The Lathe3

The Lathe

The lathe is not usually a machine that makes people feel creative at first sight. It seems like a piece of industrial machinery that belongs in a factory or warehouse not a woodworking shop. That isn't the case however because a lathe can serve many different purposes including metalworking, woodworking, and even working with glass and plastic. There are three main types of lathes that are used most often and this article is going to cover them.

The first type of lathe and the oldest is the wood lathe. They are actually the base models for all other types of lathes. The lathe accommodates the correct positioning for all the necessary wood shaping tools through the use of a horizontal metal rail. These tools are usually hand held so the wood lathe allows you to shape the wood hands free. This hands free function also allows you to run sandpaper along the surface of your creation just as you would if you weren't using the machinery. Other types of lathes used for wood can be used for the making of plates and bowls and they do not have a metal rail and is instead held by a metal faceplate.

The second most prominent type of lathes available are the metal lathe. They use a hardened cutting tool in order to remove the metal during the shaping process. This metalworking tool is fixed to a moveable mounting which is called a tool post. This moves against the metal piece using hand wheels. The tool post is driven often automatically in order to produce roughing and finishing cuts that actually turn the piece into the desired shape and size. Cutting fluid can be added to the tool post in order to keep it cool during the process. It is much more complicated than the wood style. The last type of the lathe that is commonly used is the mini lathe.

If you are looking for something a bit smaller and less industrial the mini lathe is probably the lathe for you. They are quite inexpensive only costing three hundred to five hundred dollars. They are best suited for hobbyists, model makers and inventors since they are small enough to fit in your home. They are essentially a miniature model of a metal lathe in design and function. The mini can shape anything that larger lathes can shape including metal, wood and plastic. Just like its larger counterparts this lathe is a great way to make many different creations no matter what the artist's passion.