Can I turn metal or other non-wood materials with your wood lathes? Although our wood lathes can physically turn many different types of materials, they are designed only to turn natural woods, wood-based products, and certain wood-bonding agents. Turning and chiseling materials not intended to be turned on a wood lathe can lead to serious injury for the operator or bystanders, shorten the machine's lifespan, and void the warranty.  

How do I know what size of wood lathe I'll need? The answer primarily depends on what you want to turn. The most relevant specification when determining what you can turn is "swing over bed." Swing over bed is the distance from the center of the spindle to the top of the lathe's bed multiplied by two. This measurement determines the maximum diameter of stock the lathe can turn. So, a lathe that measures 5” from the top of the bed to the center of the spindle will have a swing over bed of 10”. Therefore, the maximum workpiece diameter that can be turned on the lathe would be 10”. If you plan to turn bowls, plates, and platters, then make swing over bed your primary consideration when purchasing a lathe. Another specification to consider when purchasing a wood lathe is "distance between centers.” Distance between centers is the length from the spindle center to the tailstock center when the headstock and tailstock are positioned as far apart as possible. If you plan to turn balusters, pillars, or baseball bats, then make distance between centers your primary consideration.  

Another consideration when purchasing a wood lathe is the space available in your shop. Wood lathes generally scale in size and weight according to the swing over bed. This also applies to wood lathe motors. For example, a mid-sized (or "midi") wood lathe with a 16" swing over bed will usually include a stand with a footprint of roughly 4' x 1½', weigh 300-500 lbs., and come with a 2 HP motor. Benchtop wood lathes usually have a 10-12" swing over bed, ½ - ¾ HP motors, and are small and light enough to be portable. Larger wood lathes have a swing over bed of at least 20", weigh 700-1000 lbs., and have a footprint of at least 5' x 2'.  

I see some machines advertised for 110V, some for 115V, and some for 120V. Aren't these all the same? And if so, why don't you just pick one and use it consistently on all machines throughout your catalog and website? The answer to the first part of your question is both yes and no. Yes, generally speaking, all machines advertised with any of these voltages will operate on the same nominal power supply, and as a consumer, you usually don't need to be concerned. No, because the official nominal voltage recognized in different countries actually does vary slightly. For example, in the USA, the nominal voltage is officially 120V; however, in Taiwan, it might be 110V, and in China, it might be 115V. These differences primarily concern the power companies in these countries, which are typically required to guarantee that the power supply service to consumers is within plus or minus 5% of the nominal voltage. Similarly, motor manufacturers typically must guarantee that their motors will operate within plus or minus 10% of the voltage indicated on the nameplate. Therefore, our policy is to show the actual voltage indicated on the motor's nameplate. This provides our customers with the most accurate information, preventing discrepancies between our catalog and the machine's labeling upon arrival.

What is the difference between the G0844 12" x 20" Variable-Speed Benchtop Wood Lathe and the G0842 12" x 37" Variable-Speed Benchtop Wood Lathe? The G0842 has a 37" distance between centers and weighs 155 lbs.; whereas, the G0844 has a 20" distance between centers and weighs 110 lbs.