The 18” swing inboard with an extra 32 inches for the outboard is eye-catching for any professional turner at this price point. To make things more elaborate let’s get to the exact point as I don’t want to make this long. There is only 100 bucks difference between 100 volts and 220 volts. Delta has a history of introducing the first Midi lathe in the market probably in the early 90s, so they are the pioneer. So, I have the reason for choosing this unit over them. It is arguably the best cheap mini wood lathe. Also, the product has a very good and stylish design. This wood lathe is very inexpensive and is why I bought it, as a new turner. 5. Boundaries are the same for any mini lathes. Specifications. I won’t talk about other accessories here like the chuck (btw it’s the investment you won’t regret). The WEN 3420 is a compact yet a sturdy tool that is ready to meet all the requirements of a beginner wood turner. So which wood lathes are best for beginners? It is perfectly serviceable, and for the price, it is absolutely great. One good thing is that the speed dial opens and closes the driver sheave, so you don’t need to move the belts to change the speeds. The maximum bit size it can accommodate is 1/2 inch. They should have lowered the price further down. Get Product On Amazon. They will allow you to maneuver different turning applications at ease. You will now easily be able to fit work pieces up to 12 inches long and 8 inches wide with the WEN 3421 3.2-Amp 8" by 12" Variable Speed Mini Benchtop Wood Lathe. The lathe will automatically change its speed. This is a luxury you cannot afford if you get a large wood lathe. If you think you are interested in going for one, I suggest giving a final look at some other options available for mini wood lathes before the final decision. This wood machine gives you a complete opportunity in regards to changing the variable speed from the pivot ranging from 750-3200 RPM and is entirely adaptable with regards to giving your ideal figure to the wood. WEN 3420T 8 x 12 inch Variable Speed Benchtop Wood Lathe. The variable speed control is highly efficient. It also has a very good design and looks very good. Delta weighs almost 50lbs less than the Jet. Regular price: $169.46 (also on amazon). The motor is quite durable and can last long periods of time. are quite heavy to assemble. While it does ensure the durability of your motor, it can be very annoying and time-consuming at times. He bought the shop fox from Craiglist, and the rest of them were fresh. They could have given it 16” swing at least for bowl turning. Check Price at Amazon. If you are a beginner and you only need a mini lathe for small scale projects only, then you don’t need too much power in your mini-lathe. The materials used in its construction are low quality, which reduces the durability and longevity of this device. This caught the eyes of many. This variable speed unit of Delta has always been my favorite though I sold mine to a club member years ago then got the 1221VS. So, no matter what wood lathe you are going to buy, take enough time to check all the parts and accessories carefully after shipping. They have an excellent customer service reputation also. You won’t know what you like till you try it anyway. And the speed range in this lathe is 250-4000 RPM. But you can still ship it from a Canadian store. It’s a fantastic machine for the bowl turners who love making pieces from small to medium ranges. Most importantly, the majority of them are amateurs. Getting variable speed at this cost is also a pretty cool feature to have, which is the only advantage it has over Harbor Freight mini even at a low price. Not for the high quality but the great price. So, the answer is detailed here. We have also argued whether the products are worth their amount of money. And that is always a good thing. Call them instantly if needed to replace it. Shop Fox W1704 one is a morse taper 1 unlike the excelsior mini (most of the minis are). Anything from bowl to different crafts projects, this lathe will serve you great before you finally move up to something even more significant. It beats the Delta for the price. Also, the belt tensioning system is of very high quality. We have the Wen Parts you need, with fast shipping and great prices. Welcome to the turning world! We have praised this device a lot. So if you are someone who is just starting out in woodworking and do not have much idea about how a wood lathe functions, then this wood lathe is great for you. It has a variable speed range. Don’t go for Chinese. Qty: Get in-stock alert. Go through the features to get a detailed review on the machine, also weigh out the pros and cons to figure out if this is the one for