The Oldest Type of Lathe in the World
A mini wood lathe is a small machine tool—at least smaller than the standard size wood lathe—that is used to cut, sand, knurl, drill through or deform wood work pieces. Woodworking lathes are some of the oldest type of lathes in the world, having been invented many decades (possibly even more than a century) ago.
Here are the different varieties of mini lathes:
Bench lathes – Bench lathes are lathes that sit on a table or bench.
Engine lathes – Engine lathes are lathes that lack integral features necessary for repetitive functions. Instead these machines are used to perform a specific purpose, such as individual part production, as its primary role.
Oil field lathes – Oil field lathes are lathes with a large spindle bore and chuck on both sides.
Screw machines – Screw machines are automatic lathes that employ gear trains and cams for controlled movement.
CNC lathes – A high-end type of lathe, CNC lathes are computer-controlled lathes.
Turret lathes – Turret lathes are lathes with a circular tailstock that rotates on a vertical axis.
Ornamental lathes – Ornamental lathes are lathes that are fitted with spiral guides, profile cutters, or indexing plates for ornamental turning.
Combination lathes – Combination lathes are lathes that can be combined with other tools to create an entirely different machine, such as a milling lathe or a drill press.
Big Deal or No Deal
Wood, it means the world to some of us. Just because we can manipulate plastic or metal nowadays doesn’t mean wood is out of the picture, and for that reason mini wood lathes are here to stay. So they’re not as powerful nor as durable as standard-sized wood lathes. Big deal. When you talk about mini wood lathes, you talk about cheap cost, ease of carrying around, and space efficiency. That’s what a mini wood lathe is all about.