Things Should You Keep In Mind Before Buying a Lathe
Base
A sturdy base is essential for smoothing the wood properly and giving it a perfect shape.
Remember that the heavier the lathe bed or base, the more convenient your work will be because heavy bed or base absorbs vibration, and you can work comfortably with minimal vibration.
Most of the lathe beds are made of cast iron. So before you buy, take a good look at the base of your lathe, whether it is made of required metal and have the ability to absorb vibrations.
Lathe Measures
You must pay attention to the lathe’s two aspects when it comes to measurements: the distance between the two centres and the swing.
The maximum distance between the two centres determines the maximum length of wood you can rotate.
If you work with shorter wood, you can do with smaller and low budget lathes as needed which is convenient for both transportation and woodwork.
Swing, to speak in general, means the maximum diameter of the wood you can rotate.
Therefore, before buying a wood lathe, one has to be careful about the distance between the two centres and the wood’s maximum diameter as there no problem occurs in turning large wood.
Motors, Headstock, Tailstock, Tool rests, and Others
Most leather motors range from 1/8 horsepower to 3 horsepower. The more powerful the motors are, the more you can turn the heavier wood.
A thread connects the headstock and the motor.
Before you buy, check that the thread used in your leg is of good quality.
Also, find out that the thread will work if you update the headstock material later.
Both tailstock and tool rest is the movable part of the lathe. Also, check if the tailstock can be moved appropriately and locked correctly.
Usually, the length of the tool rest is about 10 inches. The tool rest must be heavy and spontaneously movable.
Both tailstock and tool rest must have a perfect lock system; otherwise, it will be difficult and dangerous to work. Heavy tool rest absorbs vibration, and you can work comfortably.
