I had a career as a woodturner before I returned to guitar making. I still sell my turned vessels through a gallery in Mendocino. So I've looked for ways to put turnings on a guitar, and there aren't many. I turn all my own end pins and strap buttons, but without mechanical tool feeds it is almost impossible to get consistent bridge pins; hence my plan to get a small metal lather when space allows.  I also turn the trim rings for my side ports; initially I had them extending beyond the side, by recently I make them flush to the side while extending them a bit into the body like a ducted reflex port.
My classical style headstock has a circular curve on the top, and I've though of turning a small boss to attach inside that curve. Raised pieces on the headstock have a tradition in classicals, but not in steel strings. However, one could turn the little brass knob that crowns a D'Angelico style headstock, or some variant of it.
The little Griz metal 8688 lathe has been around for a while under different brands, and has support forums on the net. It has been improved over the years and generally is well-regarded within its size limitations. But in light of the law that says always to get a bigger, more powerful machine than you think would suffice for all your purposes, I'm thinking to go to the Griz G4000 (a bigger version of the 8688), or G0602 (this is a new design; anyone seen or used one?).
Here are a couple of turned pieces (just to shamelessly self-promote). Woodturning is very satisfying. There are a lot of problem solving aspects to how a piece is mounted to the lather ( ), and you can get quick gratification--the opposite of guitar making, in that a simple bowl is begun and finished in an hour or two.
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