Choosing the right lathe for the woodworking spindling industry is extremely important. If you fail to choose the proper lathe, the outcome will not be what you expect. Determining which lathe is right for your needs can be difficult, especially since there are numerous choices currently on the market. Here is an overview that can help you choose the right lathe so you can complete your woodworking projects quickly, precisely, and efficiently.
Choose the Correct Size
There are a variety of lathes currently on the market, from older, more traditional models with few features to more modern models with the latest and greatest features and everything in between. Regardless of a particular lathe’s features, one aspect that you need to pay attention to during your search is size. You need a lathe that is large enough to accommodate the size of the material you’re going to be working with. Even if you’re going to be working with smaller pieces a majority of the time, if there’s a chance you’ll ever work with larger pieces, a smaller lathe likely won’t be sufficient.
There are four primary lathe sizes, which are mini, midi, full-size, and industrial lathes. Mini lathes are ideal for hobbyists and small projects. Midi lathes are slightly larger than mini ones, and they’re perfect for medium-sized projects. Full-sized lathes are used professionally and for larger projects, while industrial lathes are the largest choices that come with the most power. These are the lathes seen in large plants that can easily handle heavy workloads in short periods.
Even though these are the primary lathe sizes, there are numerous additional sizes available as well. To find the exact size that works for you, performing an extensive online search can help you find what you’re looking for.
Could You Benefit from Advanced Features?
There are many lathes currently on the market, and if you’re working in a fast-paced environment where you’re constantly processing large jobs that require immense precision, you should seriously consider purchasing a high-tech lathe. High-tech lathes include features that can enable you to process jobs quicker, more precisely, and more efficiently, such as:
- Automation – this handy feature significantly minimizes human involvement, as it performs very precise cutting on an automatic setting. While you should remain nearby, this automation feature can simplify the entire process
- Predictive maintenance system – this dynamic feature is capable of informing users when the machine requires maintenance, which can keep downtime to a minimum. This system can also alert you of when you need to schedule a spindle repair, which can allow you to plan ahead
- Intelligence chucking system – this advanced feature ensures consistently secure holds on materials through real-time monitoring and automatic adjustments of the clamping force
- Automatic tool changers – switching tools in a conventional manner can be time-consuming, so this usual feature can save a significant amount of time
- Multi-spindle capability – this ability can dramatically improve the speed at which you’re able to complete jobs, as the multiple spindles can all focus on different tasks simultaneously. You will be left with a perfectly processed piece at half the time
High-tech lathes can be quite costly, so even if you’re certain you could benefit from one, it’s a good idea to weigh the pros and cons of purchasing such a lathe before actually deciding on a purchase. However, with the considerably higher precision, speed, and numerous other specialized features of a high-tech lathe, it might be easy to justify upgrading to one. Such a lathe can enable you to dramatically increase your earnings, enabling you to cover the cost of the upgrade.
Perform Your Research
Before making a choice, be sure to perform adequate research. This research can be easily done online, where you can read reviews, discover features, and much more. This is an important step because it can be helpful to know exactly what’s available before investing in a particular model.
If you need more information about different choices before making a final decision, don’t hesitate to contact customer service and either speak with a live person via phone or chat, unless you opt to email them. Most businesses will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have and provide you with the information you need.
Consider Your Budget
How much you can comfortably spend on a lathe must also be taken into consideration when choosing one. It can be easy to run out and purchase the most advanced and the most expensive lathe possible. However, if you’re on a tight budget, this would obviously not be a good idea. Most lathes cost between $200 and more than $50,000, depending on the specific choice. This means that, regardless of what you’re looking for, you should be able to find the perfect lathe within your budget. What you can do is check out the different choices on the market and determine what the price range is for the type of lathe you need. If you’re just starting in the spindle-turning business, you may want to opt for the least expensive choice that meets your needs, and as your business expands, you can upgrade your equipment accordingly.
Hopefully, this guide has provided you with all the information you need to choose the right lathe to meet your needs. Many woodworkers abide by “the bigger, the better” rule when choosing a lathe. However, there are many other factors to take into consideration when choosing one. If you are processing work orders using different-sized spindles, then opting for a larger lathe might be a good choice. Attempting to process a piece of wood that is too large for your lathe is a recipe for disaster, so be sure to determine the size of all the pieces you plan to process. Once you’ve chosen the perfect lathe, you should have the ability to effortlessly craft spindles that are as beautiful as they are satisfying.
