Laguna REVO 18|36 Wood Lathe

Overview

The REVO 18|36 is a heavy-duty variable-speed wood lathe. It handles both spindle turning (table legs, pens, tool handles) and bowl/faceplate turning up to 18" in diameter. It has a cast-iron headstock, tailstock, and legs on a welded steel bed, which keeps it stable and low-vibration.

A variable frequency drive (VFD) powers a 3-phase motor. That gives you smooth speed control from a front-panel knob, a digital RPM readout, and forward/reverse rotation for sanding and finishing. Two belt ranges are available: a low range for large or out-of-balance work and a high range for small spindle work. The headstock slides along the bed, and outboard turning up to 32" diameter is possible. A built-in indexing system (14, 36, or 48 positions) locks the spindle at set angles for layout, fluting, carving, and drilling evenly spaced features.

Good for: bowls, platters, hollow forms, spindles, pens, handles, and segmented work. Indexed layout and decoration are also supported.

In-depth review video from a professional woodworker (16m47s) 

Specifications

Key Safety Rules

Before starting

• Wear safety glasses or a face shield. A full face shield is strongly recommended for bowl work. Everyday eyeglasses are not safety glasses.
• Do not wear gloves, neckties, loose sleeves, jewelry, or rings. Tie back long hair.
• Tighten all locks: headstock, tailstock, quill, banjo, and tool rest.
• Remove the knockout rod, spindle lock, and indexing pin. Never run the lathe with the knockout rod in the headstock.
• Rotate the workpiece by hand to confirm it clears the tool rest.
• Do not mount blanks that are split, cracked, or have loose knots. Rough out blanks before mounting them on a faceplate.

Starting and running

• Always start at the lowest speed with the speed knob turned fully counter-clockwise, then increase gradually. Use the low belt range for large or unbalanced pieces.
• If the lathe vibrates, reduce speed immediately.
• Stand out of the line of fire (the rotation plane of the workpiece) when starting up.
• Keep the tool on the rest before it contacts the wood, and keep the rest close to the work.
• Stop the spindle before adjusting the tool rest.
• Only switch forward/reverse after the spindle has come to a complete stop. The faceplate and chucks can unscrew when running in reverse, so use reverse only for light sanding and finishing.

When finished

• Wait for the spindle to stop completely before leaving the machine. Never leave it running unattended.
• Press the emergency stop to lock the machine off. Twist it clockwise to reset.
• Clean chips and dust off the bed. Sawdust holds moisture and causes rust.
• Report any damage, unusual noise, or vibration in SLACK #woodshop channel. Do not use a machine with damaged parts.