Turn a Large Bowl on Laguna 12|16 Midi Lathe

[@ianabbott785]

Thank you Paul for producing that, I was one of those who asked about turning larger blanks outboard. The outboard aspect gives the option of turning a larger bowl on occasions, which I have not seen on any other midi lathe but as you rightly say understand its limitations and uses. A well turned bowl by the way

[@ToolMetrix]

Thanks Ian 🙏 I appreciate the feedback. Cheers, Paul

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Paul, you cover some excellent Points: get some experience before tackling a bowl this large. Cutting in against side grain is easier then sweeping across into end grain when hollowing. Need for larger then the standard jaws. Larger tool rest needed. Increased risk and challenges of finishing the bottom without the tool rest and the ease of cutting green wood rather then dry. Thanks for telling us about the new 20 inch extension that will be coming. For turning lots of spindle work it will be better then the 10".

[@ToolMetrix]

Thanks for all the great feedback, Mike! Love your channel btw.

[@bmac01049]

Nice job. I'm looking at the possibility of buying this lathe and your video helped. It seemed to handle the ocassional large bowl well. Your attention to safety and good turning technique were noted too.

[@ToolMetrix]

Thanks for the feedback. I do like this lathe a lot. And for an occasional large bowl, yep it can do the job. If "occasional" turns into "frequent" then I'd consider the new 1524 or something comparable. A bowl this size is something of an event on the 1216, but would be routing a 1524. I'm hoping to make a "big bowl on a 1524" video in the coming months as well, for comparison purposes.

[@pbhalfbaked8243]

Well done Paul! Great shots and editing and that bowl is awesome!

[@ToolMetrix]

Thanks Chris! I appreciate the feedback, sir.

[@JamesCouch777]

Interesting video. My lathe is an antique Crescent and has a 14" swing but is equipped with the option of outboard turning so this was a good learning experience 👌👍

[@ToolMetrix]

Thanks for your feedback James. Cheers

[@rayhari6957]

Nice video Paul. I like the way you shift smoothly from a pull cut to a push cut around 8:15.

[@ToolMetrix]

Thanks for the feedback, Ray. That cut is due to working with a tool rest that isn’t wide enough. I was trying to see if I could turn the bowl without putting on the bigger J rest. It’s probably a bad idea but it was kinda fun. 😃

[@bobralke8044]

Just upgraded to this lathe, thanks for the excellent video.

[@ToolMetrix]

Great to hear! Enjoy that sweet lathe...

[@JackbenchWoodworking]

I like big bowls and I cannot lie. I also like cornball humor 😁

[@ToolMetrix]

Ha! I love both of those things too, Charlie! :) Cheers, brother

[@RedfishCarolina]

Definitely don't just jump into turning 15-16" bowls lol. Standing in front of that much rotating mass is a lot more intimidating than you'd think, the first time you do it.

[@ToolMetrix]

Yep, great point. Should start much smaller than that and build up the skills and confidence to take on a larger bowl when ready.

[@edvachal1564]

Thank you for the video. Please some advice: I've mounted the 10" ext to the headstock side. When you turn in that configuration, are you in "FORWARD" or "REVERSE" ??? Appreciate your input. Be Well Ed

[@ToolMetrix]

If you are standing at the front of the machine where the controls are you will run in forward. If you are on the rear of the lathe you will run in reverse. In glancing back at the video it looks like I did a little of each. I don't remember why.

[@garyknable1155]

That took it to the limit I think, WOW great vid and beautiful turn. And very smart for the extra weight or it may not have gone so nicely.

[@ToolMetrix]

Thanks Gary! I definitely think the weight helped.

[@robmatthewswoodturning4988]

That's really interesting, thanks for sharing. It did seem to be slowing slightly even on the slower belt setting, but quite impressive, none-the-less. And agreed about your point with the tail-stock for safety and security. Cheers.

