New lathe has arrived - more help wanted.

[Luperez548]

I posted few days ago an inquired about best lathe selection, lot of good tips came up, thanks for helping out. I decided go to local market to try to find something instead importing the lathe into Venezuela from other country and save some money. This is what I found, it has a 3/4 HP and 1 mt bed, 4 speeds (manual setting). I do believe it is more than enough to start learning woodturning. It was cheap, cost me about USD 133,00.

Now I am looking for a good stand to be built in my workshop, does anybody has a plan for it? I am thinking in something like the one in the last picture.

[bandaideman]

Luis, Looks like a nice machine. I think the table type you are looking at should be good to work with. As long as the lathe fits on it and is strudy should be good. I made one for my jet lathe out of a 2.5 inch solid very old door. Cut it to size used 2x4 for legs, put solid shelf on the bottom of the table for storing thins and made a shelf with holes on the front for the tools. Works for me. Not fancy but sturdy.

[amazingkevin]

Luis loves his toys,He uses them to the best of his knowledge and then some. He found out the death, he bough can take all he can give it and he gives it a daily workout.Soon he's going to enter a whole new world of woodworking with this new addition to the shop.If you want something made in VENEZUELA OUT OF WOOD HE'S THE MAN TO SEE!Glad to see your extending your talents all the way.

[Phantom Scroller]

Luis you must be very excited to get started as for the bench make your own design from solid construction, Google workbenches and click on pictures they are loads you can choose from and you can take parts from each design if you want and make it to fit the lathe mine is just bolted to a wooden bench I made, I have another made from Dexion metal bolted together with a wooden top

Have fun making yours don't forget somewhere to hold all the chisels to hand. Roly

[Bendita]

Luis Very nice toy A very sturdy bench is needed for this tool make it as heavy as you can, one thing about lathes I learned is that they love to walk around. When you first start to shape your round it will rattle rock and roll ,walk all over the floor if its not bolted down. Also you'll find using cement blocks on the lower shelve will stabilize it so when you come to the sanding and fine finishing you'll have less vibration. So to cut it short heavy bench and tons of weight. Have fun with it I have great memories of my time on the lathe.

[Fay Prozora]

Wow! Congrats on the new lathe! Looks like a nice sturdy machine. I also like the vehicle it is sitting in in the first two pictures. Enjoy and show us what you make on it.   Fay

[oldhudson]

I thought the last picture was a pretty decent looking bench. Remember it's not forever. My shop changes all the time. Lot's of folks have a tool rack on the bench they use for a lath but I don't think it's necessary, especially if your near a wall. Roly has the right ideas, go to your favorite search engine and look under lath benchs. I think the import aspects are SOLID and the CORRECT HEIGHT you don't want to be bending over or reaching up. I like to be able to get to the back side of the lath especially for sanding.

 

Don't forget to get good eye and dust protection.

[Luperez548]

I thought the last picture was a pretty decent looking bench. Remember it's not forever. My shop changes all the time. Lot's of folks have a tool rack on the bench they use for a lath but I don't think it's necessary, especially if your near a wall. Roly has the right ideas, go to your favorite search engine and look under lath benchs. I think the import aspects are SOLID and the CORRECT HEIGHT you don't want to be bending over or reaching up. I like to be able to get to the back side of the lath especially for sanding.

 

Don't forget to get good eye and dust protection.

CORRECT HEIGHT is my biggest concern, would be fine having that measure

[Lucky2]

Congrats on purchasing the new lathe Luis, you'll have a great time learning how to operate it safely. You also will have to have great patience, as there is quite the learning curve. To make it easier on yourself, you should look into purchasing a set of Carbide tools to turn with. They stay sharp much longer, and there are only three of them to purchase to get a full set. They are a little more expensive, but they are worth the extra money. The new cutters are easy to replace, and they are not very expensive. I do have one concern about your new purchase though, and it's the speed selection. Personally, I think that starting out at around 1000 rpms is a bit to fast, be very careful and only mount items that are already balanced. Remember to stand to the side when starting the lathe, that way, your out of harms way and you shouldn't get hit by any flying objects. As for the height of your stand, you should stand up straight and measure up from the floor to the elbow with your arm bent at 90 degrees, that is the height that the spindle of your lathe should be at. So, whatever the measurement is, all you have to do is to measure from the middle of the spindle to the bottom of your lathe. Once you do that, you will subtract that number from the first measurement and that should give you the proper height for the top of your stand. Or, you could build a stand that holds your lathe, so, that the spindle center is at 42"-44" off of the floor. Sorry for such a long answer, and I hope that you are able to figure out what I'm trying to say. Good luck.

Len

 

 

P.S. Is that a Canadian flag sticker on the side of your hard hat?

[Luperez548]

Congrats on purchasing the new lathe Luis, you'll have a great time learning how to operate it safely. You also will have to have great patience, as there is quite the learning curve. To make it easier on yourself, you should look into purchasing a set of Carbide tools to turn with. They stay sharp much longer, and there are only three of them to purchase to get a full set. They are a little more expensive, but they are worth the extra money. The new cutters are easy to replace, and they are not very expensive. I do have one concern about your new purchase though, and it's the speed selection. Personally, I think that starting out at around 1000 rpms is a bit to fast, be very careful and only mount items that are already balanced. Remember to stand to the side when starting the lathe, that way, your out of harms way and you shouldn't get hit by any flying objects. As for the height of your stand, you should stand up straight and measure up from the floor to the elbow with your arm bent at 90 degrees, that is the height that the spindle of your lathe should be at. So, whatever the measurement is, all you have to do is to measure from the middle of the spindle to the bottom of your lathe. Once you do that, you will subtract that number from the first measurement and that should give you the proper height for the top of your stand. Or, you could build a stand that holds your lathe, so, that the spindle center is at 42"-44" off of the floor. Sorry for such a long answer, and I hope that you are able to figure out what I'm trying to say. Good luck.

Len

 

 

P.S. Is that a Canadian flag sticker on the side of your hard hat?

amazing couching Len, much appreciated. Yes, it is a Canadian flag sticker in my hat, I love Canada even when I am Venezuelan.

[Luperez548]

This is what I got so far, still working on that.

[Lucky2]

Luis, it looks like your making great progress with your stand, you'll be turning in no time.

Len

[Phantom Scroller]

Luis don't skimp on the chisels you get what you pay for, or you will be constantly sharpening them.

The bench is looking strong. Roly

[oldhudson]

This is what I got so far, still working on that.

The bench is coming along great. I know people to put bags of sand (or whatever) the that lower shelf to stablize the unit. It will depend on what your turning. Keep us posted.