Customer Reviews for VEVOR Mini Metal Lathe Machine, 180 x 400 mm, 800W Precision Benchtop Power Metal Lathe, 150-2500 RPM Continuously Variable Speed, with 3-jaw Metal Chuck Tool Box for Processing Precision Parts

I can make anything on this sweet machine. It can polish things to a mirror finish if you want one.

Hmmm... An interesting experience. This lathe is pretty cheap and lightweight, so don't expect too much from it. I don't think this lathe is still available, but this review will apply to much of what vevor sell in this price bracket. Advertised as having a MT4 spindle, I went to use a MT4 collett tool and found that it passed straight through. It is MT4 1/2. Not available Anywhere (that I can find). Vevor has refunded half the cost of the lathe but I am still trying to turn down a MT5 to 4 adapter (to MT 4 1/2 to 4). On this lathe it's not easy (too much flex/play in the slides and tool post). It can be done but you have to go slow and take great care with the pressure you put on the tool (yes, hand pressure ...you can get about 5 thou of movement with a firm hand. Beaware). Added to that is the fact that the spindle is not turning true; it is almost true at the narrow end but running out a thou at the wide end. This becomes quite visible one or two hundred mm out. So, all in all, don't expect it to be accurate. This will also need to be turned down correctly. Out of the box, the lathe was cutting a natural taper of two or three mm every 100mm of work. It needs to be bolted down well and chocked to get it turning parallel. Do check this or you won't be able to make anything properly. The tail-stock was fairly well centered, but after chocking the lathe it will need re-centering. The motor seems to have enough torque to turn case hardened steel even at under 300 rpm (40-50mm dia). Getting it to run at under 200 rpm is a touchy pot-luck thing. The speed controlling potentiometer is cheap crap, with dead spots all across the dial. It needs to be replaced (but that's easy enough). I also had to make up some new quills for the cross & compound slides. I'll post a picture of one of them. Unbelieveably badly made. It takes 10mm tools and has a 100mm center height. Getting it set up well will give you the experience you need to do almost anything. Watch some youtube vids on setting it up. All-in-all, I should have spent a little more and bought an Optimum. Visit a local machine shop if you live in a city ...you will be surprised what you can find. But I am happy to be learning on the Vevor.