WEN LA3424 4.5-Amp 12-Inch by 18-Inch 5-Speed Benchtop Wood Lathe , Black
WEN
Best for
Best budget
Amazon rating
Amazon aggregate, one input among many in the Verdict Score
Current price
$297.06
Updated May 19, 2026 · 1 min read
Sources behind this verdict
10 reviewers weighted by source trust
The consensus
What reviewers found
Synthesized across the trust-weighted source mix below.
Across the reviewers we read, the WEN LA3424 is the budget pick with the cleanest consensus. The r/turning thread on WEN lathes includes an owner specifically calling the LA3424 "smooth, solid, reliable," and Home Depot's verified-purchase summary describes it as a well-built machine offering strong value. Amazon corroborates with a 4.6 average across 177 buyers.
What reviewers liked
- 4.6 stars across 177 Amazon buyers and a positive Home Depot consensus
- 12" swing and 18" between centers in a true budget package
- 70+ pound cast-iron build resists walking
- Active owner community on r/turning with mostly positive long-term reports
Where it falls short
- No electronic variable speed; belt changes required
- Lowest speed of around 520 RPM is too fast for some bowl blanks per community feedback
- Several r/turning threads suggest a used Jet is a better long-term buy
- Stock tool rest and accessories are commonly upgraded
Across the reviewers we read, the WEN LA3424 is the budget pick with the cleanest consensus. The r/turning thread on WEN lathes includes an owner specifically calling the LA3424 "smooth, solid, reliable," and Home Depot's verified-purchase summary describes it as a well-built machine offering strong value. Amazon corroborates with a 4.6 average across 177 buyers.
The machine's 12" swing and 18" between centers put it in midi territory at a price closer to a mini, and reviewers consistently note that the 70-pound cast-iron build keeps it from walking under normal loads. Multiple community threads compare it favorably with the Harbor Freight Central Machinery benchtop at a similar price.
The consistent criticism, surfaced in both r/turning and Facebook woodworking groups, is the manual belt-change speed system: there's no electronic variable speed, the lowest belt position is around 520 RPM (which several owners call too fast for large out-of-balance blanks), and changing speeds mid-project is a workflow interruption. For shoppers who can stretch the budget, reviewers on r/turning frequently recommend a used Jet over a new WEN.
- Attack workpieces up to 18 inches long and 12 inches wide
- Switch between five different speeds
- 520, 900, 1400, 2150, or 3400 RPM
- Includes 3-1/8 inch faceplate for turning bowls, cups and other non-spindle workpieces
- MT2 tailstock and headstock tapers allow for compatibility with a wide variety of lathe accessories
- Features a 4.5A motor, an MT2 headstock spur center, an MT2 tailstock live center, an 8-inch tool rest, and an onboard accessory holder
i've got a WEN 12"x18" lathe (WEN LA3424) and love it. Smooth, solid, reliable. Only downside is the manual belt changing for speed control ...
And for a beginner I have almost no complaints with it, my only real complaint would be the difficulty of changing the speeds, which can be ...
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“WEN LA3424 4.5 Amp 12” · Inch Benchtop Wood Lathe Review
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