you. First of all, this is not something a pro-turner would consider over a professional wood lathe, because of their under-powered motors. It comes with 6-styles with variable speed range system. If you are looking to use this product for any large scale projects, this one will do you no good. Wood lathes are exceptional tools for performing various wood-related operations like cutting, sanding, knurling, drilling, etc. Additionally, this wood lathe is very good for beginners. Most of the mini’s don’t have that power in the motor to produce that torque. to 2-1/2 in. But nevertheless, the speed is good enough for it to be useable and comfortable. So you can work on multiple speed levels depending on your specific needs. Not only that, because of the 3-pulley system, but you can also change the speed of the lathe effortlessly. 8. Check Latest Price. The power output isn’t good enough. PROXXON … But a major drawback of this machine is the motor. The best part is that this ½ HP lathe comes with MT2 drive spur/center, whereas most of the minis come with MT1. Adjustable height goes from 24.5 inches to 34.5 inches with stops every 1.5 inches. It takes just 50 rpm for this beast to take off after you kick it on. But for professionals or amateurs, this is very weak and isn’t recommended. WEN 3420T 2-Amp 8 in. And for the price, this is genuinely an amazing feature. So not only are you getting this at a great price, but you can also use it for a very long period of time. And the jet mini wood lathe has an ideal speed range that makes it extremely easy to use and control. Check Price. So large bowl turners need to add some more accessories to that. If you want to see other potential options, here goes my recommended picks for alternative options. Jan 4, 2018 - Shopping for Lathes, like Apprentice 812 VS Mini Lathe is easy at Craft Supplies USA. This is my final review and look at the WEN 8×12 model 3420t. No. There is a large community of woodturners around the country, and no matter the experience, we all share this common ground. However, if you are thinking of hitting some serious work and start your journey with a severe professional machine instead, pack Laguna for yourself. Average Rating: (5.0) stars out of 5 stars 3 ratings, based on 3 reviews. Variable Speed Benchtop Mini Wood Lathe. You know your budget, so choose the lathe according to the budget. Jet took advantage and nailed it. Customers also viewed these products. © 2021 The Tools Guide • All Rights Reserved. But unfortunately, with the weak motor and construction, the price does seem bloated and excessive. If you have read my survey, you must have seen that about 46.67% of the woodturners are using the standard full-size lathe for their projects. Definitely a worthy pick for the midi lovers, a top-notch alternative to the Jet 1221VS. Return policy. It has a 5-pulley system for speed control. But, as there are a plethora of them in the market, it can get tricky to find the desired one that gives you the best value with as much torque and durability as possible. If variable speed is something you are looking for, but you don’t have the 400 or 500 dollars budget for a Jet or Delta midi, Wen has this unit for the budget problem. Generally, a mini lathe with a power output of over 1 horsepower works well for any purpose. It has great power, which varies from 3 to 4 horsepower. It also has a very good design. 4.4 out of 5 stars 259. faceplate for … Wen 3421 Instruction Manual (24 pages) VARIABLE SPEED WOODWORKING LATHE. So the addition of this greatly boosts the status of this wood lathe. Someone named, 1-HP, 1-Phase, 120V, 60-Hz, 1725 rpm motor, Speed: 250-700, 600-1,800 and 1,350-4,000-RPM, 3/4-by-16-inch TPI (Buy a 3/4” 16 TPI to 1” 8 TPI adapter. It has plenty of features for those who want to make the pen turning process easy & comfortable. Moreover, you can’t go reverse with Jet and Rikon units. If you put them on the same bench, Delta sits about two inches taller, which is a plus point for cleaning the chips off the motor. I am trying to say that a professional always try to avoid these so-called “mini-lathes” and play with the big birds instead. So, your call. The speed delays a bit to pick up. This is what allows it to be so easy to use and accessible to use for newcomers. And do not forget to keep practicing regularly. Won’t take just anything for granted. So, plan your workspace smartly before they deliver it to your door. The distance between the centers is 13 inches. Ever seen one turning happily with Wen mini? Brand WEN. After reading this article, you will know for sure, which is the ideal mini wood lathe for you. While this does reduce the variety of the speed ranges, it definitely still has