[@ToolMetrix]

Thanks for sharing your feedback with me, Rob. You’re right; it did slow some on the low range setting, but the difference in speed was less dramatic than in the mid range, and I felt like I had to adjust my pressure a lot less if at all.

[@robmatthewswoodturning4988]

@@ToolMetrix good to know. Thanks mate.

[@riff1forme]

Done. I’ll save my nickels. Was gonna get the Comet II/G3Chuck/5-piece mini tool set, but I will save and get the Laguna!

[@mattyancick599]

If it slowed down using Butternut I would be curious about how it would handle East Indian Rosewood. I've been using a Jet mini lathe for over 2 years. It was marketed as a pen lathe with a 10 inch swing. I use carbide and traditional turning tools. I'm overdue for an upgrade. I make bowls and not much else. I like your video and it does help me with thoughts of a future upgrade. I really wanted to see the outboard turning in action.

[@ToolMetrix]

Hi Matt, if you mostly turn bowls I’d suggest going for a lathe with a bit more umph if you can swing it. 1216 is a great spindle lathe and good for occasional bowl turning. But if you’re mostly a bowl turner I’d recommend looking at 1.5+ HP machines. You’ll be really glad that you did.

[@edvachal1564]

Also using a wormdrive screw, with a VicMark chuck on the outboard side of the headstock, as I start the first cut the rotation causes the wood blank to unscrew. UGH. What am I doing wrong? Obviously there is a lot I don't understand with turning outboard. AND what is also worrisome is the wood blank (approximately 6 in across) seems to have a wobble in it. I took the Vicmark off and did not discern a wobble, but I put the chuck and wood blank back on and it still seems to have a wobble. Yes the wood needs to be cut into round, but then the rotation unscrews the blank. Back to square one. Thank you for your insight. Ed

[@ToolMetrix]

Hi Ed, It's been a long time now since I did this, but I don't believe that I used a worm screw to start with. I almost always just use a face plate and screws. I've had more problems with worm screws stripping out, which has made them more trouble than they are worth for me. So, I'd suggest just doing that. You'll definitely want to cut the wood as round as you possible can if you are turning a bowl this size on a midi lathe. You don't want your lathe dancing around your shop. It was jumpy enough on this turn, even though I did a pretty good job of getting it round on the bandsaw to start with. Good luck, Paul

[@edvachal1564]

Hi Paul. Thank you for all your support and comments. Will keep learning. Be well. Ed

[@brendanstemp684]

Well done Paul. A worthwhile video. However I am a little confused. At approx the 7:30 min mark you go from turning on the RHS of the bowl (on the down stroke) to the LHS and it appears you are turning on the up stroke. This is very difficult to do so did you put the spindle in reverse? Is it a strobing efffect that has made it look like you are turning on the up stroke? When you turned the inside of the bowl you were also on the left side (which makes sense) so how is the chuck staying on the spindle? Do you have a spindle clamp for your chuck? Confused... can you help clear this up.

[@ToolMetrix]

Hi Brendan, thank you. Are you by any chance the famous Australian woodturner? If so, I'm a huge fan and I've learned a lot from you. I didn't actually turn on the upstroke; just a harmonics effect I think. The chuck has a set screw to hold it if you are spinning the other direction.

[@tedrthomasjr]

Just the answer I needed, thanks Paul.

[@ToolMetrix]

My pleasure Ted. Cheers.

[@davidbreitwisch8027]

Where did you get the 20" extension? I can't find one for the 12|16 and it looks different than the 20" one Laguna sells for their larger lathes.

[@ToolMetrix]

Hi David, thanks for your question. You're right, this is different than extensions that Laguna has available for other lathes. I heard about the pending introduction of the new 20" extension during a visit to the Laguna showroom, and they were willing to let me use a prototype version for this video. The actual product should be available from Laguna soon.

