Pressed for time? Check our best picks
BestEquip
- Rotating turret
- High-speed precision
- Unique chuck supports all kinds of stock
Jet BDB-1340A
- Super-quiet
- Smooth cutting experience
- Gap bed extension for thicker stock
Jectse 12000RPM
- Durable construction
- Supports central block
- Powerful motor for benchtop lathe
Our reviews are unbiased, fact-based, and comprehensively researched to help you make the right buying decisions.
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A good metal lathe in your workshop is a way to begin shaping heavy-duty stock.
Whether you’re running a commercial business or working out of a garage shop, even the weakest metal lathes can cost a pretty penny.
To make sure your metal lathe offers the best value for its buck, you’ll want to check out what the best metal lathe is from over 25 different models we analyzed and compared.
Best Metal Lathe – BestEquip Metal Lathe 7″ x 14″
The best metal lathe out of 29 different models is the BestEquip Metal Lathe 7” x 14”.
Judging from this metal lathe’s name alone, you can already tell that the BestEquip isn’t the larges metal lathe on the market, but with a powerful motor and sizable bed, there’s virtually no limit to this machine’s capabilities.
Let’s see what the BestEquip Metal Lathe’s key specifications are—
- 50-2250 RPM
- 7.09-inch Swing Over Bed
- 13.78-inch Centers Distance
- 3-Jaw, Self-Centering Chuck
The BestEquip mini-lathe features a ¾-HP motor that works at 550W at 110V.
This means even a hobbyist metalworker can plug this machine into a standard wall outlet and enjoy up to 2250-RPMs of metal-cutting speed at home.
Although it’s used mainly for metal, you can pop a wood or jade stock between the centers and carve masterful works of art.
The versatility that the BestEquip has to offer is what makes it stand out among the sea of metal lathes.
The unique, 3-jaw, self-centering chuck allows you to work with asymmetrical stock easily and with few adjustments while it spins.
Speaking of which, adjusting the centers is easy, but you’ll need to check up on them frequently.
Pros
- Rotating turret
- High-speed precision
- Unique chuck supports all kinds of stock
- Multifunctional machine for amateurs and pros
Cons
- Could require less checking-up
This BestEquip mini-lathe for metal is you best ally at tackling all kinds of materials on a standard outlet.
Top Metal Lathes Compared
| Product Image | Product Name | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Overall - BestEquip Metal Lathe 7" x 14" |
| Check Today's Price |
| Best Premium - Jet BDB-1340A |
| Check Today's Price |
| Best Budget - Jectse 12000RPM |
| Check Today's Price |
 | Grizzly G8688 |
| Check Today's Price |
 | Erie Tools Precision Bench Top |
| Check Today's Price |
 | BestEquip Metal Lathe 8x16 Inch |
| Check Today's Price |
 | Grizzly Industrial G0768 |
| Check Today's Price |
 | Grizzly G4003G |
| Check Today's Price |
Reviews of Best Metal Lathes
Best Premium - Jet BDB-1340A
Key Specifications
- 60-1240 RPM
- 13-inch Swing Over Bed
- 40-inch Centers Distance
- Enclosed Gearbox
The cost of the BDB-1340A is more than enough to push hobbyists away, but for pro metalworkers, this is the metal lathe for you.
Featuring a ¾-inch HP motor, there’s hardly a type of metal that this heavy-duty late machine can’t shape.
It can spin your stock at up to 1240 RPM while providing enough torque to keep 13-inch stock spinning at a constant speed.
The 40-inch bed pretty much tells the entire picture. With that long of a distance between the two centers, you can shape anything from metal baseball bats to fine components manufacturing.
The motor sits inside of an enclosed gearbox to reduce noise output for more comfortable performance.
Pros
- Super-quiet
- Smooth cutting experience
- Gap bed extension for thicker stock
- Easy-to-understand and adjust gearbox
Cons
- Not the best metal lathe for beginners
If you’re looking to upgrade your current metal lathe into something more industrial, the BDB-1340A by Jet is one of the most reliable options.
Best Budget - Jectse 12000RPM
Key Specifications
- 12000 RPM
- 3-inch Swing Over Bed
- 5.31-inch Centers Distance
- Benchtop Design
On the other end of the metal lathe price spectrum, we have the Jectse 12000RPM Mini Lathe, a benchtop metal lathe that’s designed to make the best use out of as little space as possible.
However, because of its tiny footprint, this metal lathe can’t support larger stock.
The 3-inch swing over bed and 5.31-inch distance between the centers will limit what you can do with this machine.
That said, its high-powered motor delivers up to 12000 RPM, which will help you when transitioning between metalworking and woodworking.
