Top-Rated Metal Lathes Compared (September 2026)

Last updated: 15. September 2026
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1
Best Choice
Editor’s Choice
A+ Excellent
Generic

  • Variable speed control from 50 to 2500 RPM with forward and reverse operation in all speeds for versatile machining tasks.
  • Operate manually or with an adjustable auto feed rate for precise control, featuring an emergency stop button for safety.
  • Includes a 4-jaw self-centering chuck (80mm diameter) and a quick change tool post for internal, face, and bevel cutting.
  • Constructed with high-grade iron bed, nylon gears, and precision tapered roller bearings for durability and spindle accuracy within 0.01mm.
  • Driven by a DC motor, ideal for mini precision parts processing, sample work, and modeling, with a full-length splashguard for protection.
Colour Manufacturer Weight
- Generic -
£1,67099
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2
Best Overall Value
Best Value
A Very Good
CROWNSHOP
Save £3.30 Today!
£25.89 (13% OFF!)

  • [DIY Tool] Designed for the home DIY enthusiasts, small and portable, strong power, not suitable for mass production or 2.2.High-precision, stability, low noise, aluminum alloy materials, CNC machining.
  • [Widely Use] Perfect electric drill for cutting, engraving, milling, grinding, polishing, cleaning and drilling. Suitable for engraving and grinding of wood, stone, peach kernel, eggs, handicrafts, glass, ceramics and other materials.
  • [Bearing Motor】Variable speed, large torque ball bearing motor.
  • [Parameter] Voltage: DC12-24V, power: 96W, maximum processing length: 120mm, maximum processing width: 30mm, maximum processing thickness: 30mm, machine weight: 2kg, chuck clamping range: 0.6-6.5mm, speed: 4000- 8000 rpm seven-speed control power, theoretical maximum clamping length: 180mm, theoretical maximum turning diameter: 70mm
  • [Woodworking DIY Tools]The polishing drilling machine is specially designed for family DIY enthusiasts and hobbies. It is compact and portable, with powerful functions. Metal saw blade slot, humanized design, high efficiency. Not suitable for mass production or commercial use.
Colour Manufacturer Weight
Silver White CROWNSHOP -
£2259
Was: £25.89 -13%
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3
A Very Good
Draper

  • Fitted with metric graduated scales
  • A mounted NVR switch and cutting guards
  • Supplied with a self-centring three-jaw chuck
  • Designed for small industrial units
  • Powered cutting facility for right and left hand threads
Colour Manufacturer Weight
Blue Draper 42 kg
£99499
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4
B+ Very Good
CREWORKS

  • 【POWER METAL LATHE】This Creworks metal lathe measures 110cm by 43cm and cranks out 1.5 hp (1100W) to perfectly handle your metal and wood working projects; it provides a 22 cm swing over bed and 60 cm distance between its centers with a 3.8 cm spindle bore
  • 【PRECISE ENGINEERING】Ideal for home DIYers and professionals alike, this metal lathe's high-precision 12.5 cm 3-jaw chuck handles both square and round objects with equal aplomb; its granular precision is especially useful for jobs requiring high accuracy such as threading
  • 【COMPLETE CONTROL】The lathe's rotational speed can be set up to 3000 rpm and monitored through the digital display; the well-crafted head and tailstocks, large through-hole, and 4-way tool post also contribute to providing greater control of your work
  • 【ULTRA-STURDY & SAFE】The all metal construction assures you of a long service life; the transparent chuck guard protects you from swarf or broken tools while also permitting visibility into the point of operation
  • 【WIDE APPLICATION】This mini lathe is ideal for many processing tasks needing extreme precision, including turning, drilling, threading, and cutting; order today and enjoy its superior quality and great versatility for years to come
Colour Manufacturer Weight
- CREWORKS 75 kg
£95999
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5
B+ Very Good
ZHRUI

  • 【4-Axis Machining + Quick Indexer】Features X, Z, Z1, and A axes. A-axis rotates -90° to +90° with 2.5° indexing accuracy. Comes with a metal quick indexer (electroplated) that positions within 10 seconds with digital display – perfect for multi-face and angle-feed machining without realigning the workpiece.
  • 【Crash Guard + Multiple Safety Features】Unique tool-chuck crash guard prevents accidental collisions. Includes sliding range limiters to avoid over-travel damage. Power adapter has over-current, over-voltage, and over-temperature protection. 12V low voltage makes it safe for schools, home workshops, and beginners.
  • 【All-Metal Build – No Plastic Parts】Headstock, motor housing, handwheels, gears, chucks, tool clamp, and belt cover are all metal. European-standard dovetail T-slot structure with anti-loosening nuts prevents vibration gaps. Round-edge treatment protects hands from sharp edges. Built to last.
  • 【0.02mm Precision Handwheels + Anti-Slip Design】X, Z, and tailstock handwheels feature electroplated刻度 marks (molded, not stickers) with 0.02mm accuracy. Anti-loosening nuts on sliders prevent play from vibration. Square nut inside connecting block stops screws from slipping – improves machining consistency.
  • 【Compact Size + Wide Material Compatibility】Machines wood, soft metals (gold, silver, aluminum, copper), acrylic, plastic. Standard 50mm 3-jaw chuck (optional 60mm 4-jaw for square/hex stock). 150mm bed length, 150mm max turning diameter (with riser block). Ultra-quiet built-in fan motor. Size: 330×130×200mm – fits on any workbench.
Colour Manufacturer Weight
- ZHRUI 5 kg
£17900
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6
B Good
Donken Direct