[@keithwebster2005]

I’ve just purchased mine a couple months ago didn’t know they offered the 20” extension for it differently be getting it thanks for sharing

[@ToolMetrix]

Thanks Keith. I just added a link to the 20" extension in the video description. Cheers, Paul

[@Timber2Toothpicks]

Quick question. I just bought a 1216. I added in the off board turning package. I was going to buy a second 10” extension for the right side. After watching your video I am going with the 20” extension for off board. I am turning sitting in my wheelchair. I use the Sorby SteadyPro with the ProMaster carbide heads. I am not very strong and this helps me control my tool. That said…. Why can’t you use the tailstock? Is it because the extension mounts up lower? I am sort of banged up a bit right now and in a hospital bed narked out on pain meds and can’t quite grasp why you can’t use the tailstock on outboard? Hey Man, your large bowl off board video was a deal maker for me on my next extension. You know, I just figured it out! It’s because you are using the tool rest! Duh! Anyhoo, GREAT VIDEO! Its a hoot watching you turn with morphine and Oxycodone being pumped into my arm. I will post up anyway. BTW, I am the WORST turner on the planet! A beaver chewing on a log gets things rounder than I do and I use really good tools! More videos please! I need to get out of here. I got stuff to tear up! 0:10

[@ToolMetrix]

Thanks for watching and sorry that you banged up. Hope you can get back into the shop soon. I was not a quick study with turning, so I know what you are talking about. I just about threw in the towel a few times when I was wrecking stuff, bowls were being launched across the shop, etc. Hang in there; you will get there!!! I'm in the middle of a large remodel so probably won't be turning much if anything this year, but hopefully I'll be back at it soon. Cheers, Paul

[@kevinwalter5373]

Hey Paul, How do you really know what you need? I mean is it a trial and error type deal or does it pertain to what you turn? I don’t have a specific preference yet as to what I like to turn cause everything I I see I want to try?

[@ToolMetrix]

Hi Kevin, that’s a great question. It definitely depends on what you want to turn. A midi lathe like this one is a great lathe to get started with turning. You can do pretty much any spindle project you want, and small to medium sized bowls (up to 12” comfortably). The bowl that I turned here (14.5” diameter) is on the extreme end of what you want to turn on a midi lathe. If you want to regularly turn bowls this size you’ll want to step up to a 1.5+ HP machine. For bowls much bigger than this you’ll want a 2+ HP lathe. And if you really get hooked and want to crank up to production class, 3+ HP lathes are the way to go.

[@oldmanwoodcraft]

This is very impressive Paul .

[@ToolMetrix]

Thank you Ahron! 🙏

[@jontoolman]

Thank you for sharing. What size faceplate did you use to start your turning with? I hot my 1216 about a year ago.

[@ToolMetrix]

Hi Jon, Great question, and I should have mentioned this in the video. In this video I'm using the standard face plate that came with the 1216. For a bowl this size, a larger face plate would be a good idea, particularly since you can't use the tail stock to stabilize the blank. That said, I don't own a larger face plate for a 1" spindle, so I went with what I had. Cheers, Paul

[@davidparker7156]

Great job turning that large bowl. Can you use a vacuum chuck to hold the bowl or other clamps to clean off the tennon? Or a Nova Cole Jaw?

[@ToolMetrix]

Thanks David. You could use Cole Jaws or a doughnut chuck. I don’t believe that the 1216 has an open chamber though the spindle to support a vacuum chuck. I could be wrong about that but that’s my recollection.

[@jeremyvelkoff1487]

my question relates to your comment that you can not use the tail stock to engage the bowl.... it would seem that the 20" extension would have room for the tail stock. One would think that the tail stock lightly engaged to minimize the stress on the mounting blots and casting would be better then turning without it.

[@ToolMetrix]

Yes, it would definitely be better to turn with the tailstock engaged. I typically do this on any lathe for as long as possible while scooping out most bowls (not necessarily smaller bowls on a large lathe). There's plenty of room horizontally on the bed with the extension in place, but the reason that I didn't utilize the tailstock is that there's no riser block for the tailstock, so it wouldn't align with the spindle on the headstock.

