What to look for before buying

Here are some features you should look for before you go out and buy a mini or
midi wood lathe.

Spindle Capacity

This one decides as to what extent of a piece you can turn on your wood lathe. The
wood lathes that are bench-top would likely acknowledge material no longer than
about fifteen inches. On the other hand, the mini-lathes can undoubtedly go up to
about forty inches. In the event that you have a tight space or even a tight budget
when you’re going out to buy a wood lathe but you feel you may require a larger
capacity, check to guarantee that the lathe accepts further extensions. This will
assure that you can add features to your lathe in the future.

Turning Capacity

The largest diameter of stock that a wood lathe can hold is called its swing
capacity. If you look at the distance between the mounting rail and the spindle over
it, you will clearly be able to observe the physical limitation of this capacity.

Whether the headstock is adjustable or not

If you’re on the hunt for a wood lathe, you probably know by now what the
headstock is. But if you’re unaware, the headstock of your wood lathe is the
spindle that turns and is the closest to the motor. Your stock turns on the lathe
because of this exact force. If you’re a professional woodturner and are looking for
a wood lathe that can turn large bowls, it’s important that the headstock on the
lathe you buy is adjustable. The positive thing about this is that you can turn the
stock away from its normal position. With the help of this, you can seamlessly
carve out the middle of the bowl that you are turning. This one’s a pretty common
feature when it comes to the mini and midi wood lathes.

Elevation

Whether you choose a mini lathe or a midi lathe, you must consider the height of
the wood lathe. If you opt for the top tier wood lathes, you don’t really have to
worry about this since they have adjustable heights. They can be set to whichever
height you prefer while turning wood. However, some mini wood lathes don’t
come with the height adjustment feature. You have to buy a separate base to avail
of this. It is important that you ensure that the lathe is positioned at the correct
height so that the user does not suffer any unnecessary fatigue. For example, if it is
positioned too low, you will end up having a sore back. if the height of the base of
the wood lathe is set too high, your shoulders and arms will get tired reaching up to
the stock. So to pick the right one for you, look for one that comes up to your
elbows when you are standing upright.

Motor Size

The motor sizes vary from lathe to lathe. The mini and midi wood lathes usually
start from around 0.5 HP and they go up to several horsepowers. To get the right
motor size in a wood lathe for you, you need to think about what exactly you will
do with it. If you are going to use it for something small making a table, you can
even do it with a low HP one.

What can you make with a mini wood lathe

Got your first wood lathe and you’re thinking about what you can make with it?
We got you covered. Here are a few things you can make with a mini wood lathe.

A wooden bowl

Tired of glass and ceramic bows? Why don’t you take a piece of wood and carve
out a wooden bowl with your new mini wood lathe?

Wooden Chair

If you look up a few tutorials, you can end up making a finely crafted chair using
your new wood lathe. With great quality wood, you can make a chair that will last
you a lifetime!

Wooden Bangles

Impress your girl by making a few wooden bangles for her with your own hands!
A well-crafted set of wooden bangles can be a great gift. The wooden bangles
won’t break and will age well. You can craft these little things with a little
precision with your wood lathe.

Doll Furniture

Suppose your little princess has a dollhouse and wants some furniture for it. If you
have your trusted wood lathe, you can make beautiful doll furniture for your kid.
Be it a little wooden stool or even a bed. You can even use the stools for holding
candles!

Wooden Spoons

Your grandma must have told you how great wooden spoons are. They always
prefer those to the steel ones. With a wood lathe and a few pieces of wood, you can
make yourself some pretty neatly crafted wooden spoons. Wooden spoons don’t
react with sauces which ultimately alters the food taste. Metal spoons might ruin
doughs when used with food that includes yeast. So go and whip up a wooden one!

Little flower pots

You can use your mini wood lathe to carve up some wood and make little pots for
your weed flower plants. Usually, people use these for flowers like dandelions.
Putting flowers in these is a great way to display your pants.

Wooden Vase

Add a little charm to your home decoration by making a wooden flower vase. With
a little practice of carving wood with your new wood lathe, you can easily make an
aesthetically pleasing flower vase. You can put this in the corner of your room and
it will definitely add a little charm.

Mirror Stand

Want a new frame for your mirror? Carve one up with your new wood lathe. By
getting the perfect sizes of wood pieces, you can join them with wood glue and
make a beautiful wooden stand for your mirror. This adds a lot to the beauty of
your home.
Wooden Cutting Board

Tired of using your plastic cutting board? Make one with your mini wood lathe out
of wood. Wooden boards are way better than plastic ones and are also expensive.
So try making one and save money.