Wood Turning Lathe - Is Bigger Better?

Wood turning lathes seem to be machines on steroids some days. First is the response from manufacturers to a tendency among turners to make bigger and bigger pieces. Here we get an idea of what the turner of large pieces of wood has to contend with each time a piece goes on the lathe. Wood is heavy and the hardwood that most turners work with is heavier still. How many people will really want to wrestle with a chunk of wood more than 150 pounds in weight each time they wish to turn? That is a section of log big enough to turn a 24 inch bowl. A 24 inch hollow form will easily start at 300 pounds for the blank. Considering that some turners turn upwards of four foot diameter bowls, the weight is considerable. In maple the blank, assuming you could find a tree 4 feet in diameter, would be about 1200 pounds.
For the average turner, if such a person exists, a big bowl tends to be 12 inches in diameter and for the beginner, 10 inches is a good size. What is important for the beginner is to obtain a lathe. Wood turning is growing quickly and wood turning lathes for beginners are becoming popular with the manufacturers. This is a good time to begin your enjoyment with a wood turning lathe.