After a couple/few years hiatus I've decided to put my workshop together and dive back into building some weapons. I was blessed with literally hundreds of items from a former builder who retired. While arranging my limited space I remembered that my lathe is just too large and antiquated for my needs.
I'm looking for some ideas on a compact useful lathe for handles.

Thanks Mike

For smaller handles I started turning on a drill press. It took a little while to get get used to shaping the grips vertically but saved me alot of space in my small work room.

Either a "Mini or Midi lathe" fits the bill very well. The midi gives you a little more length and turning diameter. Penn State Industries has the model I use at a very reasonable price. Be sure to get the "variable speed" model as it makes it very easy to change speeds as needed!

Look at the Flexcoat 'how we do it' videos.
They use an electric drill to drive the 'lathe'.
With some planning you can make that as short or long as you want. You could make it with extensions in 2 or 4 ft sections.
Several plusses: it inexpensive, allows you to ream, wrap long underwraps and shape.

Keep an eye out for this years ICAST!! We are coming out with tools that will help you 100%!

R. McBride

Batson Enterprises
BatsonEnterprises.com | RainShadowRodBlanks.com | ALPSForeCast.com | Build2Fish.com

Mike,
Actually, I don't think that there is such a thing as too big or too old to do a good job of turning rod blanks.

While you go ahead and shop around for a different lathe, take your larger lathe and set it up in your garage if you have one, where room may not be an issue for you.

Turning grips does not place a big requirement on the lathe.

Be safe

Mike check @#$%& I found a new 14" table top lathe for 150.00 works great for handles.