I voted 12" or smaller, but I thought it more important to explain why. The first lathe I turned pens on was my 15" Craftsman and it did a great job. Everything on the lathe was sized such that turning small items is no problem. Turning larger items was also quite easy, so I actually believe the best starter lathe is a good mid-sized (not what is called a midi like my Delta). This includes all of the 12" lathes (remember, I said "good"), but some 15" or 16" may do just as well. I recently turned a pen on my PM 3520B... actually just part of a pen. This lathe is LARGE (yes, there are larger), and all of the accompanying periferals are equally large... banjo, tool rest, tail stock, etc. I had to have special shorter tool rests made for it so I could get the tool rest close enough to work with smaller stuff, but even a 4" tool rest bairly let me get the rest close enough to be able to turn. While many do so, these larger lathes are not really built to turn small items like pens and miniatures. Does this mean I'm sorry I bought the big lathe? Not at all. I turn as many large objects as I do pens and it does what it is intended to do very well. But for pens, I'll stick with my Delta Midi. In fact, I almost wish I hadn't sold the 15" Craftsman, but I just didn't have room in the shop for three lathes.