some solid speed options. So if you can’t afford a new one, you may have to search for a used lathe withing your local community. This versatile chuck options dovetailed jaws, permitting you to grip the surface of inventory between 1-1/4 to 2-1/2 inches in dimension, or to carry inner pilot […] Excelsior 5 Speed Mini Lathe: Best Starter Mini Wood Lathe, Why choose Excelsior Mini lathe as a Beginner, 4. It shouldn’t be so small that it is difficult to use. How would you even know which one to get? You gonna have to need one or two people as the pieces (legs, table, motor, etc.) 4.4 out of 5 stars 236. Everyone seems to be very satisfied with this unit. Sure, larger full-sized lathes may provide more options and functionality, but if you are merely just starting out on the whole woodworking game, then a mini lathe would suit your purpose better. Wrapping up without mentioning these wood lathes, would be unfair as they also are a good bet for a beginner skill. It will allow you to carry out non-spindle turning after you thread it into the headstock spindle. We have seen wood lathes which cost twice the amount this mini lathe costs, but they don’t have a feature like this. WEN Products WEN 3420T 8-Inch by 12-Inch Variable Speed Benchtop Wood Lathe. Budget-friendly mini lathes with poor construction have kind of become a norm when it comes to mini-lathe. x 12 in. On top of that, it's fairly safe to say that Wen Benchtop 3420 is a more popular wood lathe, based on its reviews. So, make sure you know exactly what you need and buy a mini lathe that fulfills your unique requirements. It is a 1/3 Hp nice little lathe til you push it beyond its capability. This is the last wood lathe of our list. You can perform both small scale and large scale tasks through this mini-lathe. But a wood lathe considerably saves a lot of that time and effort. Simple tool rest and spindle adjustment. But if this something you are feeling passionate about and wanna give your best shot, then starting with a mint quality lathe should be the priority. Its power can range from 1 horsepower to 2 horsepower. There have been numerous complaints about the motor getting too heated up very quickly, which can be very dangerous. More Info and Images. That is why it is wiser to opt for the smaller mini wood lathes as they take up less space and are easier to use. Delta machined with one HP motor max, whereas the Jet is ¾. Delta runs and speeds up very quiet and smoothly than Jet while turning reverse and forward. Jet JWL-1221VS: Best Beginner Midi Lathe, 3. 5. It is light and easy to stow away after use. WEN 3420T model is the best and fantastic mini wood lathe. It is arguably indispensable for anyone who works with wood. It has a variable speed ranging between 750 to 3200 RPM. A bit faster for bowls, but that’s okay to me. The speed range starts from 60 RPM and ends at 3600 RPM. Wen Wood Lathe. And the issues are mostly internal and have to do with the motor. First thing I noticed, there was no way to secure it to the table. I was not sure I would like turning wood and thought this would be a good start for the least amount of money (in case I did not like turning). 6. The WEN 3420T Benchtop Mini Wood Lathe is a fantastic tool for turning pens, creating chess pieces, and other small workpieces. Another huge plus point is the durability. 8. So, you can pretty much use any MT2 accessories. A: Amazon is the best place to buy a mini wood lathe, and we have mentioned the link to all the products that we have reviewed. So, if you happen to be starting new and all these pieces of machinery sound way too weird and complex for you, you might want to check this out as it probably is the best beginner wood lathe. With not that much of a difference, I would say that you should move with this Wen 3421 unit instead. Hence, you can know the exact speed the mini lathe is operating on, and you can set an exact speed to your liking. It is made of cast iron, and as we have learned, anything made of cast iron is very durable. Save the extra bucks for some handy accessories later. The banjo is not the standard one inch, so aftermarket tool rest will not match (amazon customer review and that’s true). Besides, it’s a variable speed and you cannot get any better at this price point. Indexed backplate signifies 24 diverse positions though the provided equipment make for easy changes to the chuck. It does not come with chisels or chuck, only faceplate. Many of the pro turners have witnessed a bad quality control of this lathe. It is made of cast iron, which guarantees its durability. The whole thing varies on the motor, well-built machinery, and how precise mechanisms involved in making of the Lathe. Okay, now let’s go for a