VEVOR Mini Metal Lathe, 7"x14", Benchtop Metal Lathe, 550W Variable Speed 2250 RPM Metal Lathe, with 3-jaw Chuck Mini Lathe Machine, Precision Mini Lathe w/Tool Box Digital Display for Metal Turning

So far so good! This is a very preliminary review. This will be my first experience with the mini-lathe size machines, and I have just a few hours of hands-on experience learning some basics on a larger professional-grade lathe. At this point, I've only just unboxed, set up and inspected this "deluxe" version of the Vevor. For the very low price (less than half of many of the brand-names), I was expecting to get maybe mostly usable parts, but really more of a parts-kit than a machine usable out of the box. After initial inspection, not only does it appear that the parts are all good, but it also seems to be assembled and adjusted properly. the slides move easily but with no play in the dove-tail/gib areas. The gears (all-metal gear version of the Vevor) all mesh nicely and are well greased, motor is tightly mounted with good belt tension, and lead-screw turns easily with little play. The lathe powers up and speed control is smooth. Engaging the lead-screw drive train (moving the saddle by power-feed) does not seem to bog the motor down particularly. This lathe has a single speed range (direct belt from motor to spindle), but with a brushed motor rated at 550 watts (versus the 350 watt, geared dual-speed-range arrangement of most other budget models I considered.) I don't imagine this motor will produce as much torque as the more expensive brushless single-speed-range options, but hopefully it will be adequate. I think before I tear it down to clean and tweak, I'll try taking some soft-metal cuts to get a baseline on the factory adjusted state. At such a low price, I'm surprised that even seems like an option. Excited!!! I'll try to update within a few weeks.

It's a great product for the price. I wish they would supply a better operator's manual.

I ordered this lathe fully knowing that it's Chinese made and would need some work. I personally enjoy building and modifying tools so I've had more fun repairing and upgrading the lathe then really making anything with it. It says it's a 7-in capacity but that is not true in reality I usually don't get more than about three or four inches. And you have to be creative with your tool positioning to do so. However it can be upgraded with a longer cross slide lead screw if you're into that kind of thing. I'm very happy with vevor. They actually gave me 20% off when I complained about some of the small issues with the lathe. I replaced the cross slide and compound slide Gibbs with Gibbs I bought from Little machine shop and I've been very happy with the lathe. Granted if I could afford a bigger one I would have a bigger one so if you can afford a bigger one I would recommend get the 9 in or 8.7 in version they offer. It's a very fun hobby and I wouldn't have a lathe to play with if it wasn't for vevor. Overall very happy. PS you probably will want to get some new tooling as the stuff that comes with it will work but is not great.

got the lathe an only issue out of the box was the plexiglass guard that goes over the chuck was busted but i reached out to vevor an they sent a replacement after sending them pictures of what was damaged. since then ive slowly been buying tooling an accessories like 4 jaw chuck quick change tool posts live center stuff like that, nothing real big like a follow rest or anything like that at some point as i need it when larger stuff needs to be worked on or made. biggest down side to the machine is the flex ive gotten from the compound slide so i plan to change the cross slide to a t slot cross slide so that i can solid mount my tool post an i think that would do away with most of the rigidity issues ive experience. ive seen some other mods or upgrade that u can do to help stiffen the machine up but at this point im going to address the cross slide an solid mount the tool post in hopes that will be enough for what i'll do with the machine but as i learn the more ill probably find. oh also the tail stock is junk, buy a replacement or if u have the know how machine a new base for the one that came with it cause it does not sit flat on the ways nor does it center up with the chuck without shimming under one side of the tail stock, i have been able to make it work an use it to drill an for live centers but if i had to make something that had really tight tolerances id have to buy a new one and replace the one that came with my machine. i didnt catch it when i first got the machine and used it cause i didnt know better, but once i tried to drill the center of something i discover it didnt center up so looked into it an it seems to be a issue with all of these vevor lathes or at least was during the time i purchased mine an looked into it cause i found alot of other ppl who said they contacted vevor and instead of getting a replacement part vevor gave them a partial refund to make up for the bad tailstocks but it was 30 days after i had got mine so had lost any option of sending it back to amazon an i didnt even attempt to get the partial refund myself ive just battled with shimes an i got a mill not long after the lathe so i had planned on trying to fix it if i ever get the material to make a new base but more than likely i'll end up buying a replacement from little machine shop just cause that is the only place that ive found that sells a tailstock that i know fits the machine cause ive seen other buy an use it with the same vevor 7x14 lathe. im still a complete newb when using the lathe an have ended up using the mill quite a bit more but i plan to spend the winter learn them both an spending some time with the lathe making it as rigid as i can while making all the parts for it myself on the mill but i want to actual spend more time using the lathe for more of the stuff that i do on the mill now cause i know im only using it for the most simple task now an i can do alot more than i even know. so yea if ur looking to buy a machine that u dont want to have to tinker with an work on to make it what you want then buy something a bit bigger cause these can do it but u have to work with them an know the weak points an me knowing nothing about them figured out the compound slide is a hug issue for rigidity, at first i thought it was the cheap quick change tool post so i went and got one that i know was a good solid tool post an even after getting it, i still got the same flex an after recording it while i was running the machine an causing it to flex i see it was the slide on the dovetails so i changed the way it site to give it the best chance with the most surface area possible fighting the force an made sure the gibs were adjusted good an tight but evenly an not so much that it couldnt move but so that i knew the flex wasn't coming from slack in the gibs an it still flexed so all i can come up with is theres just not enough material around the dovetails for it to be that rigid so making my own t slot cross slide i will make it so its got as much material as possible.

received mine with broken welds on motor cover,stripped screw on rear shield, and one bent handle and one missing handle...both were going to be the first things i make anyway so it is no big deal...as far as the rest all are aligned properly and adjusted correctly. Now I just have to repeat it once i get it all cleaned up.Would i recommend someone to buy this lathe....YES