The entire tool is made of robust steel, and it can shape nonferrous metals with minimal effort.
The central block also allows you to extend the swing distance by up to two inches.
Pros
- Durable construction
- Supports central block
- Powerful motor for benchtop lathe
- Works with nonferrous metals and wood
Cons
- Could come with variable speed system
The 12000-RPM is far too fast for most metals, but you definitely won’t have any trouble when swapping out metal stock for wood.
Grizzly G8688
Key Specifications
- 0-1100 RPM
- 7-inch Swing Over Bed
- 12-inch Centers Distance
- Threading Dial Indicator
The Grizzly G8688 is another fantastic metalworking mini-lathe that’s powered by a 560W motor at just 110V.
Because of its tiny size, this metal lathe works best in the hands of DIYers and hobbyists.
It offers a 7-inch swing and a 12-inch distance between the centers for working with smaller metal stock.
To make things more convenient, you get the entire package with this compact metal lathe, including an MT#2 dead center and 6.25-inch face plate.
The thread dial indicator will be necessary to produce screws with between 12 and 52 TPI.
Pros
- Compact, sturdy design
- Great for turning metal
- Forward and backward operation
- Variable speed for extra versatility
Cons
- Plastic parts could be more durable
With the Grizzly G8688, you’re getting the entire package to help beginners start turning metal stock as soon as they receive the metal lathe.
Erie Tools Precision Bench Top
Key Specifications
- 50-2500 RPM
- 7-inch Swing Over Bed
- 14-inch Centers Distance
- Digital RPM Readout
The Erie Tools 7 x 4 Precision Bench Top Mini Metal Milling Lathe may be tricky to call by name, but using the tool is as simple as could be.
With a 0.53-HP motor, this unit has no trouble turning 7-inch-diameter stock at speeds of up to 2,500 RPM, ensuring vibration-free turning and even shaping throughout.
The tailstock can be adjusted to accommodate stock of between 8 and 14 inches at will.
Like the previous model, this Erie Tools lathe can operate both forward and backward.
It comes with a variable speed system and a digital RPM readout that always keeps you in the loop of how fast the headstock is spinning.
All of the metal lathe’s components that you need comes in the box, so first-time users shouldn’t have a problem setting up this compact machine.
Pros
- Helpful speed readout
- Works with metal and wood
- Complete accessories package
- Motor adjusts for forward and backward operation
Cons
- Could be less noisy
Despite the loud noises coming from the 0.53-HP motor, you’ll find a ton of enjoyment and usefulness from this inexpensive yet highly versatile metal lathe.
BestEquip Metal Lathe 8x16 Inch
Key Specifications
- 50-2250 RPM
- 8-inch Swing Over Bed
- 16-inch Centers Distance
- Brushless Motor
The BestEquip Metal Lathe 8×16 Inch is much like the best overall metal lathe on our list. However, it’s slightly larger by providing an 8-inch swing and 16-inch distance between the two centers.
The 750W motor can deliver anywhere between 50 and 2250 RPM based on how you adjust the drive belts.
There are two speed options available, where the lower gear is designed for turning and shaping metal while the higher gear is ideal for wood and plastic.
What sets this BestEquip lathe apart is its brushless motor.
This motor dissipates heat much more efficiently than its brushed counterparts, ensuring less wear and tear with more frequent use.
Another major benefit of this metal lathe is that you don’t need external tools to set up the speeds or adjust the tailstock.
Pros
- Tool-free adjustments
- 2-speed brushless motor
- Great for metal and wood
- Worthy choice for both novices and pros
Cons
- Could be easier to assemble
The instruction manual won’t be of much help when setting up this BestEquip metal lathe, but after it’s up and running, you’ll find both joy and value from using this brushless machine.
Grizzly Industrial G0768
Key Specifications
- 50-2000 RPM
- 8.25-inch Swing Over Bed
- 15.75-inch Centers Distance
- Quick-Lock Tailstock
Grizzly Industrial is one of the most reputable lathe manufacturers today, and the G0768 is solid proof of this.
This compact lathe sports a ¾-HP motor with variable speeds of between 50 and 2000 RPM.
The sizable 8.25-inch swing with 15.75 inches of space between the headstock and tailstock will let you turn metal for all sorts of applications.
You can adjust the drive belt to two positions—the lower gear for metal and the higher gear for plastic and wooden stock.
The G0768 comes with 4-inch 3- and 4-jaw chucks, letting you turn cylindrical and cubic workpieces.
The tailstock locks in place in a snap, so you don’t need to fumble around with keys, wrenches, or other external tools to get the perfect distance between the centers.
