VEVOR Metal Lathe Buying Guide (2026): Mini vs 220 mm Benchtop Lathes, Brushless Motors, Auto Feed and DRO, 11 Picks from 68,90 €

A metal lathe spins the workpiece while you feed a cutting tool into it: you can face, turn to diameter, drill on centre, bore and cut threads. It is the machine that lets a home workshop make its own bushings, spacers, axles and replacement parts. On November 3, 2026 we went through VEVOR’s EU metal lathe category and kept 10 lathes, from a 143,90 € teaching lathe to a 2.205,99 € lathe with a digital readout, plus one 4-jaw chuck (68,90 €). Anything that was on clearance, almost sold out, or on a countdown deal was left out.

• The 11 picks at a glance
• Swing, length, bore and threads: what the numbers mean
• Mini lathes (144–750 €)
• 220 mm benchtop lathes (1.231–1.494 € + 40 € shipping)
• The 254 mm lathe with DRO (2.206 €)
• A 4-jaw chuck, and what to check first
• Price steps worth knowing
• What we left out
• Who each one is for
• FAQ

The 11 VEVOR metal lathe picks at a glance

Swing, length, bore and threads: what the numbers mean

• Swing over bed (the first number, e.g. 220 mm) is the largest diameter that clears the bed. In practice you turn much smaller parts, because the carriage and cross slide sit higher than the bed.
• Distance between centres (the second number) is the longest part you can hold between the chuck and the tailstock centre. 350 mm is fine for bushings and small shafts; 600–762 mm lets you turn longer axles.
• Spindle bore decides which bar stock can pass through the headstock: 20 mm on the C0618BX350, 38 mm on the 220 mm models that list it.
• Brushless vs brushed motors. VEVOR points out that brushless motors need no brush changes. Most of the 220 mm machines here are brushless; the C0618BX350 is listed with a brush motor.
• Threads. Change-gear lathes cut a fixed list of pitches (8 metric + 8 imperial on the TQ2275). The MX-S450 and TQ2275S use electronic threading, so you pick the pitch on the controller instead of swapping gears.

Mini lathes (144–750 €)

• Didactical mini lathe, 70 × 130 mm (143,90 €, free shipping): a 36 W, 3.2 kg teaching and model-making lathe. VEVOR rates it for soft metals (gold, silver, copper, aluminium), acrylic and plastic, with a maximum cut of 0.1 mm on aluminium bar. Great for jewellery, model engineering and kids learning the basics; it is not a steel-cutting machine.
• Mini 550 W, 180 × 350 mm (699,90 €, 739,90 € delivered): the classic “7 × 14” size, 50–2500 rpm with a digital display, a 4-inch 3-jaw chuck, metal change gears instead of nylon ones and an LED lamp; 40 kg. Our pick for a first real metal lathe.
• C0618BX350, 7″ × 13.78″ (749,90 €, 789,90 € delivered): the same class with a 500 W brush motor, 0–2200 rpm, an MT3 spindle, a 20 mm bore and all-metal gears for 9 metric threads, forward and reverse. It is heavier (49.1 kg vs 40 kg) but costs 50,00 € more (our arithmetic) than the 550 W mini for a slower top speed.

220 mm benchtop lathes (1.231–1.494 € + 40 € shipping)

This is the “8 × 30” class most hobby machinists end up with. All seven take a 220 mm (210 mm on the WM210V-L) swing; they differ in bed length, motor and how threads and feeds are set.

• Mini 1100 W, 220 × 750 mm (1.230,90 €, 1.270,90 € delivered): 1100 W DC motor, 50–2250 rpm, 125 mm 3-jaw chuck, 38 mm bore, metal gears, plus a steady rest, a follow rest and a quick-change tool post in the box; 84 kg. The best value for long work.
• MX-S450, 220 × 450 mm (1.234,90 €, 1.274,90 € delivered): a 1250 W brushless motor with a belt-free drive, fully automatic feed with a stroke of up to 450 mm, and an electronic gear system for 9 metric and 19 imperial threads with no gear changes. VEVOR gives the bore as 38 mm / MT5. Only 4,00 € more than the 1100 W mini (our arithmetic), but 300 mm shorter between centres.
• TQ2275, 220 × 762 mm (1.271,99 €, 1.311,99 € delivered): 1100 W brushless, up to 3000 rpm, metal gears for 8 metric and 8 imperial threads, an emergency stop and a chuck-guard interlock that cuts power when the cover opens. 41,09 € more than the 1100 W mini (our arithmetic) for the brushless motor and safety interlock.
• Mini 750 W brushless, 220 × 600 mm (1.380,90 €, 1.420,90 € delivered): 50–3000 rpm, 38 mm bore, steady and follow rests and a quick-change tool post; 83 kg. It costs 150,00 € more than the 1100 W 750 mm version for a shorter bed; buy it only if you specifically want this brushless drive.
• WM210V-L, 210 × 750 mm (1.389,90 €, 1.429,90 € delivered): 750 W brushless, two speed ranges (50–1250 and 100–2500 rpm), forward and reverse, 24 threads (14 metric 0.3–3 mm, 10 imperial), 38 mm bore, and a long list of safety switches; 79 kg. Only 9,00 € more than the 600 mm brushless model for 150 mm more bed (our arithmetic).
• TQ2275S semi-automatic, 220 × 762 mm (1.493,99 €, 1.533,99 € delivered): 1100 W brushless with an electronic leadscrew. You set the feed with buttons, and it supports automatic thread turning and fixed-diameter machining, with 19 metric (0.3–3.5 mm) and 19 imperial threads. 222,00 € more than the TQ2275 (our arithmetic); worth it if you cut a lot of threads.

