Harbor Freight 34706 Woodturning Lathe Review || 12 x 33 wood lathe (2022)

In depth review showing what I have loved and hated about woodturning the last 2 years on my Harbor Freight 12 x 33 wood lathe, model 34706. This Harbor Freight wood lathe review was previously shown on my main channel, Brads Workbench, (link below) is where I mostly review budget friendly tools for woodturners and woodworking. I understand what its like to want to start wood turning but all the tools and equipment seem so expensive. So I wanted to review the Harbor Freight 34706 wood lathe to show everyone that if this is the best you can afford or if you're not sure that you'll enjoy woodturning and don't want to invest too much money, this is a budget friendly wood lathe option. You may get frustrated with it from time to time but with some creativity and ingenuity you can start developing your woodturning skills and make some really awesome projects.
Link to Harbor Freight 12 x 33 Wood Lathe 34706
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Woodturning and resin turning are incredibly fun hobbies to get into. As you can see by this video you can definitely get very creative. If it is softer than metal and dry you can most likely cast it in resin and turn it on a wood lathe. If you would like help selecting a wood lathe and the woodturning tools needed to get started wood turning or resin turning please feel free to email me at [e-mail]
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[@thomasschilling689]

Actually, I loved this video! I "was" considering this lathe due to the price point but this changed my mind. I turned some bowls and pedestals decades ago and want to start doing this again. I really don't like headaches with tools not working as I'd expect them too. Better to save my money and look for something made with more precision. Thank for a very educational video! Thomas

[@davidhykes3194]

I have been running a Harbor Freight lathe for about 8 or 9 years now. I bought it because it was cheap (a little over $200.00 brand new in the box using a combination of coupons and sale price - never gonna happen again}, and because it fit in the space available. One of the first things I discovered was the mis-aligned centers. I thought it was just mine that was that way. I had putzed around trying to line it up without success until I saw your video. Two thicknesses of aluminum soda can got it as close as it needs to be. While I had it apart, I noticed that it had scraper marks on the base of the tailstock where it slides on the ways. It appears that they did some fitting work at the factory to make it right and made it worse. As to the other shortcomings, yes, it is too fast for heavy, large wonkey wood. Yes, it is somewhat under powered and yes, it is rather light weight and moves if you are working a heavy off-balance piece. If I had room, I would love to have a big Powermatic or Robust or one of the other heavies. Yes I would like to have reverse, a spindle lock and more power. But for the price and size I believe I am getting the most bang for my buck. Finally, service. When it was only a couple of months old the plastic handwheel on the tailstock split and fell off. Not knowing how easy it is to get repair parts from Harbor Freight, I epoxied it back together and it is still holding. The belt wore out after about two years hard running. Ordered a new one plus a spare. They were cheap, arrived promptly and the replacement has been working for about 5 years now. The lock handle for the tool rest stripped. I used the one from the unused outboard rest and ordered a new one -also cheap and arrived promptly. I bought an aftermarket toolrest and discovered it wouldn't fit. American tool rest -1" actual measure and hardened. Hole in banjo - 25 mm. Just a hair too small. I'm still using the original.

[@k9insomniac783]

I personally love my harbor freight lathe. I have the smaller version which doesn’t have some of the issues that the larger one does. For me, it only made sense to buy a cheaper machine at first, simply because I didn’t know if I would stick with it or not. This is a great review of these machines. Honest. By someone who actually used it. That’s why I love this channel.

[@RatedRWoodturning]

I had the little one as well for the same reason. I wasnt sure if I would like it. I do think it is built better. Only downsides to that one is having to move the belt and the smaller motor. But for the price, its hard to beat

[@trurex007lee7]

Thanks Brad. I have a that HF lathe since I too got it on sale for about $300 and was curious if I would enjoy turning. I’ve had all the same issues except cracking the head, but did break the tool rest. I’ve been able to turn a lot of bowls, candles, trees and ornaments which essentially paid for the lathe several times over, BUT I am ready to move to the next level.

[@RatedRWoodturning]

Exactly how i felt

[@davideuberjr.8888]

Love the info almost as much as your personality! Couldn’t help laughing out loud a couple times. Good info & a laugh to start my day! Thanks brother!👍🏻👍🏻👊🏻

[@hewettcb]

I have a HF lathe and the lathe will vibrate with a large stock . did you bolt down the metal legs to keep low vibration from turning the stock piece

[@fredcutting3013]

Your my kind of people! Looking to buy this lathe to start turning again. Great info!

