Full Manual
A benchtop cast-iron midi lathe for turning wood. It has electronic variable speed, a digital RPM readout, and a 24-position indexing head. It fits projects from pens up to 12" bowls and 18" spindles.
What You Can Make
- Spindle work (table legs, handles, candlesticks). The wood is held between the spur drive center and the live tailstock center, up to 18" long.
- Bowls and platters up to 12" in diameter, mounted on the faceplate or in the 4-jaw chuck.
- Pens and small projects using a pen mandrel (#2 MT).
- Drilling on the lathe, with the work in the headstock chuck and a #2 MT drill chuck in the tailstock.
- Indexed layout for fluting, reeding, or evenly spaced marks. The head has 24 stops, so you can divide work into 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, or 24 equal sections.
- Sanding and finishing on the lathe.
Specifications
| Swing over bed | 12" |
| Distance between centers | 18" |
| Motor | 1.5 HP, 11.2 A, 110 V, variable speed |
| Speed range, low belt | 450 – 1,600 RPM |
| Speed range, high belt | 950 – 3,600 RPM |
| Belt positions | 2 |
| Headstock spindle thread | 1" × 8 TPI |
| Headstock & tailstock taper | #2 Morse Taper |
| Tailstock quill travel | 4" |
| Indexing | 24 positions |
| Speed display | Digital RPM readout |
| Tool rests | 6" and 12" |
| Construction | Cast iron |
| Weight | 106 lb |
| Footprint | 31" × 9-1/2" |
| Work light | 40 W bulb max |
Recommended Maximum Speeds (balanced work)
| Diameter |
Roughing |
Finishing |
| 2" | 3,000 | Max |
| 3" | 2,000 | 2,600 |
| 4" | 1,500 | 2,000 |
| 6" | 1,000 | 1,330 |
| 8" | 750 | 1,000 |
| 10" | 600 | 800 |
| 12" | 500 | 660 |
Unbalanced, cracked, or out-of-round blanks should run slower than this table.
Changing Speed Ranges
- Unplug the lathe and remove the belt cover.
- Loosen the motor plate handle and move the belt between pulleys, headstock pulley first.
- Re-tighten the handle to tension the belt.
- Run the lathe briefly to confirm the belt tracks straight, then replace the cover.
Chuck: PSI Utility Grip 4-Jaw Chrome Chuck (CUG3418CCX)
This is a self-centering 4-jaw scroll chuck. It threads directly onto the lathe's 1" × 8 TPI spindle, so no adapter is needed. The 3/4" × 16 TPI adapter in the kit is for other lathes. The chuck is tightened with the two included levers, which work as a pair.
| Jaw Set |
External Grip |
Internal Grip |
Typical Use |
| #1 Step Jaws | 3/32" – 1-7/8" | 11/16" – 3-3/8" | Small spindles, pens, bottle stoppers, small tenons |
| #2 Standard Jaws | 1-1/2" – 3-1/8" | 2" – 3-7/8" | Bowl tenons and recesses, general work |
| Screw Chuck | — | — | Quickly mounting a bowl blank to rough out the outside |
| Super 8-1/4" Finishing Jaws | Bowls up to 8-1/4" dia. | — | Reverse-mounting a finished bowl to turn off the foot or tenon |
Key Safety Rules
Before You Turn It On
- Make sure the index/spindle lock pin is in UNLOCK and the spindle spins freely by hand. Starting the lathe with the pin locked can damage it.
- Turn the speed dial all the way down before switching on. Start every new workpiece at the lowest speed.
- Rotate the work by hand one full turn to confirm it clears the tool rest and bed.
- Tighten all locks: the tailstock, quill, tool rest, and tool rest base.
- Remove the chuck levers and knockout rod from the work area.
- Clean the Morse tapers on the spur center and spindle before mounting. A dirty taper can let the center slip out.
- Don't mount blanks that are split, cracked, or have loose knots. For faceplate work, rough the blank as round as possible first and fasten it securely.
While Turning
- Wear safety glasses or a full face shield. Everyday eyeglasses are not safety glasses. Use a dust mask when sanding.
- No gloves, loose sleeves, jewelry, or neckties. Tie back long hair.
- Stand out of the line of fire when starting up, to the side of the workpiece rather than directly in front of it.
- Keep the tool rest just above center and close to the work. Always keep the tool on the rest before it contacts the wood. Don't let the tool bite in, because catches can split or throw the workpiece.
- The work must spin toward you. Stop if it is rotating the wrong way.
- Position your hands so they can't slip onto the spinning work. Move the rest out of the way before sanding.
- Stop the lathe completely before adjusting anything, including the tool rest, tailstock, and belt.
Chuck-Specific
- Confirm the jaws are fully seated on the tenon or recess and tightened with both levers.
- The finishing jaws hold lightly, so use low speed and very light cuts when a bowl is reverse-mounted.
- Keep your fingers clear of the spinning jaws. They are hard to see at speed.
When You're Done
- Turn off the lathe and wait for a complete stop. Never leave it running unattended.
- Unplug it before changing belts or doing maintenance.
- Clear shavings from under the motor and control box.