powerhouse built for extended commercial use, you are in for a bargain.

We recommend this lathe but with reservations so take a long hard look at the upsides and disadvantages before committing to buy.

It’s not the best lathe for everyone, but it might just be the best lathe for you and that’s all that counts!