[@mikedell3144]

Paul; great video. I do have a question for you concerning the robust tool rests. Did you get the long post or the short post for both the rests? Also, did the 9 inch rest do the job for the bowl or did you have to switch to the 14" rest. Thanks

[@ToolMetrix]

Hi Mike, thank you. I have the long post on the 14” rest because I use it on my bigger lathe. On the 9” rest it is the short post. The long post on the bigger rest is too long for a midi lathe in the standard banjo position. It works here on the outboard side because it is elevated up away from the bed.

[@perrys5954]

This is a lathe I've been considering. Apparently it will sense when there is resistance on turning (when you apply the cut) and then increases speed/power appropriately. The change in sound/feel from that shift (can't recall what they called it) would definitely take some getting used to and definitely sound like it was 'bogging'. So I wonder how much of it 'bogging' down was just that function?? I genuinely don't know but kinda wonder if that's what you were experiencing. Not sure if I articulated any of that correctly. The setup still looked wobbly so Im leaning towards saving up longer and getting the next model up. Thanks so much for the demonstration! There aren't a lot of YT vids with the outboard in use.

[@ToolMetrix]

The bogging is just a function of overloading the lathe. Candidly this is an extreme sized bowl for a midi lathe and if you want to turn this size with any regularity I’d recommend stepping up a size or two. This lathe responds better than most midis to being overworked but this is more stress than you would want to regularly place on the 1216.

[@perrys5954]

@@ToolMetrix I appreciate the feedback. Yes, I am feeling more and more sure that I should indeed be looking for a size or two larger. My issue is limited power supply (working in an old school-bus emptied out into a little wood-shop) with both power supply and space both near their limits.

[@ToolMetrix]

Understood! Best of luck with your choice. Cheers

[@paynehughes4703]

Great video, I am on the fence of getting this machine. The 20" extension may have just made me bite the bullet. Do you find any stability issues with the 20" vs 10"? I plan to build an overbuilt base cabinet versus using the stand. This should increase stability and give me more storage for my small shop.

[@ToolMetrix]

Thanks. The 20” extension is sweet. Its definitely much better for both spindle and bowl turning. With the 14” bowl spinning the 20” extension was vibrating a bit and I never noticed any vibration on the 10”. It wasn’t problematic and a bowl that size is pushing the limits of the entire lathe. I think the overbuilt base will be a nice enhancement.

[@coolcat9327]

Thanks for making the video. I have 12/16 but have not done any outboard turning yet I have the 10" extension . I did not know they made a 20" . So far it has done everything I asked of it but I work small most of the time. I had N issue with a couple threads peeling off the spindle up close to the bearing, laguna is sending me a new spindle. Again thanks for the video and where did you get your 20" extension.

[@ToolMetrix]

Hi Edwards, thanks for your feedback. I just added a link in the video description. If you look on the Laguna lathe accessory page the 20” bed extension for the 1216 is the first item listed. It’s a fairly new accessory but you can order them.

[@rolfyone]

great video, wondering the video speed while turning? Sped up a decent amount like 2x or similiar?

[@ToolMetrix]

Hi Paul, thanks. This video is a couple years old and I don’t remember for certain. I do speed up monotonous stretches in videos sometimes, but in glancing through a couple spots in the video I don’t see that I’ve done it here. I obviously edited out a lot of footage, so it’s definitely not a “real time” video. It’s also a pretty soft chunk of wood so it moves along nicely. Catalpa I think. If I turned this same bowl on my 3hp lathe it would go noticeably faster.

[@rolfyone]

@@ToolMetrix thanks for the reply! I'm interested because i have a tiny lathe that i'm looking to upgrade because its so slow to process things... It's probably partly my skill, but i think the motor just isn't up to keeping up the revolutions (cheap entry level lathe). I'll just have to upgrade and see what happens :)

[@ToolMetrix]

If you want to do much bowl turning I’d strongly suggest going one step up from a midi lathe. For an occasional small bowls they are fine, but for more frequent bowl turning you will want more power.

