I'm trying to buy a lathe, but I'm struggling to choose the right one or even find good options to check out in Austin, Texas. In college, I used a massive Oneway lathe, which I absolutely loved! Since then, I've worked with some older Delta and Rockwell models, but nothing has come close to the Oneway. I just visited Woodcraft and saw some Laguna lathes and one Powermatic, but I couldn't actually run them, so it didn't help much. I'm looking to create medium to large items like bowls, cups, and plates, and while I don't need anything too heavy-duty, an outboard option would be a bonus. Variable speed would also be great. I have around $3,000 from selling my truck (still regretting that!), and I hope to find the lathe and some basic tools/accessories within that budget. Any recommendations? Thanks in advance!
3 Answers
Have you checked Facebook Marketplace? Sometimes there are good deals on lathes!
You might want to check out the subreddit for turning; they've got a whole wiki dedicated to lathe buying. It's super helpful!
Thanks for the tip! I totally forgot about that sub. I'm heading over there now!
I've recently upgraded from a midi to a full-size lathe myself. I'd recommend looking at second-hand options like Jet, Powermatic, or Laguna—Laguna seems to be a powerful machine with all the features, but be warned, it’s heavy and pricey. Powermatic is like the industry standard; it's a real beast for heavier work. Rikon is decent too, especially if you can find a midi machine on sale. As for Grizzly, it's cheaper but can be a bit clunky, plus their customer service isn't the best. Aiming for around 2 HP is a good bet too. And if you can, find your turning tools second-hand for better deals! Good luck!
I've been scouring FB and Craigslist for months, but it's mostly been brake lathes, metal lathes, or cheaper machines from Harbor Freight... no luck!