Sitting & Turning

Here's a couple of things that you can try that work for me, and I'm in a similar weight catagory-

Lathe height- us gravitationally enhanced guys seem to be better served with a higher than standard lathe- The centerline is just above my elbow by about 2-3". This forces better posture, keeps back straight, etc.

Shoes- I use work shoes that have padded inserts- made for people who are on their feet for a LOOOOOOONG time. Expensive but I've had this same pair for 5 years and they still look pretty good. Also- hiking socks that wick moisture away. Comfy feet make for a better time turning, and improve overall posture.

The last thing that seems to help is tool length (oh shaddup, I read the other thread about that)- longer, heavier seem to offer more control and I don't tense up as much trying to control a light, short gouge or skew.

Well I'm heavy too and took a few steps to help out. I got shoe inserts because I found out I have falling arches. Since I have those, I got a padded mat for foot relief. I turn while standing when using tools so as to give the lathe my full attention, many times when I sand and finish, I'll sit. Last but not least [I know you don't want to hear it] I started to lose weight. My doctor viewed my blood test results and basically said that if I wish to continue to enjoy woodturning it would be best to diet and excersise. I went on the atkins diet and it has helped. I don't sell anything diet related nor am I chastising you. I'm just trying to offer you advice from one woodturner to another of what has helped me. My triglycerides and cholesterol have all dropped along with over 30 pounds so far. It's a life time commitment to change but then sometimes that's what you want to do if you want to live your life. I'm too lazy for th excercise portion yet but slowly and surely I hope to get there.

Dear over wheigths check the Oland crafts page this lady does it in a chair all the time

Maybe this will help, I had some health problems a few years ago that kept me from standing for long periods of time. What I did was to find a stool that allowed me to almost stand. I more or less leaned against the stool to turn. This allowed me more mobility without having to stand. If you are getting lower back/shoulder pain you may have your lathe to low, have you tried raising it slightly ? Even moving it up just a little can make a big difference.

Scott Hogsten

Well thanks to a severely broken knee, I now face similar issues. In the past I have used what can best be called a barstool. Its sits high enough to let me see above the tool rest and I can use it to do most of the rough work. However, when it gets down to the finer detail, that's when I will stand up. All in all, its about a 80-20 trade. So as long as you can take the 20% of standing it will allow you to keep turning.

Now if you've got the bucks, you can always have a special lathe made for you. I believe Nichols has made specialty lathes for people in wheelchairs. Peace.

-nick silva Studio-N, Dallas

Nick Silva wrote: ( clip) Now if you've got the bucks, you can always have a special lathe made for you. (clip) ^^^^^^^^^^^ Along with all the other good ideas, I suggest the possibility of blocking up the rear legs of the lathe, so it is tilted toward the turner. Rotating the lathe forward is spacially equivalent to standing and leaning forward.

Extend the front legs forward, too, or you might end up with a lathe in your lap, as you're pushing the Center of Gravity out towards/over the front legs if you block up the back ones.

Vicmarc makes the VL175 with a special stand to suit wheel chairs. I'm sure the swivel head would be an advantage, too

I'm betting that's not the way she got so skinny, though.

Barry

Ecnerwal wrote: Extend the front legs forward, too, or you might end up with a lathe in your lap, as you're pushing the Center of Gravity out towards/over the front legs if you block up the back ones. ^^^^^^^^^^^^ Or you could run bolts down through the blocks under the rear legs into the floor.

Hey Nick, Did you fall off a bar stool? :) Seriously, I'm sorry to hear about your knee troubles. I hope things improve for you not only for your sake, but also that you keep using your fine turning talents. Are you still able to demo?

I wonder if some of Nichols' Designs are available on a website. He doubtless has one and Artisin might study and adapt some ideas for his disability.

BTW, I sat down in front of my lathe to turn and found scrapers as hard to use as gouges, but both were easier with the headstock swivelled. Guess that's no help with spindles. ;) Arch

Fortiter,

I wouldn't advise that as vibration can pull them loose if they are under strain, these bolts are not designed to take such strain but to have the weight going downwards into the floor not upwards. Dave Lawson Redditch UK

I have used a "drafting chair" instead of a "bar stool". The height was pneumatically adjustable, it was on casters, and it had back support. (ps the casters didn't roll so easily that they presented a hazard)

In passing I wonder if one of those "kneeling chairs" (pressure on the knees and back of the thighs: Forces you into an upright posture) might work??

Example url:

have used one of these for some repetitive wood working operations but notlathe work

BTW: I have no interest in the company, I have only owned and used similar products

Nick Silva snipped-for-privacy@swbell.net wrote on 11/20/2003 11:36 AM Eastern Standard

I have used an hydraulic drafting chair/stool for years. In the seventies it was not uncommon to have drafting room with 50 draftspersons or more. One day a draftsperson was found unconscious on the floor with his shirt sleeve stained with blood. What took place was that the draftsman feel asleep on his hydraulic stool and felt down on the floor with his mechanical pencil piecing his left arm. Still today this anecdote is perceived as a joke. This was a true situation. Later it was leaned that the draftsman was on medications and had a good lunch!. When time came to get new drafting tables I opted for the hydraulic one. Instead of using a stool I used an office chair with arm rest. With the hydraulic table going up and down at will I alternated between standing up and sitting. If you use an hydraulic stool it would be advisable to have some one check on you from time to time. This is further warranted if you are on medications.

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