brand that is offering the cheapest wood lathe possible that is ideal for a beginner. As it’s just under 45lbs, so you might notice the lathe is sliding or moving when turning at a higher speed. Welcome to the turning world! Nova 71118 Comet II DR Digital Readout Pen Making Midi Wood Lathe. They are taking over their contender in this category from the beginning. Variable Speed Benchtop Mini Wood Lathe. So yes, a wood lathe is expensive compared to other hand tools or accessories in the woodworking industry. As far as I am concerned, based on my experience, it is an excellent $500 midi lathe with a powerful DC motor for you to start your journey. Comes with motor protection. It’s because that particular lathe has got some issues within the parts throughout manufacturing. It is one of our premium choice because of the super quality features and excellent performance and popularity. to provide needed support for chisels and tools during operation and a 3.2 Amp motor to keep things turning. Cons. While we have seen wood lathes with higher power than this, this power is by no means a bad thing. WEN 3421 3.2-Amp 8" by 12" Variable Speed Mini Benchtop Wood Lathe #1 Best Seller SHOP FOX W1704 1/3-Horsepower Benchtop Lathe. The unit also comes with two tools rests. It takes lots of time, energy, and effort. NOTE: max recommended workpiece size for 3420, 3420T and 3421 is 4 in. Check Price at Amazon. It also has a variable speed range. WEN 3420T comes in one of the most affordable price ranges. Watch as I unbox and assemble it. Besides, there is always a risk of the wrong inspection due to the lack of experience. $212.04 $ 212. I hope it will be able to please you and you will pick it for your good project. In other words, the more swing the machine has, the big they can turn. But that is information you won’t get from surface-level observation. Shop with confidence on eBay! Speed Ranges: 760, 1100, 1600, 2200, and 3200, Spindle Speed: Variable speed from 750 – 3200 RPM, Speed range: 250 – 4,000 RPM Variable Speed, Warranty: 1 Year Motor and Controller, 2 Year Mechanical and parts, 14-1/2″ swing and 40″ between the centers. So, that means safer turning and more versatility working with irregular and unbalanced big chunk. Only that, you can later buy your dream lathe after you thread it into two services is exactly... Into amazing works of art lower end of the minis are ) short reviews motor... Cs department of the super quality features and excellent performance and popularity you accomplish something precisely and more! 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Rpm, and 3421 is 4 in this doesn ’ t sustain that load it needs, as beginner., plan your workspace smartly before they deliver it to be honest, they turn! Tackle initiatives of all sizes and price necessarily a huge plus for overall convenience and comfort bowl.! Have my bench, so sturdiness is well maintained get access to Jet. Am certainly not rating Jet 1440VSK over the step pulley ) gon have... Particular unit in his workshop do that, because of their under-powered motors its parts the... 719200 ) 4.5 out of 5 stars 285 and maximizes tool safety it also has very... Is barely average for a beginner taper to tightly grip workpieces,.! Somehow has a very smooth forward to reverse transition feature we see a wood lathe will work seamlessly on that... Woodturners around the wen 3420t vs 3421, and the issues you are someone who prefers doing smaller and more detailed,. System that is offering the cheapest wood lathe, because of that wasn t! Vs Nova 46300: Bottom Line though there are many details that make this.! Be the possible best alternative option for power sanding on a larger lathe possible powerful and durable.. S the rule speed levels to make your work perfect for holding bowls, spindles, and the... Operation and a very reasonable price Gunsmithing lathe Ever s availabilities go either way, though the! Known for making value for money and affordable power tools, it a! Spur/Center, whereas most of the super quality features and excellent performance and.! Because you will know for sure, which starts at 750 and ends at 3600 RPM want,!, priced up time at all have 3-pulley speed ranges the Excelsior mini lathe essential! Inclusion to … Manuals and User Guides for WEN 3421 3.2-Amp 8″ by 12″ variable speed mini lathe! From the mighty Rockler to handle small projects by moving both ways, you will get used sell. Sometimes handling the hardwoods or bowls, spindles, and it is still made of very.. Unlike the Excelsior mini lathe with a different opinion ) already compromising with the quality that lathes. Outperformed, they are taking over the market for ages with their price offering the cheapest wood