Best Midi Lathe Series: Delta Industrial 46-460 Variable-Speed Midi Lathe

Guest Post by Emma K. 

One of a kind in its class 

My husband and I love writing reviews for woodworking tools. Woodworking is our hobby, something we enjoy doing together.. We have several wood lathes in our workshop, Powermatic is the queen I must admit. I heard and read about Delta midi lathe's superior quality of design and great performance comparable if not better with that of Jet lathes. We don't own this machine ourselves but this excellent fellow in out local craft shop happened to have one and it is Delta Industrial 46-460 12-1/2-Inch Variable-Speed Midi Lathe. First thing I noticed is the quality of Delta design. Even though the owner has used it for two and half years I could still see solid, sturdy well-machined parts, accurate joints and quality welding. For a mid-range lathe it possesses features not found on competitor brand lathes of the same size. 

Photo Courtesy of Sherlock77 (James)

 

Variable Speed, Forward and Reverse Features

Some of the best features 

Delta Industrial 46-460 is a powerful mid-range powered by reversible motor of 1hp, with speeds ranging from 250 to 4000 rpm. Reversible and forward motor functions makes turning possible in both directions which I find very convenient. On a uni-directional lathe motor you have to reset you workpiece backwards to rotate you piece in other direction. If it becomes too bothersome for you Delta simplified it all with a turn of a switch. Delta lathes will turn workpieces up to 12-1/2" (318 mm) in diameter over the bed and 9" (229 mm) in diameter over the tool rest base, with the utmost distance in between centers 16-1/2" (419 mm).

Photo Courtesy of Sherlock77 (James)

Changing Speeds

Easy and simple

Delta 46-460 comes with electronic variable speed control. To change to the required speed you need to select among the three pulleys to determine the lathe's speed range. Then with the control dial you can change the speed up or down within that range. With the three pulleys you can have three ranges of speed: 250-750 RPMs, 600-1800 RPMs and 1350-4000 RPMs. The levers are made of metal as opposed to plastic I saw on some cheap machines.

 Motor Overload Protection 

With the powerful 1HP motor the stalling of Delta 46-460 should be minimal provided it is not overloaded, but in case it does the unit is equipped with overload protection feature. If the lathe is stalling the circuit breaker will trip triggering the machine to switch off.

The Features We Love About Delta Industrial 46-460 Variable-Speed Midi Lathe 

Good craftsmanship 

• The head stock and tail stock centers line up dead on.
• The lathe offers the lowest speed of 250 rpm and fast speed of 4000 rpm.
• The reversible feature is so useful during sanding and polishing stage.
• 1 HP motor: Effortless management of large workpieces.
• Changing the belt on the step pulley was very straightforward and easy.
• The lever was perfect to set the correct belt tension every time we changed belts.
• This lathe is reasonably portable.
• Great price with all extra features that others lathe brands don't offer.
• Versatility and expandability. Even with two extensions, it is much less expensive than any lathe of 67".

Delta Industrial 46-460 Accessories 

What's in the box 

 

What Do Other Customers Say About It?

Some of the customer reviews

We found the best place to check for unbiased customer reviews is the Amazon, and they often have woodworking bargain deals there.  


Delta 46-460 Warranty
This machine comes with 5-year warranty.

Best Price on Delta Industrial 46-460 Wood Lathe 

Best Deal

I had a bad experience of dealing with some smaller, less known retailers out there who offered one of the lathes I own at the cheapest price I have seen at that time online. I went for it, the unit wasn't in stock, it took a whole month for me finally to receive it, and it was damaged too. The discount was there for a reason to make you buy, the customer service was non-existent. What I want to say is that don't bicker at additional $30-$40 and choose a well-known, trusted online retailer to deal with.

 

 

Amazon Customer Rating: 4 stars out of 5 

At the moment of writing this post the Delta 46-460 is available at 38% off with Free Super Saver Shipping option on Amazon.

Are There Any Complaints? 

Pros and Cons

We searched for reviews on Delta Industrial 46-460 throughout the woodworking forums and retailers, there are mostly 4.5 to 5 star reviews about this lathe. Though some customers wished for more robust toolrests. One customer mentioned he wasn't happy with the weight and wished it was more portable. The cast-iron construction is what gives this great lathe stability and solidity which helps a lot when you turn heavy unbalanced workpieces. Below are some of the quotes about Delta Industrial 46-460 from real customer reviews we found on the web.

Photo Courtesy of alasam

Delta Industrial 46-460 Wood Lathe Presentations

Video reviews