WEN Mini Benchtop Wood Lathe, 8-Inch by 13-Inch with Variable Speed (LA3421)

This was my first lathe, I had been interested in woodturning for a while but didn't want to drop several hundred on a nicer lathe if I wasn't going to stick with the hobby.This is a good entry level machine for someone who wants to try it out but isn't sure if they want to fully commit. If you're OK being limited to small projects for a bit, this lathe is fine. But I would caution against buying a bunch of accessories for it, the MT1 taper is uncommon and you will not be able to use these accessories on other lathes if/when you upgrade. I turned some pens on this lathe and considered keeping it just for that purpose after I upgraded to a larger lathe but I got rid of it because once you start turning on a really decent lathe, this one seems like trash. In all, I turned on this lathe for like 2 months before outgrowing it - bear this in mind, if you think you're going to like the hobby, just spend that money on a real lathe.Pros- Price- Works as advertised- Good option for someone who is just wanting to see if they like woodturningCons- MT1 is uncommon and largely not available in accessories- Size of the tool rest base is also uncommon, so you can't buy replacement tool rests- Turning mechanism on the tailstock is trash- Tightening down the tailstock doesn't do much to keep it in place- Doesn't offer lower speed RPMS- Tailstock doesn't slide off at all if you want more clearance when turning unsupported- Small swing, can't turn much larger than maybe 6" realistically- Lightweight... comparatively

I'm so glad I bought this lathe. I previously owned a HF 10 x 18 lathe but it only had 5 set speeds. The variable speed on the Wen is a great feature. It really allows you to dial in your speed to get the best cut. I've used it probably 10 times so far and it has performed flawlessly every time. I would most definitely recommend this to anyone who wants to start wood turning as a hobby

I used to love lathework back in middle school, 20 years ago, always told myself I would get one one day. Finally decided to for my ship modeling hobby, but boy the "good" ones are quite an investment required.That's when I found this model. Built in variable speed, MT1 (mortise taper 1") or 1x8tpi chucking, and at a third the cost of a comparable jet? Since it's been a long time, I decided to start small with this machine.It surprised me with its versatility. I bought it with the drill chuck, knowing I would start with pens, and so far, I'm having a great time. Easy to set up, but make sure to buy 8mmx1.25 machine screws for mounting (from the bottom).My cautions towards those looking at lathes. 1: there is not an easy way to access the belt for the inevitable replacement. I have not tried yet. 2: the lathe itself is only one of many investments you will need to make to begin your hobby. 3: this lathe struggles with anything over 5" diameter. The bowl i show started as a 5" x 3" round red oak, and it was tough going at first.Chisels: buy middling ones until you learn how to sharpen correctly. You will need a bench grinder if you opt for the high speed steel chisels, and learn how to sharpen. You will need pen just and a pen mandrel if you want to make pens, and you will need 4-jaw chucks if you want to make bowls. This kit only comes with a live center and a flat faceplate, which I'm using in the picture above.All in all, this is a GREAT buy if you are just getting in to, or returning to the hobby.

Great little lathe! I didn't want to spend 700-1000 dollars on a midi lathe for my first go at this.It is solidly built, and the motor has good power for small projects.I've already reached some of the size limitations on this thing and am looking to buy a larger lathe in the near future. But that being said, I highly recommend this lathe for beginners.For the price, this little lathe is hard to beat a great way to learn and get you started in wood turning.

I started turning pens a few years ago, but using my large lathe seemed to be a waste of electricity and unnecessary wear and tear on an expensive piece of equipment! I saw the WEN LA3421 lathe was on sale for $135 during Prime Day, so I ordered one. It was shipped via USPS and arrived a little later than the "Order now to arrive by..." date, but that was Amazon's fault. Seems like that is happening more and more :-( Anyway, the package was only a little scuffed, which surprised me since the lathe weighs about 50 pounds! After opening the box I was relieved that there was zero damage to the contents. I cleaned off the oily protective coating and then applied a coat of paste wax to the bare metal bed. Other reviewers pointed out how "rough" the tool rests are, so right away I took a flat mill file to the top edges and removed the thick layer of paint. The tool shanks now glide smoothly over the rests. My wood turning club is getting ready for a show, so I rough-turned over 100 wood pen blanks on the WEN, and was impressed how quiet and smooth running it is. I don't expect to turn anything larger than pens and bottle stoppers, so I'm happy with the power and speed range. If you plan on turning larger bowls, chair legs, etc., this is NOT the lathe for you! I wouldn't even try putting a scroll chuck on it unless it was very lightweight. At $135, I have no problem relegating this to just small items. If you're not sure you want to get into woodturning, this would be an inexpensive first lathe. One caution, though, it takes #1 Morse taper tooling (Google Morse taper #1 verses #2), so if you plan to upgrade to a larger lathe in the future, you'll probably need to buy more tooling since it will take MT2. This WEN is light enough I might take it to my son's house and teach my grandchildren how to turn! And yes, I would buy it again, even at the regular price of $170 it's at now.

Bought this for my hubby for Christmas as a surprise and he LOVES it! It is a prefect size for a beginner and he is able to create all kinds of things on it. Best present ever!