The 254 mm lathe with DRO (2.206 €)

TQ2575B, 254 × 762 mm with 2-axis DRO (2.205,99 €, 2.245,99 € delivered): the biggest swing here (254 mm), 1100 W, two ranges (0–1500 and 0–3000 rpm), 8 metric and 8 imperial threads, an e-stop and chuck-guard interlock, and a 2-axis linear scale with a digital readout that shows the tool position in real time. A DRO saves a lot of dial counting and backlash mistakes. It costs 934,00 € more than the TQ2275 (our arithmetic), so buy it for the readout and the larger swing, not as a default.

A 4-jaw chuck, and what to check first

K72-125 4-jaw independent chuck, 125 mm (68,90 €, free shipping): four independently adjusted, reversible jaws, an external clamping range of 48–125 mm and an internal range of 7–57 mm, with a listed tolerance of ≤0.07 mm. Independent jaws let you hold square or off-centre work and dial round stock in until it runs true. Check the mount before you order: VEVOR’s listing says “it is necessary to have an additional flange connection plate”, and a buyer of a VEVOR 8 × 16 lathe wrote that his 125 mm VEVOR 4-jaw independent chuck, with 4 mounting holes, did not fit the lathe’s 3-hole spindle plate without drilling or an adapter plate.

Price steps worth knowing

• 550 W mini to the C0618BX350: 50,00 € more for a heavier lathe with a brush motor and a lower top speed. Most people should save the money.
• 1100 W 220 × 750 to the MX-S450: 4,00 €. You trade 300 mm of bed for a brushless motor, automatic feed and electronic threading.
• 1100 W 220 × 750 to the TQ2275: 41,09 € for a brushless motor, 3000 rpm and the chuck-guard interlock.
• 750 W brushless 600 mm to the WM210V-L: 9,00 € for 150 mm more bed and two speed ranges.
• TQ2275 to the semi-automatic TQ2275S: 222,00 € for the electronic leadscrew and 38 thread options instead of 16.
• TQ2275 to the TQ2575B with DRO: 934,00 €. A separate lathe DRO kit can also be added later.

What we left out

• A 220 × 400 mm CNC touchscreen lathe (“Almost sold out”), a 220 × 1000 mm lathe (“Clearance”) and a 750 W 8 × 16 lathe (“Only 3 Left”): we avoid stock that may not come back.
• A 203 × 406 mm 550 W lathe on a deal ending November 18, and two smaller lathes (180 × 305 and 220 × 402 mm) listed as out of stock.
• A 17.8 × 40.7 cm 800 W mini lathe whose spec table lists 110 V, 60 Hz on the EU store. European mains is 230 V, 50 Hz, so we left it out until the listing is clear.
• VEVOR’s 8-piece quick-change tool post set: its own listing says “it is not yet compatible with VEVOR metal lathes”. The 1100 W 750 mm and 750 W 600 mm lathes above already come with a quick-change tool post.
• Anything on VEVOR’s US store: different plugs, voltage and prices.

Who each one is for

• Jewellery, models, teaching: didactical mini lathe (143,90 €).
• First metal lathe, small parts and bushings: 550 W 180 × 350 mm (739,90 € delivered).
• Long shafts on a budget: 1100 W 220 × 750 mm (1.270,90 € delivered).
• Short parts, lots of threads, little gear swapping: MX-S450 (1.274,90 € delivered).
• Long work and frequent threading: TQ2275S semi-automatic (1.533,99 € delivered).
• Precision work, bigger diameters: TQ2575B with DRO (2.245,99 € delivered).

Related on SiftGuide

A lathe makes the round parts; to join them, see the VEVOR MIG welder buying guide and the VEVOR TIG welder buying guide. Cutting plate and brackets: the VEVOR plasma cutter buying guide. Marking finished parts: the VEVOR laser engraver buying guide.

FAQ

Can these lathes cut steel?
The 180 mm and 220 mm machines are sold for metalworking, and VEVOR says the C0618BX350 can turn 45# steel bar. Take light cuts on small hobby lathes. The 36 W didactical lathe is only rated for soft metals, acrylic and plastic.

What does “220 × 750” mean?
220 mm is the swing over the bed (largest diameter that clears it) and 750 mm the distance between centres (the longest part you can hold between chuck and tailstock).

Do I need a stand?
These are benchtop lathes. Bolt them to a rigid bench that can carry the weight: VEVOR lists 40–49.1 kg for the mini lathes and 61.1–84 kg for the 220 mm machines that give a weight.

Brushless or brushed?
Brushless motors need no brush replacement, and VEVOR says they run quieter and cooler. Brushed motors are cheaper to repair but brushes wear out.

Is shipping free to Romania?
The didactical lathe and the 4-jaw chuck showed free shipping; the nine bigger lathes showed a 40,00 € shipping fee on November 3, 2026.

Sources: VEVOR EU product pages, spec lists and Q&A answers for the models above (didactical 70 × 130, 550 W 180 × 350, C0618BX350, 1100 W 220 × 750, MX-S450, TQ2275, 750 W 220 × 600, WM210V-L, TQ2275S, TQ2575B and K72-125), and the VEVOR EU metal lathe category page; all checked on November 3, 2026. Prices in euros, VAT included, as shown with Romania as the delivery country. Price differences and delivered totals are our own arithmetic.