raising the lathe

Why not make a base with some 4x2 hardwood which can be got cheap from a salvage yard - you can bolt the lathe to the base, and if you deliberately make the base heavy it would probably help with the vibration. Cheers Paul

Unless otherwise stated all references to location refer to Western Australia

I have 2 solutions.....cut your legs off above the ankles or dig a hole in front of your lathe 5 inches deep.

How about a solid 'platform' made from 2x6s? Make the platform slightly larger than the length and width of the lathe. Seems like this would also help dampen vibration. An option for dragging it around would be to put furniture glides (the flat stick on appliance style) at the corners of the platform and then wedge the platform while in use.

Hi Dan

2 runners should do, like a length of railway tie or landscaping wood, you can cut some of it away between the ends so as to have only the end on the floor, like this ___------------___ and then use large bolts.

Have fun and take care Leo Van Der Loo

Dan Valleskey wrote:

Without knowing the exact setup, tough to judge. But if you have sturdy enough legs to resist side thrusts, bolt them to a couple of 4x4's. If you want to spend more money, get two wheels and axles to mount them with on one end. Mount them so they barely touch when the lathe is sitting, but provide a wheelbarrow effect when you lift the opposite end. Taper the end, and it's astonishingly easy to do.

If you decide to build a permanent stand, I would avoid that funny lumber with the rounded corners everyone else favors. Sheet goods, like particle board are heavy, stable, and when glued and reinforced by the back and dividers inside which define your shelves or cabinets, really sturdy.

Hi Dan,

I would suggest trying some of the good quality machinery type locking casters sold by Woodcraft, etc. Three inch casters would raise you up just about the right amount and make the lathe easier to move around. Our Oneway club lathe has them on it as well as many of our members' lathes.

Be sure only use the type that lock both roll and swivel

Good Luck,

Phil Axtell Central Florida Woodturners Space Coast Woodturners Orange County (CA) Woodturners

I had the same problem when I got my lathe. Solution was to first set down a mat. Stall mats, used by horse owners are good or anything that you find comfortable. Then, once the feet were taken care of I bolted 4X4s to the lathe. This raised it to a comfortable position. No more back pain and the feet and legs are also in fine shape.

Hard to visualize but could you laminate or nail some 2x8's together that are cut a bit wider than the leg span at each end. Bolt the legs to them, or bore spotfaces that accept the feet of your lathe. The bottoms could be covered with a non-slip rubber (cannot recall the trade name but the same stuff mouse pads or commercial jointer push blocks are covered with).

You could also do the same thing with strips of plywood. Layers of Plywood or 2x8's would allow you to adjust the height to your need.

There- that's what I need!

Some suggested a platform , but that would get in the way of my toes.

I will also look at the good casters someone suggested.

Thanks, guys. Lots of good food for thought.

-Dan V.

I have a 1440. Buy some long bolts and put blocks between the bed and the legs. Also, I built a box on the leg's crossmembers and added 200 pounds of sand. Eliminated all the vibration. I don't move the lathe so I haven't bothered with trying any wheels on it. Too heavy to drag around with the sand in it, so some kind of wheels would be necessary.

to the bottom (about 1/4" x 4" wide) so that it is raised just a little bit more, but slides on the floor without damage when you need to move the lathe. I bought 2 each 10' strips for less than $5.00 at a salvage yard for my truck side rails and love them. they are easy to cut and drill, but resist abrasion. I have 2 each 2 foot sections left over. pay the postage and I'll send them to you....cut each into half and screw them on. rich

I have a hunk of white slippey.. something...., I bought to use as a runner in my miter gauge slot on the table saw. When I tried to screw it to a sheet of plywood, it squished out, and got tight in the slot. So I took it off (you know, a little bit of red oak works just fine for a slot runner!), I still have it. I'll just screw that to the bottom of the spacer block. Thanks for your offer though! Real generous of you. And a great idea, too.

I'm not going to be in the shop over the long weekend (sigh) but I'll let y'all know what I end up doing, next week.

-Dan V.

I never thought about blocking it up at the top- have to run out and look at that right now.... hang on....

darn it, already had a beer open and my shoes off ....

Okay, looks like that would take 8 bolts (long ones, by golly, they are about 2 inches now, I want to add 4 or 5 inches).

And then, the bottom of the legs will still not be hooked together. It dawned on me that it might be easeir to slide the lathe around with one board running between the side legs. As someone suggested. Adding the polymer runners for less friction.

I put a 3/4 inch piece of plywood on the leg crossmembers. So far I have set a couple of heavy tool boxes there. and a little plastic box on the end, which holds lathe-ish pieces. Not 200 pounds, maybe 125. And my tool boxes get covered with shavings. Not a perfect setup, but I need to store those tool boxes someplace anyway. And I can remove them fast, when I want to move the lathe.

I'll let y'all know when i settle on something. Gonna be next week though. No shop time for Danny this weekend. ;^(

Thanks for your thoughts.

-Dan V.

I have a Delta 1642. I have two 4x4's under each end to bring it up to the right height. They're bolted on with allthread, countersunk under the bottom 4x4. I haven't had any problems with mobing the lathe or with vibration, and my turning has improved now that I can stand in front of the lathe properly.

Way to go John

Have fun and take care Leo Van Der Loo

John Weeks wrote:

Now she has me putting up wainscot, and associated trim. Said trim to be stained and varnished. No (fun) shop time for me again this week.

But I will plan to raise the lathe next week. report to follow-

-Dan