Best Mini Lathes – 2021 Report

Best Overall:
Rikon 70-100

The Rikon 70-100 really sets the industry standard when it comes to mini lathes. For something so small and compact, it is still extremely powerful and boasts a wide range of different turning speeds. Because of its size, it is an easy addition to any work bench and will not take up too much space if you have a smaller shop area.

This quality is especially great for beginners and those users who are new to wood turning – you can start to learn about the process of using a lathe without a huge (and more expensive) new tool that you will have to rearrange your whole shop around.

This lathe also has a number of other awesome qualities, such as a built in tool rack and a safety lock to prevent the motor from being turned on accidentally (a must have safety measure if you have curious kids!).

All in all, the Rikon 70-100 does nothing but impress and is the mini lathe to buy if you want a mini lathe.

Bottom Line

The Rikon 70-100 is an excellent mini lathe and really sets the industry standard when it comes to these kinds of products. The process for changing the belt speed can be a little bit more complicated than on other models, but that is a small price to pay for a lathe of this quality.

Best Mini Metal Lathe:
Delta Industrial 46-460

The Delta Industrial 46-460 is the top of the line when it comes to miniature metal lathes. Like many of the other lathes described on this list, its small size may seem initially deceiving, but do not be fooled – this lathe packs a punch! It is quite powerful and clearly made out of hefty, high quality material.

Users report using this lathe for hundred of different projects on a wide variety of wood over the span of several years and this lathe still working just as well as it did fresh out of the box. If there do happen to be any weird issues with this lathe, it is covered by a five year warranty, so you do not have to worry about throwing your money away on this guy.

It is easy to use, so it is approachable for beginner wood turners and effective enough for seasoned wood turning veterans. Even changing the belts is a simple and intuitive process.

Bottom Line

The Delta Industrial 46-460 is an awesome mini metal lathe that will be able to help you get all of your wood turning projects done. Unlike some of the other lathes on the market, it does not provide a digital speed readout for you to know exactly how fast the lathe is turning, but it is pretty easy to figure out the speed by feel, so that is not a huge issue.

Best Mini Wood Lathe:
Jet JWL 1015 Wood Working Lathe

The Jet JWL 1015 Wood Working Lathe is an excellent lathe and far and above the best one on this list when it comes to wood turning. It is well built and made out of high quality material, which makes it extremely smooth to operate. Multiple users have commented on how amazingly quiet this lathe is, which is a welcome change from some of the more shoddy and cheap models on the market.

Because this lathe is on the smaller side, you will easily be able to tuck it into the corner of your work bench in your wood shop and not have it take up too much space. Its size is definitely not any sort of compromise on its power and ability, though – this lathe is tough! It will be able to turn any wood you throw at it, and even some metal too.

It is definitely a notch above a beginner lathe, so make sure you have some experience with wood turning before you invest serious money in this bad boy.

Bottom Line

The Jet JWL 1015 Wood Working Lathe is a fantastic lathe and the best lathe you can find for wood turning. Just know you may have to get your screwdriver out and tighten up some parts when it first arrives.   

Best Mini Lathe for Pen Turning:
Wen 3420T Benchtop Wood Lathe

The Wen 3420T Benchtop Wood Lathe is the number one choice when it comes to wood lathes that are ideal at small wood turning projects. If you are trying to craft your own beautiful wood pens, this lathe is definitely the one for you.

It is also probably the most accessible lathe on this list in terms of use by beginners – it does need even require any initial setup when you first take it out of the box, it is just fully assembled and ready to go! It has a wide range of speed and can also be reversed for sanding purposes when you are finishing off your freshly turned pens.

Best of all, it is small enough and light enough that it is not much of a hassle to take it on and off your work bench, so you can easily store it away when you are done using it and want to move on to another kind of project.

Bottom Line

The Wen 3420T Benchtop Wood Lathe is a great lathe for small wood turning projects like turning pens. Because it is on the smaller side, its motor can stall out if you try to cut too much, but as long as you stay within range, you will not have any issues.

Best Mini Lathe for the Money:
Grizzly H8259

If you are looking for a high end mini lathe at a low end price, you will not be able to find a mini lathe that suits your needs better than the Grizzly H8259. This mini lathe comes in a fun bright turquoise color and will be able to provide you high quality wood turning enjoyment for hours and years to come.

The Grizzly Mini Lathe comes with a tool rest, a live rolling center, a spur center, and several wrenches. It has five different speed settings that are easily adjusted, and is lightweight and small enough to fit on any shop bench. It is great for turning wooden bowls, cups, and pens, and is easily used by beginners and users new to the world of wood turning.

If you are on a budget but still want a lathe that is high quality and provides good bang for your buck, the Grizzly H8259 is the way to go.  

Bottom Line

The Grizzly H8259 is the best lathe for the cheapest price that you will be able to find anywhere. It does have some considerations when it comes to the motor, though: it overheats easily and will need to be cleared of dust and wood chips fairly often.