Motor speed control

[divlong]

Would a Variac be suitable for controlling the speed of a woodturning lathe.

I need to be able to slow it below the minimum speed I can get from the gears in order to turn some irregular pieces.

Would it generate enough torque at low voltages to get it moving?

Cheers
Duncan

[gen2]

Yes the variac will slow it down, but you will have less torque.