I'm outfitting a new shop, which will include my Nova 3000. The shop is medium sized, so I'm putting every machine I can onto a mobile base (bandsaw, tablesaw, jointer, etc). I'm considering mounting the lathe on a mobile base with lacking casters. I'm seeking advice, Should I --
a) forget the idea entirely, and mount the lathe to a really stable base;
b) put the lathe stand on a god-quality (= 1200 pound capacity) mobile base;
c) do (b), but also set it up so that I have the stand immobilized on something like elevator bolts when not being moved.
If I had to keep my lathe movable, here's what I would do.
Put Nova 3000 on either the new Technatool Cast Iron legs (contact Technatool direct for availability) or modify the very heavy Jet cast iron legs to fit my Nova (George Moore did this and is very happy with them).
Mount cast iron legs to casters using a metal or heavy wooden brace that runs across the bottom of the legs from front to back.
Drill brace with four holes each to take a 3/4 or larger bolt.
Drill and set 4 anchors (two each side) in the floor where the lathe will be located.
When the time comes for use, move lathe into position and run four bolts into the sockets in the floor, thus bolting the lathe to the floor. Use the other holes with some nuts to run another four bolts (or machine mounts) into (against) the floor; these bolts/mounts will serve as standoffs and counterbalance the attachment bolts and take the load off the castors.
This should make for a very stable and yet movable system. You can put socket head bolts in the floor sockets when the lathe is not in use so they don't fill with debris.
I'm writing this quick, but feel free to get back to me if this didn't make any sense.
I actually did this - I took a modified version of Norms Assembly table fold away wheels idea (look on the NYW webside for pics) and adapted them to my NOVA stand.
Total weight of the stand /lathe/cement bags is around 600+ pounds. I use a 7" bar w/ a lever to lift 1 end of the lathe and the wheels fold down. I then move to the other side and lift - and the other side folds down - I roll to where I want it - then do the same thing - lift the one end - and they fold away - then the other.
I once used a Jet 1236 lathe with a mobile base. The normal Jet/Delta/HTC base for around $100 or whatever. It was awful. This was just the plain Jet 1236 lathe and stand on the mobile base. No extra weights or bracing. I finally resorted to sticking one foot inside the base and pulling the hwole lathe towards me while I pushed with the lathe tool on the outside of the bowl. And for hollowing it was somewhat the same, I used my foot to keep the lathe from rolling away. And yes the wheels on the mobile base were locked in whatever manner they lock.
Another time I used a Powermatic 3520 lathe with the rolling/locking casters Woodcrft sells to put under machinery. It did not move around as I recall. But I think I was doing more delicate spindle work instead of roughing out a bowl and hollowing it. And the Powermatic is a big lathe to begin with.
So my advice is not to use a mobile base under your lathe. Unless you can completely immobilize it using a method such as suggested by Lyn M.
Andrew, the easiest way is a very old method. Run home made wheel barrel handles from the tailstock end past the headstock end. Mount a wheel at the headstock end so that it clears the floor by about 1/2". When you lift on the handles that extend past the tailstock end, the weight is transferred off all four legs onto the wheel and the handles. Keep it level during movement or a leg will catch and you will have to put it down fast to keep from losing it! :-)) The advantange of this method is that the lathe rests solidly on the floor when not being moved.
Well, my lathe isn't "god-quality", but it is on casters :)
I put casters on my lathe when I was building it, so I could move it around, and I've never had a reason to take them off. The lathe weighs about 1200 pounds. I've turned a few large, out of balance, pieces that made the lathe rock slightly. It's never gotten out of control. It does have a variable speed motor and it always starts at 0 rpm. In other words, I have to move the speed control to 0 before it will start. I don't have to worry about starting an out of balance piece at an unsafe speed.
I don't believe in bolting a lathe solidly to the floor for the simple reason that it won't warn you when an out of balance piece will exceed the lathe's capability to hold it.
a nova 3000 is not that big and it won't spin really big stuff - if you set up a lever arm system that raises the lathe up on wheels for movement and then drops it onto it's feet when you are done, there is no problem - you can buy these comercially or make your own.
I have all of my equipment on casters in my shop as it is the only way to be able to move things around to clean up in a very small area.
Yes, I have a Nova 3000 lathe mounted on a homemade stand that weighs about 300 pounds and it sit on top of 4" locking casters. I have had no problem with this setup, but do not turn large outboard items. If something is out of balance I just slow down the lathe as it has a 1 HP DC motor on it. So I would say to go for as long as your setup is substantial in weight and stabil. BTW: I have never locked down these casters yet and have turned items as large as 15" x 10". I did turn a
22" platter with the outboard setup, but it was very close to being round with no problems.
That's how mine moves. Only instead of legs, I have skids, beveled at the wheeled (2) end so that as the handles are elevated, they contact the concrete. Owners of really heavy lathes, or, like me, really heavy cabinet/lathe combinations are well advised to attach the handles below waist level so they can squat and lift with their legs rather than their backs.
Well, Andy... if you do decide to put the lathe on a mobile base, and you decide to rough turn a nice size piece of wood, let me know so I can see your lathe go shooting out the door and into your brand new car. I'm going to bring my video camera so that I will win best video on America's funniest home videos. Then I'll buy another 3520a....
Albeit improbable, here is what I have done; I was going to build a mobile base which added a few inches, as I am 6'1" and the additional height helps on all the other tools in the shop. I have a heavy duty Delta Rockwell lathe which I had put on a couple of furniture dollies. I did this just to move it around until I could find a spot in the shop where I was most comfortable with it. I was going to fabricate a mobile base from Unistrut framing, as I had with most of my other tools.
I am not sure if it is Karma of the proper phase of the moon, but it is rock solid on these two $19 Home Depot dollies. I have roughed a lot of large walnut blanks without a vibration (free walnut when APS clear cut the powerlines in the Oak Creek Canyon). I have a hard time believing this would work again or anywhere else, but it does. Prior to this, and with a smaller lathe, I have loaded the base with sandbags to dampen vibrations. Seems to work and is cheap.
I had the pleasure of two weeks in Tucson this summer, sleeping on the floor of the faculty dining room at Sabino High School. We were the first-in fire management team on the Aspen Fire. A real tragic loss. We were there for the Bullock Fire the year before without the loss to property. A third of my staff left yesterday for a clam bake in L.A. and Ventura Counties. I may be out in a day or two. I was hoping we were done with fire season. By the way, how did the Performax sander work out? Good luck with the lathe.
Dan Wills, Sedona
Language, n. The music with which we charm the serpents gaurding another's treasure. A. Bierce, c.1890
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