W1704 1/3-Horsepower Benchtop Lathe

here is the exact same lathe found at [...] I know I was searching for the specs since I purchased this Shop fox. Apprentice(tm) 812 VS Mini Lathe The Apprentice(tm) 812 VS Mini Lathe is an exceptional value among true mini lathes. Designed specifically for pen turning and other small woodturning projects, the Apprentice(tm) 812 VS Mini Lathe offers quality construction, dependable performance and a 5 year, 100% satisfaction guarantee making it the right choice for budget-minded woodturners who demand a great value. Whether you're just getting started or you're looking for a second wood turning lathe, the Apprentice(tm) 812 VS Mini Lathe is just what you're looking for. Perfect for pen turning and small woodturning projects Compact, easy to transport Electronic variable speed drive High torque lathe motor for increased power under load Soft start-up for safety and motor longevity Adjustable cam-lock tool rest and tailstock Cast iron construction 5 year 100% satisfaction guarantee Specifications: 8" dia. capacity 12" capacity between centers Electronic variable speed drive Speed range- 750-3200 rpm 1/3 h.p. motor,120 v 1 phase 1"-8 tpi spindle No.1MT headstock and tailstock 43 lbs Standard Equipment: 4-1/4" and 6-3/4" Tool Rests 2-1/4" Faceplate 4 Prong Drive Center Revolving Cup Center Faceplate Wrench Knock-out Bar Instruction Manual

This lathe possesses many of the features of the 4-500 dollar mini-lathes. Full variable speed without having the change belts, #1 Morse Taper head and tail-stocks, and everything you need to start a hobby that will last a lifetime. The quality is much better than I expected, and while some of the features of the more expensive varieties are not there (like a head-stock wheel or tail-stock auto-eject), you learn quickly how convinces are not really needed if you just want to turn. This lathe was my start, I have since picked up a Jet midi as well. Now my wife and I both turn pens, bottle stoppers, goblets, tops, and are starting on bowls. We both use both lathes, and have found that while this one was a quarter of the price of it's nearest competitors, it's not due to a lack of quality or features. We've managed to turn out fine quality woodworking on it. It's solid, feels like it's well built, stays in alignment, and by all indication will last as long as the more expensive lathes. I've had no issues finding #1 MT attachments like pen mandrels, live centers, drive centers, or even nuts to fit any of our chucks, all at my local woodworking store and for the most part all in stock. This lathe allows me to go from 400 to 3200 RPM with just a dial (on my jet I have a dial PLUS I have to change a belt to one of three pulleys). It even has a child lockout on the switch, something missing from the 500 dollar lathes. I can see myself using this to make pens and bowls for years, and I have recommended this exact model to several of my friends that are thinking about getting into woodturning. Worth every penny and then some, a great investment.

If you are looking for an inexpensive lathe to putter around on, this one will do that. It has some good points and some not-so-good points. The faceplate is excellent, IHMO. The motor adjustment is also good - RPMs are spot on. The bed had some issues out of the box - a thin layer of corrosion on the bare metal - easily fixed with some scotchbright and WD-40. The tailstock didn't move smoothly along the bed at first, I had to sand down a few rough spots. I wasn't impressed with the quality of the two tool rests. It seems like they were dipped in sand and rocks and then painted. Very rough and bumpy. The tailstock and toolrest slide on the bed and are locked down via an eccentric rod and a locking plate. I found that the locking nuts that hold the locking plate to the bed come loose easily and require frequent tightening. Annoying, but not a show stopper. I will probably replace them at some point in time. I would have preferred a wheel style handwheel, but the one included isn't bad. I have turned a few projects on it and they came out good. My kids have have made a few projects on it and really enjoyed it. It's not a very intimidating tool - simple adjustments, operation is easy to understand - so the kids gravitated towards it. If you are looking for a big, beefy monster to turn giant salad bowls or table legs...this isn't it. It does excell at turning small pieces.

