The WEN LA3421 3.2-Amp 8-Inch by 13-Inch Variable Speed Mini Benchtop Wood Lathe is a compact tool. It’s designed for small woodworking projects. It’s useful for turning pens, bowls, and other small items. The variable speed control is a good feature. It lets you adjust the speed to match the wood you’re working with. The size makes it ideal for those with limited workshop space. It’s not a heavy-duty lathe. It’s more suited for hobbyists and beginners. The belt drive system allows for smooth speed changes. The overall scale of the machine is appropriate for delicate work. Considering its category, it’s a decent option for basic wood turning. However, it’s important to keep time limitations in mind due to its smaller size.
Adding the WEN LA136K 1/2-Inch Keyed Drill Chuck with MT1 Arbor Taper expands the lathe’s functionality. This chuck allows you to use drill bits on the lathe. It’s a handy addition for drilling holes in your wood projects. The MT1 arbor taper ensures a secure fit. This is important for accurate drilling. The keyed design means you’ll need a key to tighten or loosen the drill bit. This is a standard setup for many drill chucks. It’s a simple and effective way to adapt the WEN LA3421 Mini Lathe & LA136K Chuck for more varied tasks. You wouldn’t use this for heavy drilling like you might see in industrial pipes or on construction walkways. This addition is for precise, small-scale drilling related to the wood turning projects.
In terms of overall value, the WEN LA3421 Mini Lathe & LA136K Chuck combination is reasonable. It offers a good starting point for learning wood turning and basic drilling. It’s not going to replace a full-size lathe. However, for its intended purpose, it performs well. You will not be using it for jobs like installing insulation or hangers. The machine is not designed for those tasks. During the winters, this machine can be used indoors, in a garage, for example. The WEN LA3421 Mini Lathe & LA136K Chuck is not something you’d see on a TV show about professional woodworking. It’s more for personal projects.
FEATURES:
– Variable speed control
– 8-inch swing capacity
– 13-inch distance between centers
– 3.2-amp motor
– Benchtop design
– Cast iron construction
– MT1 spindle taper
– Tailstock included
The WEN LA3421 is a small wood lathe for doing projects on a tabletop. It spins wood so you can shape it with tools. It can handle wood up to 8 inches wide and 13 inches long. It has a motor that lets you change the speed. It’s made of strong metal. The WEN LA136K is a tool you can add to the lathe, a drill chuck, that lets you use drill bits with it.
– Good starter lathe
– Nice entry level lathe
– Excellent bargain
– Perfect for beginners
– Good first lathe
– Great for turning pens
– Variable speed
– Easy speed adjust
– Inexpensive
– Solid build
– Versatile
– Good for small projects
– Headstock bearings can fail.
– Motor is underpowered.
– Belt replacement is difficult.
– Struggles with large diameters.
– Lathe slows/stops with too much wood.
– Catches can be really big.
– Tool kickback risk.
– Not meant to last forever.
– Pins can fall out of handle.
– Tool rests are rough
The WEN LA3421 is a small, affordable wood lathe good for beginners and small projects like making pens. It has adjustable speed and a solid build, but it’s not perfect. The motor isn’t very strong, so it struggles with large pieces of wood, and the headstock bearings might break over time. Changing the belt can be tricky, and there’s a risk of tool kickback. Some parts, like the tool rests, aren’t very smooth, and small pins can fall out. Overall, it’s a decent starter lathe, but it’s not designed for heavy, long-term use. Read more…
WEN Mini Lathe Chuck and Key
This image shows a WEN 1/2-inch keyed drill chuck with an MT1 arbor taper. It’s designed for use with a mini lathe, like the WEN LA3421. The chuck holds drill bits or other tools. It comes with a key to tighten and loosen the chuck. The chuck is made of metal and has a silver and black finish.
