Rikon 70-105 Lathe Review | Is it worth the hype

Last updated on September 24th, 2022 at 10:17 pm

Are you considering buying the Rikon 70-105 lathe? Read on! This Rikon mini lathe is ideal for various bits of work. We will cover it in detail through this article. Woodturning is a broad field, ranging from pieces as small as cups to as large as poles. Although it involves woodturning, you can not use a single tool to complete the job on all fronts. Some machines can be used for each job. Most woodturners usually improvise with the lathes they have in their workshops. This is because they probably do not know about the 70-105 from Rikon. If you are some of those people who have been turning pen projects, then you need to add this beauty to your workshop. Its bed is made of cast iron, headstock, and tailstock. 

These speed variations make it possible to carry out all phases of turning pens, from boring barrel holes to rouging out billets, turning them to shape and everything in between. For versatility, this lathe is equipped with a 10-inch swing over the bed and a 7.25-inch swing over the tool rest. This allows one to use it for faceplate and other endless turning purposes. The Rikon 70-105 has 18-inch between its centres, allowing it to accept longer spindles than expected for such a small and lightweight lathe. It is powered by a ½ horsepower motor which is not only effective but durable as well. 

Brand	Rikon
Model Number	70-105
RPM	500, 1175, 1850, 2225, 3200 (five speed)
Motor	60 Hz, 120 V
Facelift Size	3 inch
Weight	34 kg
Dimensions	35.5×10.5×14.75 inches
Horsepower	½
Voltage	120
Warranty	Five years

For a light and small piece of machinery which might find itself around naughty children, this lathe has a safety on/off switch. Its spindle is 1”×8 TPI, with the head and tailstock having internal Morse tapers. You get 1.75 inches of ram travel from the tailstock while the headstock rides on lubricating the ball bearings to ensure smooth running even during long sessions. Its handles are large, and so are its wheels. These make it easy to adjust the machine suppose you are working on different projects simultaneously. The 6-inch tool rest has a 5/8 inch diameter post and is very convenient for placing other tools you might be working with very close to you.  

Pros 

• Lightweight
• Cast iron bed
• Very durable
• Five speeds

Cons

• No reverse speed
• Cannot achieve lower RPM

Aesthetics

Most people in the 21^st century have evolved to direct their energy to their looks. Before anyone makes a purchase be it a car or even a property, they first consider the looks before even looking at the specifications and to counter this.

Manufacturers have also evolved to pay more attention to the looks department. Nowadays, it is not surprising to find someone purchasing substandard machinery just because it looks good. Well, the Rikon 70-105 won’t victimise you like that. It’s a pretty machine one might even mistake it for a sewing machine, but it sure does the best job. It comes in a beautiful combination of blue and white with many other colours seen as small to tiny specs. 

Performance Review

Whether you are an armature or professional turner, this lathe beats the competition from every angle in this price range. The praise we give to the cast iron bed is not sugar-coating. Suppose you have used an aluminium lathe before. You will be familiar with the irritating vibration from the motor, which has a higher amplitude. In that case, the vibration makes it challenging to work for long hours and scares potential professionals from the trade.

For this reason, we think using cast iron was the best decision Rikon made when coming up with this lathe. As we have seen in some of the workshops, you do not need to switch between lathes when speed change is required. The five speeds are a great feature. They allow one to see a project from start to finish using only one lathe or less than they otherwise would if the Rikon 10-105 wasn’t at their disposal. These variable speeds are also responsible for facilitating customised designs. 

Safety

Safety is the priority in any workshop before thinking of quality work. All the moving parts which might be harmful are all concealed except for the ones you use. The machine is also fully insulated and earthed to prevent any electric shocks.

It is advised to connect the lathe to a 10 Amp circuit. The on/off switch is designed with safety in mind. It is well concealed by a leaver, which you flip up to reach the switch. This is especially useful when you leave the machine connected to the power supply; no one will accidentally turn it on. Rikon also gives you a five-year warranty for this machine, so you can rest easy knowing that if it malfunctions, you have somewhere to turn to.

Who is this product ideal for?

This Rikon lathe 70-105 was explicitly designed at the request of pen turners, making them the best suiters for it. However, in designing it, Rikon put in a lot of other features to make it easy to use, even for beginners. 

Our Verdict on the Rikon 70-105

We have covered a lot in this Rikon 70-105 lathe review. After all, has been said and done, the big question comes, is the Rikon lathe 70-105 a great buy? It even offers you 18 inches between its centres regardless of its size.