Ultimate Review of Rikon 70-100 Mini Lathe- 2024 Version

Last Updated on January 7, 2024 by Larry

Well, it’s obvious when you are considering buying a powerful wood lathe; there are certain factors you should look for in a lathe. It is even vital when you are getting your first lathe.

The must-check elements are; how much power motors can give as output, the weight of the lathe, how much space it will take, and the swing capacity.

Herein, the Rikon 70-100 Mini is an excellent lathe that will provide very accurate woodturning, and the size of the lathe is very appealing.

You might think that being a small wood lathe, it will not perform well, but Rikon 70-100 has got great capacity in reality.

Let’s go for some deeper knowledge about this one.

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RIKON 70-100 Mini Lathe Review

This mini lathe is very compact, with a design structure of a regular size lathe. It is an excellent option if you are thinking of buying a new lathe for woodturning.

The overall construction and the power distribution of the motors are a few of Rikon’s updates to the 70-100 compared to the older models.

We will be providing you a breakdown of its highlights below.

Powerful Motors

The Rikon 70-100 has a ½ HP motor, which is comparatively robust for a wood lathe that is so compact.

The motor has the capability of variable speed controls, considering the size of the lathe, which is a win-win.

Usually, the same sized lathes have only two speeds, but not in the case for Rikon 70-100.

The lathe features motors that can go as low as 430 RMP to as high as 3900, depending on the woodturning project you have.

The machine can correctly transfer power in terms of rotation speed.

Variable Spindle Speed

As we mentioned about the variable speed controls earlier, we are going to give you details now.

Have you ever wondered how do the lathes have different Spindle speed?

Most of the work is done by motor, but there is a spindle pulley that has been added newly in the Rikon 70-100 lathe, which helps to provide different spindle speeds.

When there is a need for a change in speed, all you have to do is open the access flap and to make loose of the locking joint.

The variable speed allows us to make customized designs using the machine.

Spindle Lock

In the Rikon 70-100, there is a Spindle lock that serves two purposes. The lock is at the top of the headstock, which is very easy to locate.

This is an indexing feature that offers a pattern work to tasks like straight fluting, layout making, grooving, drilling, etc.

Not only that, but it also allows the user to lock the spindle, faceplate, remove chucks, and other similar accessories that you can remove with just the spindle lock.

It is a very efficient and smooth function of the spindle lock, but you do need to read the instructions properly to disengage a desired part of the lathe.

Indexing Head

One of the hot-selling features is its 12-positioning indexing head.

The Indexing head helps to lock in place with different positions so that the user can quickly have customization in the woodturning.

Design and patterns in your crafting material is never a tough job when you have an indexing head like this in a mini lathe.

A lot of the lathes in the market lacks this feature, which is very sad.

Thanks to Rikon for providing such a feature.

Auto Eject Tailstock

In conventional lathes, what do we do to remove the centerpiece? We need a knock-out bar to open the centerpiece, right?

But for the Rikon 70-100, we do not need a knock-out bar and has merely a self-ejecting tailstock. It is not only convenient, but it also saves a considerable amount of time.

The ram of the lathe can be moved up to 2-1/3 inches, and even the tailstock is movable along the bed area.

It can be moved very quickly just by loosening the locking lever and then relocking it as per need.

Accessories

With the Rikon 70-100 lathe, few useful accessories are given with the lathe.

There is an easy to use nylon-face plate washer which helps in the process of not getting stalked up to prevent the residue of the lathe getting stalked up in the spindle.

There is also a flip-up handle, which helps in mobility. You can also use it for a tool holder to get access to the centers and the additional knockout bars.

Want something more out of the box? Check out our all-new review of Shop fox W1758.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: What is the volt required to run the outlet, 110 volts or 220 volts?
Answer: The Rikon 70-100 needs 110 Volt to run the outlet.

Question: What is the horsepower and amp of the lathe?
Answer: It comes with a motor that is ½ horsepower with 6.6 amps.

Question: How tall is the Rikon 70-100?
Answer: The unit is 12 inches high.

Question: Can the motor of the Rikon do the reverse?
Answer: Unfortunately, no, it does not have this feature.

Final Notes

The Rikon 70-100 is an overall great device to serve woodturners within the price. There are some drawbacks, like the limitation of doing more considerable professional work with this lathe.

But if you are just starting woodturning, this is an excellent device to fine-tune your crafting skill. Check more about ideal wood lathes for beginners here.

The midi-lathe takes up less space, facilitating commercial usage with the maximum power output from the motors. If you wish to know more about quality midi wood lathes, check this article.

It saves time in various ways and is an easy to function lathe that will surely be of help if you’re planning to buy it.

Hopefully, this Rikon 70-100 review can ease your pressure and frustration of choosing a different model in the market.