Compact Wood Lathe for Small Projects
This is a picture of a small wood lathe. It’s a machine used to shape wood. It has a motor and a spinning part that holds the wood. You can use tools to carve and shape the wood as it spins. The lathe is made by WEN, a company that makes tools. It’s good for making small things like pens or bowls. It’s designed to sit on a workbench.
Close-up of a Mini Wood Lathe
This image shows a close-up view of a WEN mini wood lathe. It highlights the tailstock, which holds the wood in place. You can also see the tool rest, where you position your cutting tools. The lathe is small and designed for benchtop use. The orange levers and the speckled gray finish are clearly visible.
Close-up of a tool rest being adjusted on a mini lathe.
The image shows a close-up of a person’s hands adjusting the tool rest of a WEN mini lathe. The tool rest is an orange metal piece with a screw. It holds the cutting tools used to shape wood or other materials on the lathe. The person is holding a black metal tool in their hand, likely a chisel or gouge, which will be placed on the tool rest for support during the turning process. The lathe itself is partially visible in the background, showing its metal construction and a portion of the bed where the workpiece would be mounted.
WEN Mini Lathe and Chuck Set
This image shows a small wood lathe and a chuck set. The lathe is used to shape wood. It has a motor and a place to hold the wood. The chuck is a tool that holds the wood in place. It has jaws that tighten around the wood. The set includes a T-handle for tightening the chuck.
Drill Chuck with Arbor
This is a close-up picture of a drill chuck. It has a toothed ring around it. The chuck is used to hold drill bits in a lathe. A lathe is a machine that spins wood or metal. The chuck helps the lathe hold the drill bit steady. The metal rod sticking out the back is called an arbor. It helps connect the chuck to the lathe.
Close-up of a WEN Drill Chuck
This is a close-up picture of a WEN drill chuck. The drill chuck is a tool that holds drill bits. It’s used with drilling machines. The chuck has a key to tighten or loosen the drill bit. It’s silver and black in color. The numbers ‘1-13MM’ and ‘JT6’ are printed on it, showing the size range and type.
Google Search Results for WEN Mini Lathe
The image shows a Google search result page. It displays various online shopping options for a ‘WEN LA3421 Mini Lathe’. Several different models and brands are shown, including ‘VOLTZ’ and ‘VEVOR’. Prices and shipping details are also visible. The search suggests that the product is a woodworking lathe designed for benchtop use.
Google Search Results for WEN LA3421 Mini Lathe & LA136K Chuck
The image shows a Google search results page for the WEN LA3421 Mini Lathe. It also shows results for the LA136K Chuck. The results include product listings from Amazon and Lowe’s. There are also YouTube videos reviewing the lathe. The image shows different views of the lathe and chuck. It also shows them being used in projects.
Google Search Results for WEN LA3421 Mini Lathe
This image shows a Google search results page for the WEN LA3421 Mini Lathe, including the LA136K Chuck. It displays the product’s price, features, and links to purchase it from various retailers like Amazon and Home Depot. The search also includes discussions and forums about the lathe from websites like Reddit.
Google Shopping Results for WEN Lathe
This image shows a Google Shopping search for a WEN lathe. The top of the page shows the product name, “WEN LA3421 Mini Lathe”. There are several similar lathes shown as results. Each result shows a picture of the lathe, the price, store information, and star ratings. There are filters on the left side to help narrow down the search. Some of the lathes are on sale. The results show different brands and sizes of lathes.
Google Shopping Results for WEN LA3421 Mini Lathe
The image shows search results from Google Shopping for a mini lathe. Several different brands and models are displayed, along with their prices and ratings. The results can be filtered by price, store, and other criteria. It’s like a list of different places you can buy a mini lathe online.
YouTube Search Results for WEN LA3421 Mini Lathe
The image shows a YouTube search results page for the “WEN LA3421 Mini Lathe.” Several videos related to the lathe are displayed, including reviews, overviews, and unboxing videos. The videos highlight the features of the lathe, such as its variable speed settings and turning capacity. The WEN LA3421 is described as a budget-friendly option for beginners.
