Reddit reviews NOVA 46300 Comet II Variable Speed Mini Lathe 12-Inch x 16 1/2-Inch

I researched forever for my first lathe, and finally decided on the Nova Comet II. It only $549 on Amazon AND it comes with a free Chuck (which is an absolute must). It's variable speed and reversible. It's super durable and you won't grow out of it. I absolutely love mine. I got free 6-mo financing with an Amazon Store Card and paid it off over a few months.

https://www.amazon.com/NOVA-46300-Variable-12-Inch-2-Inch/dp/B00C2ASVNY

If you can go a little higher, I'd recommend the Nova Comet II (NOVA 46300 Comet II Variable Speed Mini Lathe 12-Inch x 16 1/2-Inch https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00C2ASVNY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_itR3AbTP1GG2G). It's what use (and what I got started on), and is a pretty nice workhorse for a bench lathe that's still reasonable in cost.

> Anyways, despite knowing that mini/midi lathes are destined for dissatisfaction and replacement

I kind of disagree in your case. I know the tools you like to buy, but look at a lathe as a bench grinder. I don't think you own a Koch or a Tormek, so good enough really is good enough.

Like a grinder, a lathe is infinitely useful for stuff around the shop. Making cross pins for planes (takes me like 3 minutes to make a cross pin including squaring the stock), knobs, pulls, file/chisel/rasp/knife handles, vise knobs, eccentric bench dogs, etc. It's a pretty endless list. I'm not a big turner but I use my lathe almost as often as my drill press.



This one is really good. If you absolutely cannot have anything central machinery in your shop, this is the same one with a different name plate.

I'm not sure what your definition of big purchase is, but a lifetime mini lathe is about 500.00 For 500.00 you get variable speed instead of pausing for 90 seconds to move a belt. Unless you are turning pens or bowls, VS isn't a dealbreaker.

I was able to get mine from Amazon for $370 when they were at an all time low last year. I got the extended bed for the difference. I'm pretty happy with it.

I've mostly turned pens, but I've used it to make a baseball bat, vases, bowls etc.

https://camelcamelcamel.com/46300-Comet-Variable-12-Inch-2-Inch/product/B00C2ASVNY

The Nova II Comet was literally just on sale (on Amazon) it's currently listed out of stock, but it was 479 with the g3 chuck.

You can get it right now without the chuck for 443 (https://smile.amazon.com/NOVA-46300-Variable-12-Inch-2-Inch/dp/B00C2ASVNY/ref=s9u_simh_gw_i1?_encoding=UTF8&fpl=fresh&pd_rd_i=B00C2ASVNY&pd_rd_r=PRNFDTRGP0MVR202FWE0&pd_rd_w=JQkum&pd_rd_wg=KYmcN&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=desktop-1&pf_rd_r=9YS7ERBDCJAMAXRRZW38&pf_rd_r=9YS7ERBDCJAMAXRRZW38&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=781f4767-b4d4-466b-8c26-2639359664eb&pf_rd_p=781f4767-b4d4-466b-8c26-2639359664eb&pf_rd_i=desktop) and the chuck is 99.

There isn't much difference between the HF and the grizzly. I'm pretty sure they are in fact the same machine. Some parts may be cheaper on the HF (motor, belt, etc) but even those might be identical. Neither is made by their respective brands, they all come from the same factory in china. The same goes for all benchtop lathes that look like that one. The factory might use higher quality components for some brands... really, you need to jump up quite a bit in price to get a better benchtop. The Nova Comet II comes to mind. I actually bought one of those for my dad for fathers day this year. street price is around $500 on that one but you won't find many better benchtop models.