For the woodturners that prefer to use small but powerful wood lathes, the Jet JWL-1221VS is a perfect choice as it runs on a relatively more powerful 1 HP motor.

Besides being the most powerful wood lathe on our list, it also has one of the widest speed ranges. The optimally designed speed range will deliver a super low speed of as little as 60 RPM which can be very useful for some turning projects.

Even without an extension bed, this small wood lath still has an impressive capacity as it has an over bed swing capacity of 12 inches and up to 21 inches for the center to center capacity.

Transitioning from forward to reverse is also super smooth on this wood lathe which minimizes the risk of damaging the motor or even your workpiece. And with the conveniently located controls, it is also quite convenient to operate.

However, this is also the heaviest and priciest small benchtop wood lathe on our list, and so it will be a better option for professional woodturners.