Pros
- 2-gear variable speeds
- Long-lasting construction
- Supports left and right-handed users
- Incredibly stable, even at high speeds
Cons
- Could come with imperial threads as well
Make sure you keep a calculator on hand to convert metric to imperial. Other than that, the G0768 is a universal mini-lathe that will help with any job, including woodworking.
Grizzly G4003G
Key Specifications
- 0-1400RPM
- 12-inch Swing Over Bed
- 36-inch Centers Distance
- Removable Gap Bed
If you’re into gunsmithing, then the Grizzly G4003G is the finest metal lathe you can get.
This is a professional-grade lathe that comes with works amazingly well at turning metal.
Despite its tiny footprint, it performs better than most metal lathes you can find on the market. The cast-iron stand is a neat feature that will keep the machine stable during high-speed turning.
The G4003G’s brightest feature is its removable gab ped. This system allows you to extend the bed by up to 17 feet, turning this compact machine into an industrial beast.
We doubt most homeowners will ever need that much distance between the tailstock and headstock, but it’s nice knowing that the machine can fit workpieces just longer than the length of an average sedan.
To see the Grizzly G4003G in action, take a look at this brief video.
Pros
- Extendable bed
- Compact yet powerful
- Heavy-duty cast-iron build
- Great for hobbyists and pros alike
Cons
- Could come with an oil drain valve
Even with the drain valve for the motor, the G4003G is a thing of beauty that would make any homeowner or pro metalworker proud to own.
Best Metal Lathe Buying Guide
This guide will help you determine which metal lathe deserves a spot on your garage floor or on top of your workbench.
Physical Size
Although most metal lathes are compact in size, you might come across behemoths like the Jet BDB-1340A.
While a good industrial lathe, the sheer size of this machine makes it not only inappropriate for workshop garages but also incredibly costly, both to purchase and operate.
Find a model that can actually fit through the door of your workshop.
Spindle Speed
We need to determine whether a lathe can be used to turn and shape metal or not. You can generally know this by looking at the machine’s spindle speed.
Most metals require less than 100 RPM to cut and thread, meaning that you’ll need to bring it down to first gear.
Others like aluminum can work at higher speeds, though you might risk removing too much material if you go beyond the 300-RPM mark.
Higher speeds over 1,500 RPM are ideal for woodworking projects.
Swing Over Bed
This refers to the maximum diameter that the lathe can accommodate.
A wider swing means you can place thicker stock in between the centers without it bumping against the bed while it spins.
For most metal projects, even a 5-inch SOB rating will do.
Centers Distance
The centers on a lathe refer to the headstock and tailstock or the components that hold your workpiece in place.
Once again, you need to figure out the ideal distance based on your metal-turning history, but generally speaking, a greater distance between the centers is better.
You can always adjust the tailstock to the size of your workpiece.
Chuck
There are two kinds of chucks to choose from: 3-jaw and 4-jaw chucks. 3-jaw chucks are ideal for gripping cylindrical objects and keeping them stable, whereas 4-jaw chucks work best at spinning blocky stock.
Ideally, you’ll want both, but you could make do with one or the other based on what you’re doing in your workshop.
FAQ’s
Based on our research and comparisons, we found the BestEquip Metal Lathe 7″ x 14″ to be the overall best metal lathe available on the market. However, we understand that your metalworking projects may require a longer bed, or you might not want to spend too much on your first metal lathe. That’s why we’ve provided other options for you to go through. Please check out our reviews of the top metal lathes above.
There are two key differences between metal lathes and wood lathes. First, the spindle speed. Metal lathes can operate at lower max speeds, whereas wood lathes can reach 1,500 RPM and beyond. Second, the toolstock or toolrest. Metal lathes come with toolstocks that let you guide the cutting tool along the edge of the metal workpiece for high-precision threading. While turning and shaping wood, you’ll use a toolrest and guide the chisel by hand.
Ultimately, your purchase decision should be driven by your budget and how much space you can allocate to your metal lathe. Benchtop metal lathes are ideal for hobbyists and amateurs just getting into the metal-turning game. They don’t take a lot of space, but they can offer a tremendous amount of power and turning speed. If an industrial-grade metal lathe will meet your needs, look for a full-sized model. Both options are available on our list above.
Sadly, this is something we as consumers have to deal with. However, the high investment cost is worth it in the long run, especially since these machines use cast iron and stainless steel as their main components. With this in mind, you shouldn’t have much trouble getting more than five years of use out of a single metal lathe.
Summary
In our guide on the best metal lathe, we told you about how the BestEquip Metal Lathe 7″ x 14″ is the best option to take home with you out of eight models on our list.
However, we’ve also included a more premium metal lathe and a budget-conscious option for you to look at.
If you’re uncertain which metal lathe belongs in your workshop, give us a holler in the comments section.
