Best Lee Valley Rikon 14″ × 20″ Midi Lathe (70-1420VSR)

Specializing in high-quality woodworking machinery, Rikon has gained a reputation for producing sturdy, reliable benchtop lathes.

The 70-1420VSR midi lathe has substantial iron castings, giving it the mass needed to help dampen vibration, with carefully machined components for precise operation. All parts are made of metal, right down to its gyratory wrench and locking levers.

Compared to many other benchtop lathes, this lathe has greater stock-holding capacity both in swing and distance between centers, allowing you to turn larger bowls and longer spindles.

It is suited to heavier work, with a 14″ swing and a maximum distance between centers of 20″.The lathe weighs 137 lb and has a 1 1/2-horsepower motor, with a non-slip poly V-belt that efficiently transmits power and a motor controller that automatically increases torque to maintain the speed as load is applied.

Its digital controller makes adjusting spindle speed quick and convenient – just select a range (150 to 650 rpm, 400 to 1550 rpm or 850 to 3850 rpm) by moving the drive belt between pulleys, then turn a knob to dial in a precise speed within that range.

A digital display makes it easy to see the speed you’ve set. The controller also has a magnetic backing that allows it to be positioned wherever you feel it is most comfortable to quickly access the controls.

There’s no need to stop the lathe once you’ve begun working, so you can go from roughing out a piece straight through to finish-turning and sanding without interruption. You can also reverse rotation at the flick of a switch, allowing you to sand down lifted fibers for a finer surface finish.

Fitted with a graduated indexing head for locking the spindle at 15° increments.

It comes with a four-spur drive center, knock-out bars, a self-ejecting live center, two spindle-locking wrenches, a 3 3/8″ face plate and a rear-mounted holder that keeps the accessories within easy reach.

It has an extra-long 8″ rounded tool rest that allows smooth movement, reduces the need for frequent repositioning, and mounts on a non-slip banjo. It uses a 1 1/4″ × 8 tpi spindle and a #2 MT headstock and tailstock for compatibility with a wide range of standard accessories.

Other sizes of tool rest, along with a 6″ faceplate for heavy, large-diameter blanks, and a 13 1/2″ bed extension are offered separately.

Backed by a 5-year manufacturer’s warranty.