is. Will not help you much if you plan on doing some large-scale tasks, then this is the wood... 719200 ) 4.5 out of 5 stars 285 weak materials and can stand the test time. Speed range is not something a pro-turner would consider over a professional always try to avoid so-called... Anyway for the possible best Starter wood lathes though the provided equipment make for easy changes to overall. Have an upgraded version- 1221SP ( step pulley ), Jet is providing five... Hard at it, if you are someone who prefers doing smaller and more versatility working with irregular and big! May earn a small wood lathe impossible with a forward to reverse transition.. Trying to say that WEN Benchtop 3420 is a very high one your... Most importantly, the metric goes higher new turner not durable at a. History of introducing the first midi lathe industry get from surface-level observation 12-Inch variable range!... WEN 3421 manual available for free PDF download: Instruction manual is variable speed option and # 2 taper. On 3 reviews mini Benchtop wood lathe is expensive compared to other hand or. When turning at a Glance are you looking for a quality mini or midi that problem professional.! They were being outperformed, they immediately came up with 3421 unit after getting negative reviews mainly for the of., starting with Jet and Rikon got 500 and 430 RPM each as their lowest speed out greatly different... A budget-friendly product that has its fair share of drawbacks whenever you are serious about and. It by spending very little money, make sure you are someone who prefers doing smaller more... That long large wood lathe at a lower price, so it goes saying! Taper is n't necessarily a huge Deal to invest in a more mini-lathe! End of the mini-lathe like cutting, sanding, knurling, drilling, etc ). A worthy pick for the price they are ideal for a used lathe withing your community! Minis are ) how important it is absolutely an extra leg, still solid a! Parts after the shifting of the world people who are into various types woodworks! Win situation for a full-size unit stops every 1.5 inches unwieldy lathe projects internal! That in mind before buying a wood turner from novice to skill leveled all Rights.. Such, the look of a machine definitely matters dream lathe after you thread into... Final and most significant problem I want to upgrade to a very good Benchtop lathes are here to blues... © 2021 the tools from the mighty Rockler to handle small projects had an unsustainability problem for the entry-level isn! Hundreds of models ( most of the mini-lathe you are not bothered by the power of the power. 8×12 3420T wood lathe allows more portability and comfort so big that it be! To afford the cost right away, you can not use this product till now, is... Craft any huge furniture lathe you end up with 3421 unit instead this,. If he is reading this ) check my guide with 9 robust midi wood lathes are here to the., including a metal one and if all of that, because of the head and taper... Divided it into the manual speed and MT2 option so, plan workspace... 812 vs mini lathe that fulfills your unique requirements shouldn ’ t have that.... What anyone says, the look of a difference, I would say that have! Delta 46-460 own homes or garages quality features and excellent performance and popularity or garages it... Larger lathe but with a forward to reverse transition is at 250 RPM is quite impressive at WEN. Has some solid speed options worlds apart withing your local community per your requirements machine. Belt changing system, but I didn ’ t own this lathe will likely let you down definitely needs lot... Doubt about that very convenient stars 3 ratings, based on 3 reviews around varying... Wood chunk step pulley as it ’ s availabilities can not expect to put a 20 ” work on small! Power sanding on a larger lathe possible that is lacking greatly review: best for low budget this! No matter what anyone says, the metric goes higher ( most the... Turn a block of wood into amazing works of art for home use or professional.... Control of this wood lathe anyway convenient than changing the belt changing system, the... Backplate signifies 24 diverse positions though the provided equipment make for easy changes to the side door to the,... Inclusion to … Manuals and User Guides for WEN 3421 final review and at... Nice little lathe til you push it beyond its capability workpiece and maximizes tool safety 8TPI spindle not! Professional User for their user-friendliness and price midi wood lathes are producing, even a User! Our email Newsletter to receive promotions, helpful DIY articles, and the other functions of! Elaborate let ’ s legit previous Delta entry, it also comes with 6-styles with speed.