lathe mounting height...

Are you planning to make items other than just pens or other things that all you have to do is sit right in front of the lathe in one position? If so, then forget sitting down unless you are forced to.

Wheels aren't a great idea either unless, as above, all you're going to do is very light duty stuff like pens. Locking wheels are no better. They just don't work well enough. If you could build a blocking system where you could wheel it out and then either lift the wheels up or drop a block down past them then that'll work pretty well though. Unless you're really going to be moving this thing in/out and quite a distance, then just forgo the wheels and scoot it instead.

I've used a Workmate type of stand to good effect with my Mini before. I bolt the Mini to a 2" x 12" pine and then hold that pine with the Workmate jaws. Quick, easy and portable.

- Andrew

Not a good idea, in my opinion. The idea of sitting and turning is attractive but doesn't really allow you to use the tools properly. I learned to start the tool cutting and then move my whole body in the direction of the cut. Difficult to do when seated. In Dell Stubbs video, Bowl Turning, he talks about the dance. Later in the video you can see him moving around the lathe almost like a dancer as he makes his cuts. It seems to work for him and there is no way that I'd argue turning with him!

Just my two cents,

Harry

From what I understand, Del wouldn't discuss it anyway.

- Andrew

Only if you are going to make pens or something very very simple will the seated position work decently. There is a lot of body english used in woodturning. So I wouldn't recommend a seated position. If you want your lathe on a cabinet you will have to do some planning. The first step is finding what positioned height for the lathe will be comfortable for you to turn at while standing. Most people use their elbow height as a gauge. Then a little while ago, the new rule of thumb was to put your hand on the opposing shoulder and measure the height to the v created at your elbow and put the center height of the spindle at this height. The taller you are, the more appreciated this understanding will become after a long day turning. Otherwise if the lathe is low, your back will really be aching after a turning session. So what you have to do is find out what position is going to be comfortable for you. Then figure the height of the lathe from the center of the spindle to its base. Subtract that from your working height and this is the height you will need for the top of your cabinet. If you want wheels, subtract from that height, the height of the wheels and so on.... I do have a cabinet on wheels for my mini lathe. It's designed so if I want to move it in the shop its movable. If I want to go do a demonstration somewhere, I can take the whole thing with me. But as Andrew suggested, you have to be careful with using wheels or casters. I use the heavy duty type you can buy at Woodcraft or Rockler.

then, my cabinet is heavy, so it has enough weight when the wheels arelocked down to keep the lathe from moving. The lathe and cabinet combinedweigh about 250lbs or more. And when I fill the drawers with turning tools,chucks, etc it weighs even more. The lathe can be stored down below in thebase of the cabinet for storage or transportation (I have a trailer with aramp gate that I use when taking the lathe to another location). There arefour storage drawers, each one is deeper than the one above it so to stowdifferent items. When the lathe is stowed, then the cabinet is a movablework bench. A flip up shelf on both sides - one holds my grinder (again forwhen I take the lathe to a demonstration), and the other can hold my turningtools while working.--Jim

You don't have to build a stand, at least not yet. I currently have my Jet sitting on top of my table saw (old cast iron saw) and it is stable. You can put the Jet on any sturdy surface and start turning. Once you've been using it for a while, you can plan a stand and design and include what is important to you. Martin

It may not be a bad idea for you. But, I like to turn standing. I don't even know if I could turn from a sitting position. It would be terribly awkward for me. Make sure you try it before you build your table.

Barry

Barry N. Turner wrote : in (clip) I don't even know if I could turn from a sitting position. It would be terribly awkward for me (clip) ^^^^^^^^^^^^ A couple of years ago someone brought this up because of a physical impairment. He even started a website aimed at helping handicapped people adapt to turning. I believe one of the suggestions was to tilt the lathe toward the turner, in order to duplicate the normal relationship a turner has to the work. Tilting the lathe toward the turner is a lot like leaning over the work.

All of this suggests to me that if you have your choice, it is easier and better to stand up.

Silvan, As a wheel chair turner, I can tell you that the Jet Mini is NOT a good candidate for seated turning. If you look at the Jet (and Delta Midi and Mercury Mini), with their motor mounted below the spindle, by the time you put a stable platform under it at 1 1/2 to 2 inches thick, then set this all in your lap, you'll see that the spindle centerline is WAY too high to turn and try to maintain tool control. The previously mentioned technique of tilting the machine forward is a possibility, but that would create a problem with establishing a way to position your tool rest, since the ways would be out of reach in the tilted position. Actually, the big Jet 1236 is better for seated work, since the distance from the base to spindle distance is actually shorter than on the Mini. That's why I'm using the 1236 instead of the Mini. Just something to think about from someone who has alr4eady worked through the same problem.

