For the hobby machinist
Make chips, not guesses.
Speeds and feeds, tap drills, change gears and metal weights worked out for small lathes and benchtop machines, plus tooling picks researched from published specs and owner reviews. Start with the mini lathe that actually sells, and the measuring tools that make its parts fit.
Most bought first machine
VEVOR 7"x14" Metal Lathe
The 7x14 class is the true starting point for hobby metalworking: long enough to turn a 10 inch shaft between centers, short enough to fit on a workbench, and priced so a first mistake does not sting. This VEVOR carries a digital RPM readout on the headstock, a 0 to 2500 RPM variable speed range, and the same 550W motor and metric and imperial thread capability found across the class.
Check price on AmazonPrice at last check; Amazon prices change often.
Try it: spindle RPM from surface speed
Full calculatorRPM calculator: surface speed to spindle speedShop starting point
7x mini lathes top out near 2,500 RPM
Spindle speed 382 RPM
Surface speed used100 SFM (30 m/min)
Calculated ideal382 RPM
Material1018 cold rolled steel
Formula: RPM = (SFM x 12) / (pi x D) = 3.82 x SFM / D
D is the diameter that is cutting: the workpiece diameter on a lathe, the cutter diameter on a mill or drill press. The surface speeds are conservative starting points for hobby machines; raise them when the finish and the chips tell you the setup can take it.
Lathe tools to go with it
Complete shop builds
Compare all three12 items / $658Beginner buildSomeone who has never turned metal and wants the lowest total cost to a lathe that makes real parts: bushings, spacers, pins, knobs and simple threads.17 items / $2,089Intermediate buildSomeone who has outgrown a 7x lathe or is sure enough of the hobby to skip it, and wants tools they will not replace in five years.23 items / $12,920Expert buildA committed machinist with projects that need milled features, larger work and tenth-level measuring, and the bench space and power to support two machines.
Calculators
All twelveRPM calculator: surface speed to spindle speedTurn a cutting speed in SFM into spindle RPM for any diameter, with starting surface speeds for 17 metals and plastics, HSS or carbide.Feed rate calculator: chip load to inches per minuteWork out milling feed rate in inches per minute from RPM, flute count and chip load, with starting chip loads by material and cutter size.Tap drill calculatorFind the tap drill for any inch or metric thread at any percentage of thread, with the nearest number, letter, fractional and metric drill.Thread pitch converter: TPI to mm and backConvert threads per inch to metric pitch and back, and see the nearest standard inch and metric threads for any pitch.Drill size converterEnter any size in inches or millimeters and get the nearest number, letter, fractional and metric drill, with the difference from each.Metal weight calculatorWeight of steel, stainless, aluminum, brass, copper, bronze, cast iron or titanium stock in round, square, flat, hex, plate, tube and angle shapes.Change gear calculator for thread cuttingFind the change gear train for any inch or metric thread on a lathe with a 16 TPI leadscrew (7x mini lathes) or any leadscrew and gear set you enter.Bolt circle calculatorX and Y coordinates for every hole on a bolt circle from the hole count, circle diameter and start angle, ready for a DRO or a mill with dials.Taper calculatorConvert taper dimensions into included angle, angle per side for the compound or tailstock offset, and taper per foot and per inch.Sine bar calculatorGauge block stack height for any angle on a 5 inch, 10 inch or 100 mm sine bar, or the angle a known stack produces.Cutting time calculatorEstimate how long a turning, facing, milling or drilling operation takes from length of cut, passes, speed and feed.Three-wire thread measurement calculatorBest wire size, pitch diameter and measurement over wires for 60 degree inch and metric threads, for checking a thread you cut on the lathe.
Most looked-up sizes
All charts- 1/4-20 tap drill
- M6 tap drill
- #10-32 tap drill
- #7 drill size
- Letter F drill
- 6061 with carbide
- 1018 on the lathe
- Drilling 304
- Steel round bar weight
- Aluminum plate weight
Tool picks
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