  • Lathe Turning Tools Kit: 7pcs 5/8" 16mm Shank Boring Bar Holder +14pcs Carbide Insert Lathe Turning Tools + 6pcs T15 wrenches, 1x L3 wrench
  • Material: 41Cr4
  • Application: Profiling bar for semi-finishing and finishing operations, boring tool used for machining steel, great for light turning. Suit for turning inner holes, reaming, boring, etc.
  • Including Model: SDNCN1616H11, SDJCR1616H11, SCLCR1616H09, S16Q-SCLCR09, SER1616H16, SNR0016Q16, MGEHR1616-3
  • Package Included: 7x turning holders + 14x carbide insert lathe tools + 7x wrenches (Extra box of blades for easy replacement)
Colour Manufacturer Weight
Black Donken 1.75 kg
£4299
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7
B Good
ZHRUI

  • Hi-power motor is adopted with all drive axes, maximum speed up to 20,000 rpm;Input voltage/Current /Power: 12V/3A /36W;Input Voltage of Switch Power Supply: 110V-240V
  • The largest diameter of processed material: 50mm (Positive Jaw Gripping Range: 3mm-30mm,Opposite Jaw Gripping Range: 3mm-50mm;Kind Notice: manual measurement, there will be 2-3mm error.)
  • The length of processed material: 150mm;The chuck and collets is 1 to 6mm;X-axis slider travels:150mm;Machine size:310mm*100mm*150mm;Bottom plate size: 315mm*200mm*17mm
  • The processed materials can be clamped by three-jaw chuck / collets, its maximum diameter is 50mm, center height-25mm, center distance- 150 mm
  • The motor case and headstock of all-metal machine tools is jointed completely. Main parts configure with metal structure and no plastic components in the whole machine body, such as motor box, headstock, hand wheels, slider, 3-jaw chunk/4-jaw chunk, turning tools clamping jaw, machine bed, gear, side cover, working table, connection piece, tailstock, countershaft, drive belt cover etc.
  • Fan built-in motor is featured with ultra-quiet & high rotary speed. That's special customized option for motor cooling & effective work.The most parts of machine tools are dealt with two surface treatment methods of electroplating and ink-jet anodized to make appearance more cleaning & glorious, lasting rust-proof.
  • Machine bed is made of Europe standard T-type aluminum material, moving more precisely &smoothly.3C quality assured transformers have the function of over-current, over-voltage and over-heat protection.To improve the stability and service life, the connection block be fixed by square nuts, which avoid screw loosing after long time vibration.
  • The connection block adopts dovetail structure, which matches with each slot of the machine tools parts to enhance its performance and accuracy.Versatile application: The turning tools of mini metal lathe are made of steel material, which can be perfectly used to process the soft metal (gold, silver, copper & aluminum), acrylic and engineering plastics etc.
  • By adding some loose-preventing nuts on the side of small& big slider, not only avoid the gap after excessive vibration, but also improve the processing accuracy.The chuck is fixed by a hexagon nut to increase the tightness of the clamping tools (such as drill bits, cutters, wood-turning lathe driver).
  • The whole hand wheel is made of super alloy material, which be assembled in X, Z axis and tailstock. Featuring with 0.02mm scale line, the hand wheel increases the precision when processing. (The scale lines are molded at one time, aren't sticky label)3/4 semi-circular structure designed hand wheel, that's quite convenient for dismantling connection blocks.
Colour Manufacturer Weight
- ZHRUI -
£14900
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8
B Good
ZHRUI

