When you’re buying your first lathe - or upgrading from a starter machine - the midi vs full-size question comes up fast. Both have genuine strengths and limitations, and the right choice depends on your space, what you want to turn, and how deep your pockets are. Let’s break it down honestly.

What Counts as a Midi Lathe?

A midi lathe typically has a swing (the maximum diameter it can turn) of around 250-300mm over the bed, a motor between 0.5 and 1HP, and weighs somewhere around 30-50kg. They’re compact machines that sit comfortably on a bench or a stand and don’t dominate a small workshop.

Popular midi lathes in Australia include the Nova Comet II, Jet JWL-1221VS, and Carbatec’s own midi range. Prices generally run from $500 to $1,200 depending on features and brand.

What Counts as Full-Size?

A full-size lathe has a swing of 400mm or more over the bed, a motor of 1.5 to 2HP (or higher), and weighs upward of 100kg. They’re floor-standing machines that need dedicated space and usually a proper workshop to live in.

Brands like Nova, Vicmarc (made right here in Australia), Robust, and Powermatic dominate the full-size market. Prices range from $2,000 to $8,000 or more for premium models.

Space and Weight

This is often the deciding factor. If you’re turning in a single-car garage that also stores bikes, garden tools, and the kids’ scooters, a midi lathe is the practical choice. You can set it up on a bench, do your turning, and the rest of the garage remains usable.

A full-size lathe needs its own footprint, plus clearance around it for timber, tools, and movement. You’ll also want a solid floor - they’re heavy, and the vibration from unbalanced blanks can be significant. A concrete slab is ideal. Timber decking or a suspended floor might need reinforcing.

If you have a dedicated shed or workshop with room to spare, a full-size lathe is a joy to work on. If space is tight, a midi lathe lets you turn without compromise in a smaller footprint.

Swing and Capacity

Here’s where the full-size lathe really shines. A midi lathe with 300mm swing limits your bowl diameter to about 280mm at most. That’s perfectly fine for plenty of projects, but if you want to turn large platters, big salad bowls, or hollow forms from substantial blanks, you’ll hit the limit quickly.

Full-size lathes with 400mm+ swing let you work much larger pieces. Some models can swing 500mm or more with an outboard turning attachment, opening up possibilities for genuinely large work.

That said, most turning club competitions and galleries are full of pieces well under 300mm in diameter. You can produce stunning work within the constraints of a midi lathe.

Motor Power

A midi lathe motor handles small to medium work without issue, but it can bog down on larger, heavier, or unbalanced blanks. If you’re roughing a 5kg bowl blank from green timber on a midi lathe, you’ll notice the motor straining and the speed dropping.

Full-size lathes have the grunt to power through heavy cuts on large stock without slowing down. The extra torque makes a real difference when you’re hogging off material in the early stages of a big project.

For pen turning, small bowls, and spindle work, a midi lathe has more than enough power. For large bowls, platters over 300mm, and heavy natural-edge work, a full-size lathe is noticeably better.

Vibration and Stability

Weight equals stability on a lathe. Heavier machines absorb vibration better, which means smoother turning and less chatter. This matters most with out-of-balance pieces - green timber with bark, natural-edge blanks, and large rough stock.

Midi lathes can vibrate noticeably with heavier work, especially if they’re bench-mounted rather than on a heavy stand. Bolting the stand to the floor or adding mass (sandbags inside the stand legs is a common trick) helps.

Full-size lathes, with their 100kg+ mass, just sit there solidly. It’s a comfort you appreciate when you’re turning something heavy at low speed.

Cost and Value

A good midi lathe gives you 90% of the capability for 30% of the price. For most hobby turners, that’s an excellent deal. You can produce professional-quality work on a midi lathe across a wide range of projects.

The full-size lathe is an investment that pays off if you turn regularly and want to work larger pieces. If woodturning becomes a serious long-term pursuit, many turners eventually upgrade. But there’s no shame in turning on a midi for years - or forever.

My Recommendation

If you’re starting out, go midi. The lower cost means you’re not overcommitting before you know whether turning is your thing. The compact size suits most Australian garages and sheds. And the capability is more than enough for learning and producing quality work.

If you’ve been turning for a while, you’ve outgrown your midi’s capacity, and you have the space and budget, a full-size lathe is a worthwhile upgrade. Look at Australian-made options like Vicmarc if your budget allows - they’re built like tanks and hold their value well.

Either way, the best lathe is the one you actually use. Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good. Get a machine, make some shavings, and enjoy the craft.