Lathe Bench Design
- Thread starter xtremek
- Start date
pepi
Well-known member
Once you set the lathe on it, try to move the lathe look for any flex in the legs.
Is that a hopper I see? That could turn into a nightmare. Having a flat top allows for more work area You do not realize yet how valuable having that real estate is.
Stuff like cutting oil, tooling, indicators, and so on, Plus you will be fishing for stuff that falls in there.
I always have 2-5 things sitting on the front ledge, that get swapped on and off the lathe, just the way things work.
This is typical of what happens with clutter, turning.
FYI
Is that a hopper I see? That could turn into a nightmare. Having a flat top allows for more work area You do not realize yet how valuable having that real estate is.
Stuff like cutting oil, tooling, indicators, and so on, Plus you will be fishing for stuff that falls in there.
I always have 2-5 things sitting on the front ledge, that get swapped on and off the lathe, just the way things work.
This is typical of what happens with clutter, turning.
FYI
Attachments
Guys, the bench is built, and for a whole lot less than any box I can buy.
I like that suggestion. Consider it added to the list.
Yes it is a hopper. The lathe I used at school had a hopper and I liked it for keeping the surface easy to clean. But you are correct that when you drop things, it's a pain to find them. And I see what you're saying about space for cutting oil, indicators,....etc. I guess I'll have to add a shelf to the backsplash instead. And I'll definitely check for leg wobble. All great points, thanks for the input.
I like that suggestion. Consider it added to the list.
Yes it is a hopper. The lathe I used at school had a hopper and I liked it for keeping the surface easy to clean. But you are correct that when you drop things, it's a pain to find them. And I see what you're saying about space for cutting oil, indicators,....etc. I guess I'll have to add a shelf to the backsplash instead. And I'll definitely check for leg wobble. All great points, thanks for the input.
Just so you guys know that I'm paying attention and listening. I made some updates. I ran out of room FAST, so I made a little shelf, and added these pegs. I should have made the shelf larger, but this was all the tin I had. And the end vibrated really bad, so I added this little brace
Attachments
Last edited:
astroracer
Well-known member
The bench looks nice, hope it is working well.
Just a suggestion for easy tool hanging and storage. Pick up a bunch of these magnetic hanger hooks.
They work very well and you can move them around with ease to fit your work habits.
Also look into that red magnetic shelve from HF. I have these on both of my lathes and my mill. They hang just about anyplace and are also easily movable.
I also use just a plain magnet to hang oft used tools. This is the key for the tailstock chuck. It hangs on the back of the tailstock, out of the way and easily reached.
I haven't had any issues with chips or swarf finding their way to the magnets. I do a lot of aluminum though and not that much steel.
Mark
Just a suggestion for easy tool hanging and storage. Pick up a bunch of these magnetic hanger hooks.
They work very well and you can move them around with ease to fit your work habits.
Also look into that red magnetic shelve from HF. I have these on both of my lathes and my mill. They hang just about anyplace and are also easily movable.
I also use just a plain magnet to hang oft used tools. This is the key for the tailstock chuck. It hangs on the back of the tailstock, out of the way and easily reached.
I haven't had any issues with chips or swarf finding their way to the magnets. I do a lot of aluminum though and not that much steel.
Mark
matt_i
Well-known member
Nice job on the enclosure! I find it a lot more useful to have the shelf "up high" because everything down low gets bathed in swarf eventually. Nothing like having your dial indicated calipers drive over a chip that got between the rack & pinion and suddenly you are .020" off of the former zero point....
Looks like you can expand or add more shelf if you ever wanted to.
Now to get some round stock and start turning
Looks like you can expand or add more shelf if you ever wanted to.
Now to get some round stock and start turning
FANTM58
Well-known member
I placed mine on a old bottom rolling tool box.
Plenty of storage and strength.sorry no pictures at this time.
Plenty of storage and strength.sorry no pictures at this time.
kaymccampbell
Well-known member
I put mine on a HF bottom box. I like it cause it puts the whole deal up high where I can run it without getting on my knees. I did cheat and lay down a sheet of 1/4" on top to keep the heavy stuff from sinking in.
Bob P1
Well-known member
Put my Ames on an industrial bench with wooden top, just capped it off with 1/16" sheet metal.
Augus7us
Well-known member
First, everyone thanks for dropping by and your compliments.
Thanks for the suggestions. I'll look into these
I've already used it a couple of times. Having it handy is making life easier.
I choose not to go the toolbox route, because money is tight and I had almost all of the stock on hand. I did buy the plate for the top, but I would have done that anyway.
That's a really nice desk, way beyond anything I could make.
Thanks for the suggestions. I'll look into these
...........Now to get some round stock and start turning
I've already used it a couple of times. Having it handy is making life easier.
I choose not to go the toolbox route, because money is tight and I had almost all of the stock on hand. I did buy the plate for the top, but I would have done that anyway.
That's a really nice desk, way beyond anything I could make.
metalmagpie
Well-known member
I built a sturdy lathe bench once. It was for a 9" South Bend with a 54" bed. I welded mine up from 1/4" thick angle. Mine had drawers because there are many little things that go with a lathe so I figured I'd need lots of storage.
When I was done welding I cleaned it up and took it to be hot dip galvanized. Inside, it will be rustproof for centuries. Here it is on my old truck getting ready to go be dipped:
The headstock and tailstock bed ends sit up a bit above the rest of the stand. I usually had a baker's sheet pan underneath which did a pretty good job catching chips and was easy to empty and clean and cheap to replace if needed.
The columns at either end had drawers. If I had it to do over again I'd have made fewer deeper drawers, as mine were too shallow to hold chucks.
Here is my working shop drawing:
http://nwnative.us/Grant/images/stand.pdf
Note I used 2x3x1/4" angle - this was just because there was a very cheap source for that material at the time. Today I'd use 2x2x1/4" angle.
I had a cabinet maker buddy knock me up the wood drawers.
I worked from a Home Shop Machinist article by Ralph Walker. That stand turned out great, and I'm sure the guy I sold that lathe to is still using it.
metalmagpie
When I was done welding I cleaned it up and took it to be hot dip galvanized. Inside, it will be rustproof for centuries. Here it is on my old truck getting ready to go be dipped:
The headstock and tailstock bed ends sit up a bit above the rest of the stand. I usually had a baker's sheet pan underneath which did a pretty good job catching chips and was easy to empty and clean and cheap to replace if needed.
The columns at either end had drawers. If I had it to do over again I'd have made fewer deeper drawers, as mine were too shallow to hold chucks.
Here is my working shop drawing:
http://nwnative.us/Grant/images/stand.pdf
Note I used 2x3x1/4" angle - this was just because there was a very cheap source for that material at the time. Today I'd use 2x2x1/4" angle.
I had a cabinet maker buddy knock me up the wood drawers.
I worked from a Home Shop Machinist article by Ralph Walker. That stand turned out great, and I'm sure the guy I sold that lathe to is still using it.
metalmagpie