[@rolfyone]

@@ToolMetrix so the 12/16 kind of 1hp is probably not enough power?

[@ToolMetrix]

It has plenty of power for any spindle turning project and more low end torque than most midi lathes. If you want to turn spindles and 6-8” bowls it’s awesome. Bigger bowls like the one in the video will be slow going. If you are turning 1-2 per year and have some patience, it’s a good fit. If you want to turn lots of bowls of the size in this video I’d recommend a 2+ hp lathe.

[@gcbound]

Nice video - thanks! I could see the vibration of the entire lathe at the start, but it tamed down by the hollowing phase. Your technique probably made it look smoother that it would for a hack like myself :) It looks like the "reacharound" for the power switch on outboard turning is a slight inconvenience and I can see advantages to being able to move the on/off switch on some of the fancier lathes. I couldn't see if you had the mobile base on the lathe. Would you know what the floor dimensions occupied are by the stand with Laguna base like you have?

[@ToolMetrix]

Thanks for your feedback. I did have the Laguna mobile base. Unfortunately I no longer have the lathe, otherwise I would have been happy to measure for you.

[@zeekster6969]

36”

[@ToolMetrix]

Thank you 🙏

[@mhaz49]

Interesting. You could use Cole Jaws or a Longworth Chuck to hold the bowl to remove/reshape the foot.

[@ToolMetrix]

Great point.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

@Mark Hazlewood, your bowl design would probably require using the bumpers on the inside to get a bowl this large. Nova and Record Power large cole jaws would not accomodate a bowl that large. But where there is a will, there is a way!

[@ToolMetrix]

@@MikePeaceWoodturning Great points, Mike! Thanks for your input,sir.

[@michaell7877]

Great vid Paul. I have a lot to learn, whew! What type of face mask do you have? Can you give us a link and how do you like it? Thx and keep the vids coming.

[@ToolMetrix]

Hi Michael, thank you for the feedback. I have a couple different masks that I wear. When I'm turning green I wear this one: amzn.to/2VrzXDQ. When I'm turning dry wood or sanding, I wear this one: amzn.to/2PZieB8. I have a couple videos on the airshield pro if you're interested: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nZ_PmZV4pZmombM . It's not cheap but it makes turning and sanding a much more pleasant and healthier experience.

[@gabe314159]

Thanks for the video, Paul! What comes with the 20" extension? I see that the 10" extension comes with "tool-Rest extender for outboard use & an adaptor that allows 1” chucks with either Left or Right handed threads to be used outboard." Does the 20" extension also come with the tool rest exender and adaptor? (It doesn't say so explicitly on this page: lagunatoolstest.com/product/accessories/lathe-accessories/revo-lathe-accessories/revo-1216-20-extension/)

[@ToolMetrix]

Hi Gabe, it only includes the extension piece. Have to buy the 10" extension to get the other items it seems.

[@gabe314159]

@@ToolMetrix thanks for the info. I see that they have an led light now as well that looks like it will mount to the lathe!

[@attilakovacs5803]

I guess it's a clever marketing trick Laguna uses to sell both the small and the large extensions. The trick is that you actually need the long extension to maximize the usefulness of the extra toolrest arm, the short extension is more like a necessity to extend the bed to a reasonable basic length. The bed of this lathe is about 2 1/2" shorter than the usual 19" on other lathes, and using two chucks at the same time, a normal 4" chuck for holding the workpiece, and a drill chuck with a drill bit can be problematic even with a short piece of wood. So it's best to use an extension with this lathe all the time, even with a short workpiece. Most people would buy the 20" extension straightaway, considering that it's more economical than the short extension with its limited use. The long extension is necessary when working on a longer piece of wood, e.g. turning a post or a stick, and the extra toolrest arm can only be used to its full capacity with the long extension. But Laguna wants to sell the short extension, too, so they had the clever idea of pairing the extra arm with the short extension instead of the long one, thus making people buy both extensions and the extra toolrest arm, too. It's not that an enthusiastic woodturner wouldn't buy them anyway, but this way you are gently pressed into buying both extensions. Clever!