  • 🎁 Complete Ready-to-Use Kit with 5 Carbide Tipped Cutters Includes 5 pieces of 4x4mm alloy turning/boring tools (high hardness, wear-resistant). No need to buy cutters separately – start machining immediately after unboxing. Perfect for beginners and pros alike.
  • 🔇 20000 RPM Ultra-Quiet Motor & Triple Protection Library-quiet operation (~55dB) with a high-torque motor. Built-in over-current, over-voltage, and over-temperature protection ensures safe use at home, school, or workshop.
  • 🏗️ 100% All-Metal Construction – Zero Plastic Dovetail bed + square-nut sliding system for zero shake. Industrial rigidity delivers professional results on metal, wood, acrylic, and plastics.
  • 📏 0.02mm Precision Scale & ±0.01mm Repeatability Max turning diameter 50mm, length 150mm. Permanently etched handwheel scales allow micron-level control – ideal for model parts, pens, rings, and small components.
  • 🗄️ One-Box Solution – Everything You Need Includes: all-metal mini lathe, 5x 4x4mm carbide tipped cutters (boring/turning set), universal power adapter (110V–240V), base plate, and manual. Just open, clamp, and create.
Colour Manufacturer Weight
- ZHRUI -
£16500
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9
C+ Good
CREWORKS
Save £40.00 Today!
£799.99 (5% OFF!)

  • 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢 𝐘𝐞𝐭 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥: Measuring only 80 x 29.2 cm, this mini metal lathe by Creworks packs a punch with its 750W motor, making it ideal for tackling small to medium metalworking projects. It provides a 210 mm swing over bed and 400 mm distance between its centers with a 38 mm spindle bore
  • 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥: Our mini metalworking machine's rotational speed can be set from 0 to 2500 rpm and monitored through the real-time digital display. The well-crafted head and tailstocks, large through-hole, and 4-way tool post also contribute to providing greater control of your work
  • 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐞?𝐢𝐧𝐠: Ideal for professionals, this benchtop mini metal lathe's high-precision 12.5 cm 3-jaw chuck handles both square and round objects with equal aplomb. Its granular precision is especially useful for jobs requiring high accuracy such as threading
  • 𝐔𝐥𝐭𝐫𝐚 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐲 & 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞: The robust cast iron construction ensures a long service life and superior corrosion resistance. The transparent chuck guard protects you from swarf or broken tools while also permitting visibility into the point of operation
  • 𝐖𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Tailored for precision tasks, this mini woodworking lathe effortlessly handles turning, drilling, threading, and cutting. Its capabilities extend to various materials, including wood, plastics, brass, aluminum, and more
Colour Manufacturer Weight
Grey CREWORKS 61 kg
£75999
RRP: £799.99 -5%
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10
C Good
Donken Direct

  • Lathe Turning Tools Set: 7pcs 8mm Shank Boring Bar Holder +14pcs Carbide Insert Lathe Turning Tools + 6pcs T8 wrenches, 1x T10 wrench
  • Material: 41Cr4
  • Application: Profiling bar for semi-finishing and finishing operations, boring tool used for machining steel, great for light turning. Suit for turning inner holes, reaming, boring, etc.
  • Including Model: SDJCR0808F07, SDNCN0808F07, S08K-SDUCR07, SO8K-SCL CR06, MGEHR0808-2, SCLCR0808F06, SCMCN0808F06
  • Package Included: 7x turning holders + 14x carbide insert lathe tools + 7x wrenches (Extra box of inserts for easy replacement)
Colour Manufacturer Weight
Black Donken 570 g
£3299
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General information about Metal Lathes:

Metal lathes, also known as metalworking lathes, are versatile machine tools used in various manufacturing and machining processes. These lathes are specifically designed to shape and cut metal workpieces accurately and efficiently. Metal lathes are commonly used in industries such as automotive, aerospace, and engineering, where precision and quality are paramount.

One of the key features of metal lathes is their ability to rotate the workpiece, allowing different cutting tools to be applied to shape the metal. This rotation can be controlled manually or automatically, depending on the complexity of the task. Metal lathes come in different sizes and variations, from small benchtop models suitable for hobbyists and small workshops, to large industrial-grade lathes used in heavy-duty machining operations.

Metal lathes offer a wide range of operations, including turning, facing, drilling, threading, and knurling. Turning is the most common operation, which involves removing material from the workpiece to create cylindrical shapes. Facing, on the other hand, focuses on creating flat surfaces by removing material from the workpiece's end. Drilling is used to create holes in the workpiece, while threading is used to add screw threads for assembly purposes. Knurling, a process that adds texture or grip to cylindrical surfaces, is also possible with metal lathes.

To achieve high precision and accuracy, metal lathes often feature a variety of controls and accessories. These include digital readouts and indicators that provide real-time measurements of the workpiece, allowing operators to make precise adjustments. Additionally, metal lathes can be equipped with various cutting tools, such as tool bits, drill chucks, and collets, to accommodate different machining needs. The proper selection and setup of these tools are essential to ensure optimal performance and desired results.

In summary, metal lathes are powerful machine tools used in metalworking industries to shape and cut metal workpieces. They offer a range of operations and can be controlled manually or automatically. With their versatile capabilities and precision controls, metal lathes play a crucial role in manufacturing, ensuring the production of high-quality metal parts.

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