Replies

1. 
   BG | Sep 30, 2002 01:46pm | #1

   Bart,

   I've been thinking of getting my lathe off wheels and setting up a permanent location...that looks like an interesting option.  I do wonder if the threaded rod that holds the blocks together is really stable enough...if you hit it from the side whould it knock the blocks out of alignment?

1. 
   Vibart2 | Sep 30, 2002 05:50pm | #2

   If your worried about that use construction adheasive between the blocks.

1. 
   BG | Oct 01, 2002 03:56am | #4

   Bart,

   That's a good idea. 

   I have a Craftsman that is 38" with a solid cast iron base.  Do you think I could attach the lathe base to the threaded rod directly and skip the wood and iron set up?  thanks

1. 
   Vibart2 | Oct 01, 2002 07:48am | #5

   I really couldn't say I made mine this way so I could get the lathe set at the right height also it added 65 pounds to the bench which will help dampen the vibration. I really think you should have something other than the lathe to tie the 2 ends together to give it strength. The guy that made the one you saw said he was 6' tall & it was a little tall for him.

    I have an older Craftsman tube frame lathe here that I set up on an angle iron frame that was the right height for me so I am making this bench so that the lathe will be the same height. In the picture you'll notice he used 4" wide block & claims that the whole set up will weigh in at close to 400 lbs. ( think his lathe is heavier, but not by much when I add the lathe weight & motor weight )  I am using the 6 bigger block 40 lbs each & a heavy top 45 lbs each foot weighs 15 lbs the lathe is 65 lbs & the motor 40 lbs it is 420 lbs I haven't  weighed the shelf that will be 1 1/2" thick with a 1/4" back screwed directly to the back edge of the shelf & a 2x that will be screwed to the bottom of the bench top & to a 2x that will be glued to the 2 top blocks on each side. This will keep the whole thing from wracking & will give me some place to store lathe stuff & will also go through the left side block about 14" to hinge the 3/4 hp motor off of. Unfortunately the motor that I have turns the wrong way so I need to let it hang further out on the left end & it is not reversible. But it may be easier to shift the belt with the motor out where I can get to it. So this may be a blessing in disguise.

   This lathe was designed & manufactured in the 30's by Delta is very basic it has needle bearings on both ends of the head stock just like the front end on a rear drive car. There is no plastic anywhere on this lathe.

1. 
   BG | Oct 01, 2002 01:07pm | #6

   Bart,

   Yeah, your probably right, tieing the blocks together with some iron and wood would not hurt and give extra stability.  My current set up was designed to have the chuck center point two inches below my elbow...that is loosely based on some egronomic stuff I once read.  I built in a shelf under the lathe, for tools an stuff, but that is always covered in chips.

   I need to be able to rotate the head 180 degrees for outboard work.  That may be a factor in the size of the block I can choose and still have room for my feet.  It will also shift the center of gravity...I gotta think a bit about the rotation and if I really need that capability.

   Lastly, I wanna be near a wall so I can set up something to hold my tools.  The picture shows the setup fairly close to a wall...do you have any thought on this issue?  

2. 
   Vibart2 | Oct 01, 2002 05:28pm | #7

    My lathe  will be within 14" of the wall. But with the shelf 11" off the floor & will be able to slide my rolling floor jack under it & move it out from the wall.

   Can you shift the block one way or the other maybe to the left & keep the lathe closer to the front of the bench.

   My lathe turns both inboard & out board,of the head.

2. 
   JeffKurtz | Sep 30, 2002 10:47pm | #3

   Bart,

   I like it.  Don't see why the same wouldn't work for larger lathes as well.

   Jeff