A lathe is an industrial machine tool used chiefly for turning, boring, and drilling woods or metals on a spinning workpiece while it is rotated by the operator. Wood lathe and metal lathe are different in shape and construction.
Wood lathes are more portable, easier to set up, lighter weight machines used for creating objects from wood while metal lathes are larger machines that make it possible to work on larger projects such as engine blocks or automobile parts.
This blog post will discuss some of these differences in more detail!
Wood Vs. Metal Lathe: What’s the Difference?
Wood Lathe
The lathe which is designed specifically for woodworking is called a wood lathe. A wood lathe is a tool typically consisting of an upright post with a horizontal cross-bar rotated by an electric motor.
The operator sits on the ground or in some high-topped chair and controls the cutting tool (a chisel, gouge, or parting tool) at one end while steadying it against a shoulder stop to keep it from traveling too deeply into the wood.
Wood Lathes are made in many different sizes and shapes, from benchtop models to heavy-duty floor standing machinery but they all have the same core design.
They are generally made of metal or cast iron with an exterior finish of zinc to prevent rusting; however, some companies offer them finished in a variety of colors.
The headstock end has an adjustable chuck that holds the log in place so it can be rotated against fixed cutting tools called blades. The tailstock end has an adjustable, movable rest that can be used as a support for longer workpieces.
They can be used with a variety of chisels, gouges, or parting tools that shape the wood according to the operator’s wishes.
Wood Lathes are typically not suited for larger projects such as engine blocks or automobile parts because they are not designed for industrial use.
Metal Lathe:
The lathe which is designed specifically for metalworking is called a metal lathe. Metal Lathes are much more versatile and can be used on many types of projects, such as engine blocks or automobile parts.
Most metal lathes have variable speeds which allow the operator greater control over how fast the work is turning.
Metal Lathes are used primarily, but not exclusively, for turning iron and steel into bar stock or other shapes such as spindles and rods. They also can be used to turn wood or other materials into shapes for use with metalworking.
Metal lathes are usually made of cast iron, either plain or in a variety of finishes that include black oxide and zinc plating to prevent rusting.
In addition to the traditional designs, there are CNC machines that can be designed as custom parts production machines; these have increased safety features for the operator and allow for increased production rates.
Metal lathes are typically not suited for smaller projects such as bowls or other items that require intricate work because they are designed more for industrial use than woodworking.
It is essential to know that wood lathes are usually used in shaping and finishing wood items such as pens, bowls, spoons, and chair legs.
This type of lathe has a headstock fitted to an automatic or manual chuck which allows users to change out different bits as needed during their project.
Meanwhile, metal lathes are usually found at places that do metal turning. It is very important to know that metal lathes are fitted with a headstock and bed.
The former is usually attached to an automatic or manual chuck which allows users to change out different bits as needed during their project while the latter has other attachments for shaping various materials such as brass, copper, and steel.
Both types of lathes have their respective uses. If you want a project like furniture or table legs, then a wood lathe will be the best option for you because it has more options in terms of turning styles and can handle delicate materials such as woods while metal lathes are good if your job involves things like shaping metal pipes, rods, and other materials.
How to use a Lathe:
The wood lathe can operate manually or with an electric motor. Benchtop lathes are the easiest to use because they can be used in any space where there is enough room for you to work, even if it’s just a corner of your workshop or garage.
Benchtop lathes are the most versatile and can be used to turn objects in a variety of shapes, while floor models tend to require more floor space and usually come equipped with banjo-type chucks that allow users to turn larger pieces of wood.
Benchtops also have less maintenance than floor models because they don’t use belts or drive gears for power.
On the other hand, a metal lathe is programmed by a computer to cut the model out of metal.
The operator just needs to set parameters like material thickness, feed speed, and stroke in order to make accurate cuts without having a lot of experience with other types of machinery or computer programming skills.
Types of Lathes:
There are three common types of wood lathes and the type you choose will depend on your needs. A standard benchtop lathe is perfect if you only need to turn items up to about 16 inches in diameter.
A floor model is a popular choice for turning larger items, but it can be difficult to move and takes up more space than the benchtop lathe.
An industrial machine is specifically designed to work with large pieces of wood that are too heavy for a benchtop or floor model and they have cast iron tables instead of tops made from wood.
Elsewhere, the two most common types of metal lathes are the milling machine and the turning centers. A milling machine uses rotary cutting tools like drills or end mills, while a turning center has a rotating spindle with chisels instead of cutters.
Lathe Accessories:
A variety of metal lathe accessories are available to suit specific needs. For instance, tool rest and tailstock allow for more accurate turning while cutting tools provide the ability to cut intricate designs into metal pieces.
The headstock can be fitted with either an automatic or manual chuck which allows users to change out different bits as needed during their project.
Besides, wood lathes are typically standalone machines. They may come with some accessories, but not nearly as many as metal lathes which can be expensive to purchase separately.
The most common accessory that woodturners use is the wood lathe chuck and live center. The live center provides stability for long pieces of turning stock while they’re being cut through by the cutting tool.
A faceplate is also used but primarily for projects with threaded holes.
Wood lathes are typically designed to handle shorter pieces of wood, so they don’t really need a tailstock or tool rest like their metal counterparts do.
However, many turners will use makeshift rests and supports when necessary in order to complete the project.
FAQ:
1. What Is the Difference between CNC and Conventional Lathe?
The main difference between conventional lathes and CNC lathes is that a conventional lathe has to be manually programmed, while the computerized cutting heads on a CNC machine are programmed by an engineer.
This means that experienced machinists can program their own work at home without needing expensive equipment or access to specialized software.
2. Why lathes are so expensive?
The main things that make lathes expensive are they require skilled machinists to operate and create them, the cost of the equipment itself, high-quality materials for parts such as bearings, and shipping costs.
More Woodturning Tips & Guides:
- Do you want to know the types of turning with a wood and metal lathe?
- Essential Pen turning Tools Explanation
Conclusion
It’s difficult to say definitively which type of Lathe is better between Wood and Metal, but what we can say with certainty is that each one has its own strengths.
Wood Lathes are much more suited to smaller projects and woodworking in general, whereas Metal Lathes are better for industrial use or larger scale design work. Both will be able to create beautiful products depending on what type of project you’re working on.