[@RatedRWoodturning]

Def good for that 👍

[@cajunpipesmoker1519]

I have the Grizzly brand (G5979) of your model…at least they look identical. Mine has 1/2 horsepower motor. I’m relatively new to the word turning world and I’m enjoying it. I did not consider checking the center 😳. I’m going to do that in a few minutes! But, the great thing about the lathe I own is that my father-in-law gave it to me! So I can’t complain. 😜

[@matts.8342]

I bought mine for $75 a couple years ago with a cracked motor mount and a seized up drive. The guy had the new pulleys but couldn't get the old ones off and didn't have a way to fix the broken motor mount (he had tried JB Weld!). I was able to get the new drive pulleys on (boy was that a pain in the bunion), and I have a welder so I welded up the motor mount. Hopefully my weld will hold, since it is cast iron and I am not what you would call an experienced welder. I finally moved it from a pile of parts to it's final home in the basement a couple months ago and have been attempting to learn how to use it. Unfortunately I am most interested in bowls and oddly shaped wood, so I'm sure I am going to hate the 600 RPM speed, but I'm one of the what they call "poors" so it will have to do until I can start selling some items and save a bit for a better lathe. I also have a small benchtop lathe from Wen which is basically a copy or rebadge of Hazard Fraughts smaller lathe that I have used for pens and other small items. I just bought an actual bowl gouge, so I hope to start making some cool stuff soon!

[@ck3561]

I love my harbor freight lathe. I built a complete enclosed cabinet shelf system for mine. With a bottom base on 4 locking casters. I weighed everything before I built it. I added about 125lbs. It’s really sturdy and as long as you occasionally hit with the air hose in the belt drive area and spray with dry lube these lathe’s should last a long time.

[@RatedRWoodturning]

Its great for a hobbyist or beginner but it starts becoming a pain after a while

[@cpowerdesign]

I've had the smaller wood lathe that HF sells for a few years now. I like it pretty good, of course I've only had time to use it a handful of times. I got it as an open box, it had a price tag of $150. When they rang it up it apparently was marked down even further. I walked out of there paying $75 + tax. One of the spindle rods, the tool to lock a piece on the spindle was broken and a cover was broken. My smaller lathe has the feature to eject the tool from the tailstock by turning the handle. One complaint I have is that on the smaller one you have to change the belt manually to change speeds, thats kinda annoying. But all in all I can't really complain because I paid $75 for it.

[@RatedRWoodturning]

Yea, i started on that lathe. Good to get ur feet wet

[@bryansmith5980]

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Long time no see.

[@RatedRWoodturning]

Thanks, hope u had a good one

[@tonysmith3143]

I went through two motors, last caught on fire 🔥

[@RatedRWoodturning]

Oh lord

[@thomashverring9484]

Great video!

[@RatedRWoodturning]

Thanks

[@bbraswe2]

Incredible content

[@RatedRWoodturning]

Thanks hoping to get more into it this year

[@duaneburks7143]

I’ve run in to most of the problems you have tryed to turn one with the head at the forty five locked it down the whole head came off interested in what your new lathe going to be

[@RatedRWoodturning]

Yea, not a very good design there imo

[@rogervanvalkenburg3361]

Hey Brad. Got one of these to try my hand at turning. Being new I'm not 100% on everything. I was wondering what chuck you bought for your lathe?

[@RatedRWoodturning]

I like the nova brand because all their jaws fit ALL their chucks. Fairly budget friendly as chucks go but they also have higher end chucks such as the titan

[@jimsimmons1629]

I need the two gear ring and the part that runs inside of it in the Reeves Drive. Any help you may give me will be greatly appreciated. I can't find anyone that can give me a part number or where I can find them.

[@alanbrown2918]

What lathe did you end up buying ?

[@RatedRWoodturning]

Laguna 1836.... only cuz i was stuck having to stick to 120v

[@coreydomijan9466]

What wood lathe wold u recommend for around 1000$. Im looking for something of about the same size

[@RatedRWoodturning]

$1000 is a tough range but I'd say look at some of the 14-16" swing lathes over at grizzly

[@RatedRWoodturning]

Or depending on ur area, watch fb marketplace or craigs list for a used one. Laguna, nova, powermatic, jet, some delta are all quality names to look for