This is the first lathe I've ever used so take that for what it's worth. I started a new business where I'm using this lathe almost daily. It's been a couple of weeks now and I have no complaints about it whatsoever. It's got decent power, it was well centered, and does exactly what I need it to do. My only complaint, and this is apparently an issue across most small lathes which I don't understand why manufacturers would do it but the tool rests are made with a "texture" which extends to the top where your tools are supposed to glide smoothly and evenly in order to make a clean smooth surface on what you're turning. I spent an hour filing off the texture around the top edge and getting it all smooth on both of the included tool rests and my work is coming out much better now. UPDATE: Still going fine. I did have to replace the live center that came with it. It had weak bearings and started to cause a wobble in everything I was working on. With a NOVA chuck on the head and a decent triple bearing sealed live center in the tail it runs straight and makes a lot less noise. NOTE: If you are looking for a lathe to turn very hard woods or big pieces, this isn't the lathe you're looking for. This works great for small items like pens, rings, and small bowls. If you're having trouble with it stopping on you then turn up the speed and take more shallow cuts making sure your tools are good and sharp. It will do the job.

TLDR; Unfortunately, I cannot recommend anyone buy this item. Lathe came boxed in molded styrofoam. After unpacking and setting up, it seemed like a nice sturdy little machine. Light at 45 lbs, however very stable. Put a small piece of softwood and powered her up. The motor took about six seconds to actually show signs of life. The variable speed control is easy to use and convenient. After not even rounding a 1x1, the lathe stopped. No reason, as far as I could tell. I checked the cord, fuse, etc. Everything was OK, but still no life. Four minutes of use, and it dies. it's going back, needless to say. If you're considering this lathe, you may want to spend another $100 for a Rockler or something similar.

Really nice wood lathe. Quality was more than expected for the price. Very easy to put together, a lot better than my last lathe that took a couple hours to setup, this one only took about 30 minutes (and that was taking my time). Came with two different size tool rests, which was nice. I was a little concerned abut the 1/3hp motor in making a decision to purchase this unit. However, it works very nice at all speeds. The motor and this lathe work well together. It seems to all be perfectly balanced and in tune right out of the box. For a bench top lathe, there is no vibration and the unit runs extremely quiet. The weight of the lathe is enough to keep it from moving around during operation, I didn't need to clamp it down or bolt it to the bench. The tool rest can be moved in any direction, which will come in handy for those weird projects. In all, this is a very fine wood lathe, especially for the price

I've had this lathe for right at a month now and I am pretty pleased with it. I've never turned before, so this was my first lathe purchase. I didn't realize at the time that this cheap little lathe was going to cost me so much money! Pen mandrels, turning tools, chucks, wood, pen kits, etc... $200 turned into $2000 before I knew it. That being said, it's a well built machine and it works very well. The problems I'm having is that the tailstock doesn't quite match up to the head stock, it's about 3mm off. Also, when turned all the way down, this lathe is supposed to run at 700 RPM. Mine runs at 1100, verified with a Digital Photo Laser Tachometer Non Contact Tach that I purchased from Amazon as well. On top of that, it uses a 7/16" tool rest post which is EXTREMELY hard to find a replacement for. I am trying to use the Easy Wood Tools with this lathe, and the tool rests cause the tools to me higher than the center line of the work, so the tools do not work as they should. I still haven't been able to find a tool rest for this lathe and I'm about to just go to a machine shop and have a T-bar made. While I do like this lathe, if I had to do it again, I would probably get a different lathe. The problems and the non-standard tool rest post, as well as the very tall tool rest height, have put me off. While I'm no expert, I'm sure there has to be better lathes out there for not much more money.

Been slowly investing in wood working for awhile and wanted a lathe but money is tight. Seen this with a option of monthly payments and though I saw the bad reviews I figured I take a shot. First off the weight is nice,no movement at all. It’s quiet. Tail stock and tool rest slide on the deck kinda tight but rather have that then loose. Both clamp down snug. Having 2 sizes of tool rest is handy. Variable speed control is precise. Now some would want a bigger motor but I actually like the size on this. It’s more of a little more patience and a good set of tools. I think most people don’t realize it’s the chisel that’s doing most the work. So I recommend this any small work like pens,rings etc. And if you do get a dud from the factory just ship it back and get another