Wen 3427 Lathe Unboxing and Review

This video shows me unboxing and reviewing a new Wen 3427 lathe.
Music Credit: Can't Hold It Back by unreal_dm (c) copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike (3.0) license. dig.ccmixter.org/files/unreal_... Ft: Admiral Bob

[@rwoodard6984]

Good review, informative, good video and no annoying music. I subscribed, thanks for posting. 🙂

[@rsz90182]

Nice shop and nice new tool.

[@fabianmaldonado2478]

*As usual, Wen puts out an excellent **MyBest.Tools** well made product at a very reasonable price. Cast iron, portable, table top lathe. Pen turning with ease. An excellent purchase.*

[@gage8225]

Great video!

[@davogifman542]

Hi Knot! If you ever get around to designing a warning light for the spindle lock; you could use the lock itself. With the spindle lock pressed down in the lock position that could complete the circuit,and the light would be on,and when the spindle is unlocked the circuit would be broken meaning no light. Good idea you have.

[@brayandiego7096]

Instablaster.

[@richardhendrickson5955]

good video ,will look at this model closely thanks

[@yuyo57]

So much for Quality control lol. Nice video👍🏻

[@juanguerrero5626]

You look happy with your lathe , that is all that counts.

[@TheCecil64]

Thanks for sharing

[@frankyvee1]

On a lathe, unless you are sanding or drilling speed is your friend.

[@Robster-Craw]

I was looking at these but decided to go with the Turncrafter Commander 10" variable speed with pen\pencil kits

[@richkeelan1312]

How do you like the commander?

[@MarktheAirsoftPrimate]

How to find the center of the lathe? Gingerly touch the tips...jingle jangle. May get one of these guys.

[@just-dl]

it's been a year+ ... still lovin' it? I like the looks of it. Wondering about the 5-speed model...I think that means changing belts. I like the variable for convenience, though. Thoughts?

[@knotnowwoodworking]

I made a follow up video to this one that shows I returned the Wen and got the Jet 1221VS. The Wen just wasn't powerful enough to do the kinds of things I do. The Jet, on the other hand, is incredible and I highly recommend it.

[@briandg25ify]

Better than a warning light for your spindle lock - your switch could disable the power to the motor.

[@willisshooting]

Very good video, can I ask did you have to bolt the lathe down as I was thinking if you were doing a large bowl would the vibration move the lathe. cheers from Keith, North Wales UK.

[@knotnowwoodworking]

Hi Keith, I did not bolt down the Wen because I was just testing it. But you're correct about the vibration, and when I got my Jet 1221VS, I did bolt it down (I only had the Wen a short time before I decided it wouldn't work for me. I did a follow-up video where I show the Jet (kzbin.info/www/bejne/mJ-ch5yvo7ODia8).

[@CrossesbyCharlie]

The 12 inch swing? Does that mean the headstock is 6 inches from the bed? Also can you show the operator side in a video (you might have already new subscriber here) I just might get one of these. I have a Wen air filter and bandsaw about to be delivered any day now from HD, which had better prices this week than Amazon

[@knotnowwoodworking]

I see you already got your answer. I buy from HD whenever I can because of the 90 day return policy. It's come in handy more than once. Most of the time their prices at least match Amazon. Enjoy your new tools.

[@imawoodgrain]

I nice kill switch for that locking pin would be nice. :D

[@MrWizards1974]

More catches then a baseball game.

[@steveminla]

Ha Ha Ha

[@johnthomas6224]

Hummmm seems I should put this on my team

[@thomasdoyle38]

damn china glad you got it worked out

[@CLWoodturning]

Did the Jet lathe go? Replaced by the WEN? ... so frustrating the issues with tailstock and speed control. I'm glad you are happy with it now.

[@knotnowwoodworking]

Well, it's more complicated than that. I'm preparing an update to the Wen review (out later this week). Turns out the Wen wasn't powerful enough--I couldn't drill out the end of a cylinder with a Forstner bit using the Wen (it would stall too easily). So, I took the Wen back to Home Depot and bought the Jet JWL-1221VS. This thing has the balls to get the job done. Twice the price of the Wen, but definitely twice the lathe (at least).

[@CLWoodturning]

Ah I know it well. My small lathe could not turn against a forstner bit so I moved to the ten speed (draper) ... bigger and stronger.... take care, thanks for reply.

[@btgame1836]

@@CLWoodturning whats the 10 speed daper

[@boydmerriman]

I'm glad I saw this review or I may have never figured out how to get that plastic wrap off!! Instructions on how to open inside of product.

[@Lillyscraftsandgifts]

Could you make about a 29” leg in there?

[@crossgrainwoodproductsltd9230]

Don't you have it backward's? The motor is usually on the back side or is that the way it is supposed to be? I'm thinking about this model mainly because of the swiveling head. I'm surprised at how loud it is. I don't think it is supposed to stop when you put those ginormous tools to the tiny penstock. I'm going to put this lathe off my list. Am I wrong? I'm learning here to.

[@knotnowwoodworking]

That's the way it's supposed to be with this model. The motor is mounted under the bed. this is a decent lathe--the only thing i would fault it on is torque, because it doesn't have changable pulleys.