[@OregonOldTimer]

Used my 12/16 for the first time yesterday. It'll be quite a while before I try a big bowl, I think. Thanks for the tutorial.

[@ToolMetrix]

Congrats on the lathe; hope you love it!

[@rsstnnr76]

Great video. How long will a lathe like this last before it stops working? I guess the motor and belt are the only things that would really wear out, right? I'm new to wood turning and I want to get a good lathe that I can have for many years.

[@ToolMetrix]

Thanks Russ. The spindle bearings are also a item that will wear over time. They would likely last longer than the belt but not as long as the motor. It will depend on how much you use it and the type of turning that you do. Occasional spindle turning and you might never have to do anything to this lathe. If you regularly turn bowls the size of the one that I turned here, I’m guessing that you will be replacing spindle bearings in 10-15 years. Maybe less. That’s a pretty extreme way to use a midi lathe. If you can get a larger lathe it will typically have more durable bearings and likely last longer.

[@rsstnnr76]

@@ToolMetrix 👍

[@rsstnnr76]

@@ToolMetrix One more question. Can the head stock move to the right? Or is it fixed in place? I'm wondering if I can remove the tail stock, and slide the head stock to the right to make it easier to hollow out a bowl without having to straddle the lathe. Does that make sense?

[@ToolMetrix]

It’s fixed. You can turn on the outboard side as I did here but the headstock is immovable.

[@er.7755]

That is a big bowl for a 1hp lathe of that size but it did do the job! I have a 1218 Rikon and do lots of 12” turnings but nothing that big. I use my little lathe mainly for pens and it’s great, that is a job better suited to a 3hp 220V lathe. Interesting video, I was impressed.

[@ToolMetrix]

Thanks ER. I was somewhat surprised and favorably impressed as well. Cheers, Paul

[@kerrysaunders9996]

Just bought a 12/16 today. Doesn’t seem to have near as much power as yours. Any tips?

[@ToolMetrix]

Interesting. Only suggestion would be to be sure that you are using a short 12 ga extension cord if you can’t plug directly into an outlet. Otherwise maybe put an amp meter on it and check with Laguna to see if it seems to be functional within the spec. One thing that I would also say is that it does take a bit of finesse and a very sharp gouge to turn something this large on a 1 hp machine so if you are new to turning it might take a bit of time to get there.

[@kerrysaunders9996]

@@ToolMetrix Thank you.

[@robohippy]

I have turned bowls that were too big for the lathe I was turning on, and you can do it, but I wouldn't make a habit out of it. Your poor lathe could have used several hundred pounds more weight on it, which may have dampened the vibration a bit more... Wish we had more butternut out here in Oregon.... Got one tree once, and it smelled like vinegar.

[@ToolMetrix]

Yep, exactly

[@Buttermilk3696]

How do you get a 20” extension? Thanks!

[@ToolMetrix]

You should be able to buy it anywhere that sells the lathe itself: shop.lagunatools.com/20-Bed-Extension-w-Tool-Rest-Extension_4

[@garyadams7969]

I find the tool rests amusing since Bret from robust told me they don't make a larger rest to fit the 1216...

[@ToolMetrix]

Maybe he thought it required a 3/4” post like a lot of midis. The 1216 uses a 1" post, which is the same as on the Robust lathes, so any rest that they make for their own machines should fit. That said, the post length is a factor as well. The lower profile of the banjo on the 1216 means that you'll want a shorter post if you are turning inboard, but then again the standard tool rest on the 1216 is probably long enough for turning inboard. On the outboard side, if you use the banjo extension, I think you would have enough clearance for a longer post, and if not, you could cut the post to fit.

[@garyadams7969]

@@ToolMetrix He knew exactly what it needed.

