Machine

Used vintage wood lathes

A lathe's size is its swing, the largest diameter it can turn over the bed, and the distance between centers. Old lathes here run from Craftsman's 9 x 30 in hobby lathe to Powermatic's 12 in Model 45, which swings 16 in over its gap. The spindle thread and Morse taper matter most, because a standard 1 in-8 thread and No. 2 taper take modern chucks and centers. Make sure the tool rest, its base and the centers come with it. The spindle should spin true by hand, and the tailstock should lock anywhere on the bed.

3 models we cover.