Oppions on a lathe stand

[Gitface]

Hi All

Will be getting my lathe soon and I relised that the bench that my dad built in the garage is just not going to cut it to stand the lathe on. So thinking camp on and I came up with this for a bench. What do you think?

Dimension of wood are roughly 75mm x 47mm construction timber.

The plan is to top in with some old counter top that I think I can make fit and also place a shelf from some bits of chipboard I've got knocking around on the bottom. The middle rail I was going to make a try like thing to pop tools on that I'm using.

Any thoughts?

Just done a quick cut list and I reckon that I would need 6 x 2.4m lengths which at B&Q cost £2.71 each for a total of £16.26.

Going to try some local timber merchants to see their prices as well.

Mark.............

 

[miles_hot]

taking a leaf out of the Hegner book you could make the top shelf and / or the bottom shelf into a tube (have a top and bottom element) and fill the void with oil damped sand to add weight?

I would also be tempted to put some diagonal elements in - either a strut or have some triangular corner plates on the top joints to resist racking (I think it's called racking anyway).

Miles

 

[Gitface]

Hi

I was cosidering cross members, looking at it I could place them from the legs (A) on to cross beam (D).

One idea I had while trying to sleep was to make a mould to cast some concret blocks that sit on the bottom bars and place the shelp on top of them.

Mark.......

 

[PowerTool]

I'd add some diagonals as well,if it's going to be free standing.
My lathe (Perform CCBL - 97 kgs) is on a bench made from 3" x 2" timbers,18mm plywood top.
It 's 6' long,has a centre set of legs as well,was built into a 6' space,and is fastened to the brick walls - and it still shakes if you get something big and off-balance on it,so the more mass you can get to it,the better.

Andrew

 

[brianhabby]

Hi Mark,

Not sure I've got any useful suggestions other than what's already been said about making it as sturdy as possible. I have a similar bench to build as I bought a lathe without a stand so will be watching this thread with interest.

I like the idea of adding sand or concrete blocks to help hold it still. Not sure what the oil in the sand is for though :?

Are you able to fasten it to a wall or anything or does it have to be free standing?

regards

Brian

 

[big soft moose]

I like the idea of adding sand or concrete blocks to help hold it still. Not sure what the oil in the sand is for though :?

it binds the sand together and stops it trickling out through small holes that might open up due to vibration.

top tip if you do do this tho - try the lathe in all possible locations in the shop before you add the sand - as it will be a pipper to move afterwards

 

[woodbloke]

I've gone down the oiled sand route. Build a long box from melamine faced chipboard, seal up the inside with silicone and then pack out with builders sand mixed with engine oil, then screw on a lid and seal it all round again...make sure you position the box under the lathe before you start to fill it with sand as it gets a tad heavy :shock: - Rob

 

[Gitface]

Hi All

So I have version 2 of the plans.

Brian: I'm trying to avoid fastening it to a wall as at some point I plan on removing the old bench and making some new ones with better storage, at this point I'll probable move the lathe. The place I'm putting it is not ideal so don't want to make it perement.

I was thinking blocks for easy moving, but thinking on it they could start to vibrate if I don't lock them down right. Thinking of the box idea I could suppend it from the bottom and that would give about 0.1 m3 of sand and oil.

Again for ease of moving I might bag this up to make it easier to take out.

Only problem I see at the minute is getting the timber, 2 seater sports cars aren't really the best car to transport 2.4m length of wood around


Mark.............