Lathe

machines · woodworking · metalworking · tools

Spins things around. A lathe holds a piece of material and spins it really fast while special tools push against it to cut, shape, and smooth it. It's like the material is dancing while being carved.

Makes perfect circles. Because the lathe spins the material evenly, it creates perfectly round and symmetrical objects like bowls, table legs, baseball bats, and decorative wooden pieces.

Does many jobs. The same lathe can cut, sand, drill holes, carve threads (like on screws), and deform materials by pushing them in different directions. One machine does lots of different work.

Used for thousands of years. People have used spinning lathes since ancient Egypt and Rome, but early versions were powered by foot pedals or water wheels instead of electricity like modern ones.

Essential in factories. Lathes are found in factories, workshops, and schools because they can make metal parts for machines, wood items for furniture, and countless other products we use every day.