I am looking into getting a Mini-Lathe due to I am helping design a V-twin engine that hopefully but used for a new class curriculum at our college. I have searched many sites and I one question leads to another and I am not getting no where. I really want to stay in the $500 price range not including accessories. Plus I want a lathe that isn't going to need a whole lot of modifications and ready to use out of the box. However I do have around $1000 that I can spend. The lathes that I am currently looking at includes:

LATHEMASTER 8" X 14" MINI LATHE

JET BD-920N Belt Drive Bench Lathe

Sherline 4000C LATHE PACKAGE

HF 7" x 10" PRECISION MINI LATHE


Anyone have any of these lathe that could give a better comment on them. Any advice or suggestions would be great.

I have a Homier 7x12 lathe which is the same manufacturer as the 7x10. IMHO the Homier brand was the best deal of the 7x10(12) mini lathes ($299).

My biggest complaint is the speed control -- mine acts up every once in a while after just a year's use. It's very important that you do not leave it with the big red button "on" when it's not in use.

It's a very accurate, *little* lathe. Just make sure it has the capacity that you're looking for. http://www.mini-lathe.com/ has a lot of details on these lathes. http://littlemachineshop.com/ is your best vendor for parts and supplies - they stock everything you'll need to keep 'em running.