Independent comparisons. We may earn from shop links. More info

Mini lathe vs midi lathe

Updated: October 2026

Two amazon.co.uk tiles both say mini, and one weighs about 2 kg while another weighs about 22 kg. They are not the same machine, and neither is the cast-iron midi a UK club means when it talks about bowls. This page splits a desk lathe, a light bench lathe in this set, and the heavier mini or midi you buy outside these prices. Swing, thread and plug are on the [wood lathe buying guide](/hub/workshop/wood-lathe/sub/wood-lathe-buying-guide). Named picks stay on the [wood lathe comparison](/hub/workshop/wood-lathe). Whether any of these can turn a bowl is on the [wood lathe for bowls](/hub/workshop/wood-lathe/sub/wood-lathe-bowl-turning) page.

Two amazon.co.uk tiles both say mini, and one weighs about 2 kg while another weighs about 22 kg. They are not the same machine, and neither is the cast-iron midi a UK club means when it talks about bowls.

Our top picks

Proxxon Proxxon DB 250

Best overall

Proxxon Proxxon DB 250
8.8/10about £187.28
View offer
Einhell Einhell TC-WW 1000/1

Alternative

Einhell Einhell TC-WW 1000/1
6.6/10about £169.95
View offer
KATSU KATSU 100775 600 W

Best value

KATSU KATSU 100775 600 W
5.4/10about £74.99
View offer
On this page
  1. 1.Desk lathes
  2. 2.Bench lathes in this set
  3. 3.What a UK midi adds
  4. 4.Which class to open on the comparison

Desk lathes

A desk lathe here is about 96–100 W and under about 3 kg, with speeds that start in the thousands of rpm. The Bachin states 24 V DC and a 70 mm diameter. The Winbomgo table says 110 V, and the reviews are about pens. The Proxxon DB 250 sits in this weight class too, at 2.62 kg. The bullets state 220–240 V and the swing is still 40 mm. A high score does not make it a midi. Collets from 2 mm to 10 mm will not hold a chair leg. A handle has already outgrown it.

Bench lathes in this set

The bench rung claims 600 mm or about 1,000 mm between centres, at 8–23 kg. The KATSU 100775 claims 600 mm, 250 mm diameter and 8 kg, with no star line and no stated voltage. The KATSU 100771's table says no plug, and one machine died after five minutes. The KATSU 100776 claims 1,000 mm and a ¾ inch spindle in its only UK review. The Einhell claims 22.9 kg and 1,000 mm, with a reported two-pin plug. It is the heaviest row, and it is still not a midi.
Proxxon Proxxon DB 250

Testsieger

Proxxon Proxxon DB 250
8.8/10about £187.28
View offer

What a UK midi adds

A UK midi adds mass, a stated swing, a low speed for a wide blank, and usually an M33 × 3.5 spindle. Record's DML250 is sold as a mini and still shows the gap: 254 mm swing, M33 × 3.5, 34 kg, and £279.99 on the maker's site on 16 October 2026. Record's DML320 publishes 320 mm swing and speed from 250 rpm. No shop price for the DML320 is given here. Maker UK put about 305 mm of swing with larger platters. Their Axminster AW305WL example was £359.98. None of those machines is an ASIN here.

Which class to open on the comparison

Open the desk class for pens and model parts, and reject a listing that is not clearly 230 V with a UK plug. That leaves the Proxxon, and you still live with a 40 mm swing. Open the bench class for spindles around 600 mm. The £74.99 KATSU is an unreviewed capacity claim. The Einhell is the review volume, with a two-pin report. Open a specialist midi when the blank is a bowl and you want a stated swing, a low speed and an M33 nose. This set does not contain that machine. Products Compared editorial team, 16 October 2026. A qualifying purchase can earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.

Common questions

Is a mini lathe big enough?
It depends which mini. A desk mini under about 3 kg, with a 40 mm or 70 mm swing, is enough for pens, beads and model parts. A light bench listing that claims 600 mm between centres can hold a short spindle if the spec is real and the plug is a UK plug. Neither is enough for a bowl that needs about 250 mm of swing and a low first speed. Match the swing to the blank before you trust the word on the title.
What is a midi lathe in the UK?
In UK turning guides, a midi is the bench class above a pen lathe: often around a 300 mm swing, enough mass to damp a bowl blank, and a speed range that starts low. Maker UK talk about 305 mm for larger platters. Record's DML320 publishes 320 mm of swing, 52 kg and electronic speed from 250 rpm. It is not a floor lathe. A floor machine is the usual next step past about 350 mm of swing.
Why are some minis under 3 kg and some over 20 kg?
Sellers use mini for anything smaller than a floor lathe. This set includes a 907 g desk unit and a 22.9 kg Einhell. The light ones run at several thousand rpm and state tiny swings, or no swing at all. The heavier ones claim 600–1,000 mm between centres and 400–600 W. Weight is a clue. Swing, centres, voltage and the review text are the decision.
Will a £75 lathe turn a bowl?
The £74.99 KATSU claims 250 mm diameter and has no review of a bowl. A claim is not a turned piece. Cheaper machines here are 40–70 mm class or pen reviews. A faceplate on a dearer long bed still does not prove a round bowl. If bowls are the job, compare that claim with a cast-iron bench lathe that states the bowl diameter.
When is a £280 cast-iron mini the next step?
When you have outgrown 40–70 mm of swing, you want a stated bowl diameter around 250 mm, and you want M33 × 3.5. Record's DML250 at £279.99 is that kind of machine: 254 mm swing, 34 kg, MT2 and five speeds. It is still sold as a mini, and the head does not swivel. It is the next class, not a hidden row in this amazon.co.uk set.
Does mini mean M33?
No. M33 × 3.5 is the modern UK hobby spindle Thameside describe, and a UK Workshop thread prefers it because adapters add overhang. Record states it on the DML250 and the DML320. This set does not. The long KATSU's UK review describes a ¾ inch thread. The Proxxon uses collets. The word mini does not carry the thread.

Related pages

How to use a wood lathe

Wood lathe

Best benchtop wood lathe: a top pick and best value

Wood lathe for bowls: swing, faceplate and slow start

Wood lathe buying guide: swing, bed length and plug

Sources

Public UK sources from the research digest, checked against the amazon.co.uk prices and stars dated 16 October 2026. Shelf prices can change.

  1. HSE WIS28: Safe working at woodworking machines (retrieved 16 October 2026)
  2. HSE WIS23: Wood dust — controlling the risks (retrieved 16 October 2026)
  3. HSE: Hazardous substances in woodworking (retrieved 16 October 2026)
  4. HSE INDG271: Buying new machinery (retrieved 16 October 2026)
  5. Plugs and Sockets etc. (Safety) Regulations 1994 (retrieved 16 October 2026)
  6. Thameside Woodturners: Choosing a lathe (retrieved 16 October 2026)
  7. Association of Woodturners of Great Britain: Woodturning safety (retrieved 16 October 2026)
  8. Electrical Safety First: DIY tools (retrieved 16 October 2026)