Thread: Carba-Tec Mini Lathe for pen turning

Hey Waxman. I, and lots of other pen turners on this site use the Wood the Fast Midi Lathe. I love mine. Pay a bit more and get a way better lathe. The JET Midi Lathe is also great, but a bit more expencive again. Go WoodFast ! !
Woodfast Mini Lathe : CARBA-TEC

Hey Waxman

I agree with Parris on the woodfast lathe its an awesome little machine the best thing I every got I reacon GO THE WOODFAST

Ian

I have a jet midi and love it BUT I got it before the price crept up. Back then it was a little more than the woodfast and more versatile. If I were buying now, I'd go the woodfast because frankly I can't afford current jet pricing.

I bought the Carba-tec mini lathe from the Perth wood show a couple of years ago specifically for pen turning but I've also done a bit of spindle work and a couple of bowls. The only issue I have with the machine is that the tailstock and headstock centres don't line up perfectly which makes using a drill chuck in the tailstock a bit pointless, but a bit of shimming under the tailstock has sorted it out. The toolrest was a bit rough and needed smoothing and it doesn't like sharp edges on chisel shanks as it is a bit on the soft side.

When mine arrived it was painted bright yellow and came with a set of instructions for an "Axminster" branded lathe (Axminster are a Pommy company, CT sometimes sell their stuff as well). A bit of research on the Axminster website showed me that I could order the Axminster branded version; including shipping it would still be cheaper and it would come with a bed extension.

Hey Waxman, I have a Carb-a-tec mini lathe, it is now 23 years old and has none of the problems I have heard of the newer ones. The new Carb-a-tecs have No.2 morse tapers now whereas mine has No.1's. The Jet is very quiet and have had a play with one and was impressed. Woodfast midi is a great lathe too. If money was no object, them the Vicmarc mini lathe would be the choice of lathes for me.

Cheers
Darren

As others have said, the Woodfast M305 is excellent (I have one), the Vicmarc maybe even better. Both will do much more than pen turning, platters and bowls are no problem.

What are you downsizing from? I would think coming from a good big lathe to a good small one could be quite disappointing.

Do you have any chucks, faceplates, live centres etc. If so, your choice may well depend on the old accessories fitting the new lathe.

Woodfast and only woodfast. Best little lathe around. Got one and have turned pens, bowls, spindle work. No hassles with belt change either. That is the word acording to Cookie.

Woodfast!!!!!!!
I have 1 Carba- Tec and 1 woodfast
And the woodfast eats the Carba-Tec one for lunch

Woodfast is the ducks nuts you will be happy with it

Think yellow

Originally Posted by cookie48

Woodfast and only woodfast. Best little lathe around. Got one and have turned pens, bowls, spindle work. No hassles with belt change either. That is the word acording to Cookie.

Oh well Cookie I will agree that we will disagree Vicmarc is the premium wood lathe but it is just MHO

Originally Posted by bdar

Oh well Cookie I will agree that we will disagree Vicmarc is the premium wood lathe but it is just MHO

I think the Woodfast is probably not as good as the Vicmarc, but at 1/3 the price it is much better value for money. Hmmm.

Originally Posted by bdar

Oh well Cookie I will agree that we will disagree Vicmarc is the premium wood lathe but it is just MHO

Yes you're Right, But for 3 times the price of of a Woodfast. HeHe

Cheers Tony.

I paid $340 for my Jet Mini Lathe four and a half years ago and Jenevene is the dream machine. She is smooth as and hums along like a quiet little bee. I went to QTurn in 2007 and there were 10 Jet lathes there, a couple of midis but mostly minis.

I learnt to turn pens on a small Vicmarc but much prefer my little beauty. I know someone who was lucky enough to pick up a secondhand Jet midi and he is absolutely rapt with it. Another club member has a variable speed Jet Mini and he reckons they are better than Vicmarcs, I agree with him....they truly are that good.....
Marg.

Hey Waxman,

You'd be mad to go past a Woodfast, top little jigger, best $350 I ever spent
We have a Jet Mini at the local Woodturners Group and it doesn't come close to the woodfast for adjustments and belt changes.


HazzaB

Originally Posted by HazzaB

Hey Waxman,

You'd be mad to go past a Woodfast, top little jigger, best $350 I ever spent
We have a Jet Mini at the local Woodturners Group and it doesn't come close to the woodfast for adjustments and belt changes.


HazzaB

Hey Harry,

Did you ever get those bits of Queensland walnut I sent you some many months ago?

Did you do anything with them?

and why haven't you posted photos of all the turning tools that you blunted trying to get something interesting out of them?

emwtk