Having recently built a workshop & bought my first lathe I am looking for advice on where to site the lathe. Is it a good idea to put it in front of a window? Would it be better to site it so that I have a solid wall behind me? If I had a bad catch which direction would the gouge travel?
Thanks for looking
Andy.
I have always mounted my lathes either on a patio, outdoors or in winter, infront of the window. I have never had anything hit the window infront of the lathe. If something is going to give it usually goes towards the front of the lathe.... Have fun with it........ Ken
-- Ken & Debbie Bullock (Woodturners)
Hi Ken, thanks for the reply. By the front of the lathe do you mean the side you would stand on to use the lathe?
Cheers
Andy.
If I had a window in my shop, I would put the headstock end of the lathe towards it, with the other end out into the room. I find the I work around the tailstock end of the lathe and like that away from the wall. Also it keeps the window out of the line where things get thrown from the lathe. The danger area, when you are standing at the lathe turning with the headstock to your left and tailstock to your right, is towards you, straight up, and straight away from you. Which is why you should step to the side when you first start turning a new piece. And also why you don't want the window on the back side of the lathe.
The headstock end gives you the light from the side, and you can still glance over and see what is going on outside without it distracting you.
-- Rusty Myers Austin, TX
If it were me, I would position the lathe so the window were at the tailstock end and about 3 feet from the end - that way, it will provide indirect light and not be in the line of fire.
Interesting responces, I never thought of all these technical lighting problems, I just like my lathe sited where I can look out the window, I like to look at the birds and what ever else might go by my window. I don't like to turn indoors at anytime, but have to when the snow is flying, which seems to be all the time up here in Atlantic Canada...... As for being distracted, I have always been distracted, I think that is what I like about woodturning, it is like riding a bicycle, it doesn't require one to think too hard.....It is a skill and only requires practice and technique to master..... I don't like to appear opinionated, so I would advise you to put your lathe in several place and see which one you like better.... because, like with anything else in life, there are as many opinions of how to do something as there are people doing that thing and they are all right for who ever does it........ SO, do what ever you wish, just have fun doing it....... Good turning.... Ken.....
-- Ken & Debbie Bullock (Woodturners)
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