[@frankyvee1]

@@knotnowwoodworking So there is a benefit to having changeable pulleys? Interesting!

[@geolisadrag-racing2349]

THanks so much. can you tell me the spindle through-hole diameter? i got that it was an M2 bur i don't know if the head stock taper tells me the through-hole diameter? Thanks so much- ♿Lisa🔧

[@knotnowwoodworking]

Hi Lisa. On the side where the handle is, for turning the spindle, the hole is 3/8".

[@intheretrobasement1605]

Are those wood blanks or metal blanks?

[@knotnowwoodworking]

Are you referring to the pen blanks on the lathe? If so, those are wood--ebony and lacewood sandwiched together.

[@anthonychavez3742]

Xmas was a tuff time for you wasn't it...lol

[@lestergrayson3049]

I would be more inclined to put a spring loaded clip on it so it can't vibrant closed when running

[@knotnowwoodworking]

Excellent idea.

[@btgame1836]

Do they have a larger lathe not lookin to just make pens

[@geolisadrag-racing2349]

yes. Wen even makes large industrial lathes. Starter mini or midi lathes are always great even if you are "turner ambitious". Because when you upgrade later they hold their value & are still convenient to have in the shop for smaller projects. i do know that the smallest 2 Wen lathes (now around $170.00) don't allow for bed extension. so if thinking about longer items you may want to look at the lowest priced that allows for extension. i believe this one joe has does. i love harbor freight as much as the next poor builder, but i think the fit & finish of Wen products is a little better for the money if you care about that kind of thing. check out this guy after u get your lathe. kzbin.info/www/bejne/f2eTmp-NiammqZI

[@webcrawler3332]

You’re running the lathe to slow that’s why the blank is stopping on you. You should be at 2500-3000 RPMs.

[@chuck8228]

Dang are they that loud? I just bought one

[@tonyb4419]

Could have done without that visual at the end of you in those daisy dukes. My eyes are still burning!

[@knotnowwoodworking]

Yeah, I know. New shorts for next summer's videos, I promise.

[@rsz90182]

Joe L I never noticed hmmmm.

[@tonyb4419]

good thing I wasn't talking to you then huh

[@rsz90182]

Joe L You make comments to the world to see and you get everyone's reply. Faygala?

[@raveendraniroshan7857]

How much meshin sar

[@richardgerhard7559]

Sounds loud. Should go across to round blank instead of cutting straight in. Plus spend needs to match what your doing. Shim should go on head not tail like showed in video.

[@cadenwalker3938]

Would you recommend buying it

[@knotnowwoodworking]

If I was only doing small, light work (like pens), yeah, it would be okay. But for more challenging items, like bowls, I would save up and buy the Jet. I've dealt with Wen support several times and they are pretty good, so if you buy the Wen and do have a problem, they will take care of it.

[@cadenwalker3938]

Knot Now Woodworking the Jet??

[@knotnowwoodworking]

Caden Walker yeah, the Jet 1221VS. Great Lathe.

[@brennandunn3985]

Home Depot ripped you off man. Amazon sells it for $153. 😅

[@knotnowwoodworking]

That's a great price. When I bought it, Amazon had the same price as Home Depot. With the prices being equal, the benefit for buying it at HD was the 90 day return policy. I was buying an unknown piece of equipment, and it was helpful to have a long trial period in which I could jus take it back to HD with no questions asked. In my case that worked out well.

[@walkertj2]

Phantom Orbit : the 3420 is 8x12 and is $150- $165. This is the 3427, which is a 12x15.

[@tanyataji1861]

how i can order in india

[@knotnowwoodworking]

I have no way of knowing that. Wen is a Chinese company and probably provides their equipment world-wide. Try finding their website and then contact them to see if they distribute in India. Good luck.

[@richardgerhard7559]

Sounds like you need ear protector. To save your ear drums

[@scottydntno]

why are you turning at 1100 RPM?!?!?!

[@knotnowwoodworking]

I don't really know--maybe I was just slowly increasing the speed as I tested the lathe. On my Jet lathe, I turn at the fastest speed possible that feels comfortable.

[@crossgrainwoodproductsltd9230]

I was thinking the same thing!

[@erlysinester5698]

Can it handle hard wood

[@zzz7zzz9]

3 times of needing a new one sent, and, a month of wasted time?? F that. terrible quality-control. this now scratches WEN and Shop-Fox off my list.

[@mountainviews5025]

It's funny all of those are made in a factory in China and it's exactly the same as the one at harbor freight except for the color and the price this man unfortunately paid two hundred dollars to damn much at harbor freight you can take them back after a year unless you get a three year one for nine bucks more you shouldn't drink live longer very obvious

[@chrishartman7061]

. That is a period. Used at the end of a sentence.

[@jamescomstock571]

You could make dog shit appealing

[@tungadoni1850]

MRP plz

[@knotnowwoodworking]

I assume you mean MSRP (Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price). I made that video quite a while ago. Your bet bet is to check around the Internet and see what it's selling for.

[@rebeccajamesipadobrien798]

Didn't look very safe

[@knotnowwoodworking]

Hi, it's been a while since I posted that video--what are you referring to?