[@davidgraham2673]

Very impressive for its size. The 12/16 is a little beast. Hopefully the new 15/24 is equally as impressive, since it's geared for bowl turning. Great video.

[@ToolMetrix]

Thanks, David. Yep, that 1216 packs a good punch, and for turning an occasional bowl this size, it can suffice. The 1524 is definitely more of a bowl turning lathe, and turning bowls this size would be much more routine on that machine. I've done an unboxing video on the 1524 (kzbin.info/www/bejne/jYbZdGZ8Z9ebf80) and have been waiting on the extension and wheel kit to do a Deep Dive video. Hopefully soon.

[@davidgraham2673]

@@ToolMetrix Looks like I'd better subscribe right now. I forgot to earlier!

[@ToolMetrix]

Thanks, David. 👍

[@MrRoger0916]

Turning big stuff on midi lathe is not good for this lathe, as i know this lathe back side bearing is small than front side bearing,if you don’t want broken the lathe i still think is not good,but maybe no body care.

[@ToolMetrix]

Thanks for your input. I shared your concern about the smaller spindle bearing on the outboard side, so I specifically asked the manufacturer about their guidelines around this, and they felt comfortable with this size bowl being turned. Do you have information where the outboard spindle bearing has been ruined from turning large bowls?

[@MrRoger0916]

​@@ToolMetrix Thanks your answer,But the guidelines answer only they felt comfortable with this size,That is not a good result,Anyway thanks again ,I think i need a big lathe.

[@ToolMetrix]

If you wanna turn bowls this size with any regularity, I agree that a larger lathe is a very good idea. My question to you is what size bowls do you recommend that people should consider as the maximum size for this lathe? If you don’t believe the manufacturer, who is financially liable to cover any repairs for two years if the bearing is damaged, or me who has successfully turned a 14” bowl on the lathe, then what is your recommendation, and what data serves is the basis for your contradiction of the manufacturer? The whole reason that I turned this bowl and made a video about it was to develop a data-backed viewpoint on this question that I get on a frequent basis. Granted it’s only one data point but so far I haven’t seen any data that contradicts my experience. I’m not saying that my test proves the manufacturer right or wrong, but so far I haven’t seen any data indicating that they are wrong.

[@MrRoger0916]

​@@ToolMetrix You made a good video, I just think that the information given by the manufacturer should be that they have a special design to promote such a function, but the manufacturer only responds that they feel that this is the best size. If something goes wrong, who is responsible for maintenance after the 2 year warranty? Every this level midi lathe also can doing like this, why they not to do?

[@ToolMetrix]

This is an interesting exploration. I don’t have anything else to make a recommendation on, so I’m gonna continue to believe that this is ok until I see evidence to the contrary. I could definitely be convinced that it’s a bad idea, but so far I think it’s ok. I’ll definitely keep an eye out for any data that counters this opinion.

[@theRussianJiu]

Throw a 50 pound log on there, then I'll be impressed. Honestly, those tiny lathes should only turn bottle stoppers.

[@ToolMetrix]

Hi Robert, I think that this chunk of wood is about the max that I would put on this lathe. I wasn’t trying to do this to promote this lathe as a “big bowl” lathe but rather to show how it would do with what I’d consider to be it’s upper limit. Even if people want to turn the size bowl that I turned here with any regularity they should buy a bigger lathe. But if someone has space or budget constraints that only allow a midi, I think they should turn whatever they want to on it up to the safe and practical limits of the machine.

[@attilakovacs5803]

This is a small 1 hp lathe and it's impressive enough that it can handle such a big piece. I mainly turn "bottle stoppers" as you say, but once in a while I want to make something bigger, say a bowl, or a post, and I don't want to buy a big lathe just for those few jobs. It's an excellent lathe for the smaller pieces, and it can even turn a bigger bowl, and that's just enough, I guess. I don't think anybody would want to turn a 50 lb chunk of wood on this machine... That said, it can be used marvellously to turn copper, for example.