The more experience you have as a turner, the easier it will be to choose your next lathe. In order to accommodate everyone from beginners to experts, I will try to keep my comments basic but comprehensive. If you are an expert, bear with me. If you’re a beginner, this article can save you a lot of headache in hard hitting school.

I would like to start by saying that creating beautiful twists is an art that requires a certain amount of specialized talent. The only way to know if you have this talent is to take a few lessons from someone who does. You may be an excellent carpenter, skilled at the table saw, band saw, or router, and yet you may not have the particular kind of fine touch it takes to be a master at the lathe. Before you shell out your hard-earned dollars for a dream lathe, first gain some experience.

There are some basic things to know when buying a lathe, and probably the most important question you want to ask yourself is, “What do I want to produce on my new lathe?” and “What do I think I might want to produce in it in the foreseeable future?” If all you want to do is turn blanks for pencils and pens, all you need is a micro lathe. If you plan to produce huge round table bases, you may want to consider investing in an industrial giant.

As for the numbers, you’ll want to consider the length of the lathe bed, the distance between the base of the tool rest and the center (diameter that can be turned), the maximum diameter of the bowls that can be turned safely (usually on the outboard side of the lathe headstock), the horsepower and RPM of the lathe motor, and the variable speed range.

One thing that may not be immediately obvious is that all lathes create vibrations. This vibration is transmitted to the point where the cutting tool touches the wood. Vibration produces poor or rough cuts and vibration should be damped as much as possible. A flimsy stand isn’t going to do this for you. I went so far as to build a heavy winch bench that incorporated a large box that I filled with sandbags. However, a sturdy stand might be enough for you.

If you have the aptitude for learning to work with wood, you will discover that it is true that practice makes perfect. During this learning period, it should be obvious to you what size and type of lathe you will want in the future. The first is the first.