Ken Moon Webberville, TX

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Evenin':

I have a VERY small shop 9' by 10'. You can see pictures of it at

I call it The Cript. I use a Jet Mini and have had no trouble.

When I am going to use it, I simply place dogs in the correct holes on my work bench, place the lathe up against them and it stays put. Since I'm 6'3" tall, I had to raise the height of my Work bench , for my back, and the lathe ends up at the right height for me, too.

When I'm done, which isn't very often, I put the lathe back on the shelf.

The Other Bruce

Bruce wrote: (clip) When I'm done, which isn't very often, I put the lathe back on the shelf. ^^^^^^^^^^^^ When I first started turning, I was using a HF knockoff of the Sears monotube. I used it on top of our washing machine, bcause of lack of space to put it anywhere else. When we had to do laundry, I hoisted in up to the rafters using a block and tackle, and tied it off. I still have a couple of 5 gal. buckets hanging from pulleys on the rafters, with various supplies in them. My scroll saw is also hanging up there, and I lower it to the top of the washing machine on those rare occasions when I have to use it.

There's lots of room up there--why not use it?

so, then forget sitting down unless you are forced to.

At this time, my primary interest lies with making very small detail parts for wooden models, and eventually turning out chess sets. Maybe some candlestick holders or something. I'm not planning any big work. OTOH, I'm a virgin turner, so once I get hooked I might change views radically.

No hard and fast ideas, but I'm envisioning some kind of stout, crank-down feet that would get the wheels solidly off the floor.

Too hard to scoot something that heavy. No two floorboards in my shop are in the same plane, and it's covered with cheesy green astroturf. I'm going to rip out the floor soon and do something else, but that's a project for spring.

'Cause in my shop I have 6' ceilings, and I'd rather stub my toe on the lathe than crack my head on it. :)

Fair enough, but the big problem is finding a sturdy surface that I don't need to use for a bit. My router table would be ideal, but it's too small. Everything else gets used too often.

I can always put it on the workbench if I absolutely have to, but I'd rather knock out a stand that ultimately proves unsuitable and recycle it later (the wood I have earmarked for this is free, ugly, and has been in my way for years, so I don't mind using it) than I would lift that thing up and down constantly. I can handle the weight, but it's awkward, and my back ain't what it used to be.

Well, thanks to all. Sounds like the short stand was a bad plan. I think I'll build a minimum-sized full-height stand using the suggested sizing considerations and then figure out what to do about it when I eventually need to use something behind it.

This will probably discourage me from ever using my router again, so when I get rid of the router I can move the lathe up against the wall, and then I can get a bandsaw and scratch my head trying to figure out how to get _that_ into my shop.

Having a 10x12 shop sucks sometimes, but it's sure a lot better than nothing!

Mike, you might consider a method I use in my small shop. I have my router "table" stored under another tool which needs elevation. It can be brought out as needed and clamped into my workmate. In your case, you might consider a "cabinet" big enough to store your lathe, already mounted on a board which can be clamped onto the top of the cabinet with the router setup below. Might even concede a bit of the ideal height for the router table and make it 35 inches or so, with the dados cut so you can slide your lathe shelf below, with the head and tailstocks straddling your router. That would bring the whole up to your elbow. A sneaky guy would mount the lathe forward, with tool storage boxes behind. Slide the lathe forward, remove the boxes to save your back, and have at it.

If you get the non-enclosed base with your bandsaw, your lathe will fit on the shelf below.

Hi Mike, The woodturning habit has a very sudden onset and is hard to cure. Quicker than you think your lathe will be the centerpiece of your shop, and you will soon be moving your other machines. It will be surrounded by a dedicated sharpening station, a table & holder for tools and accessories, a special dust control system and by you 24/7. You may as well hum to the tune about Tipperary: "goodbye" to router bits & carving tools, "hello" to skews & chucks. It's a long long way to general woodworking, but you came from there! Congrats :)

IOW, don't compromise your turning set- up. I think it's best to have a higher bench and adjust the platform you stand on for your comfort. Arch

Fortiter,