Thinking of turning again, advice sought.

[devonwoody]

Switched on the lathe a couple of times this summer, nothing serious made, just a bobbin sander.

The reason for lack of use is that the amount of wood shavings etc. obtained in my workshop/garage. I have a large amount of loose tools, containers etc. on my workshop floor (which I cannot store elsewhere) and this makes it very uncomfortable and difficult to clean out after turning.

I have just removed a shrub out in the garden and could possibly site a small shed of 6x4 or 8x6ft on the site.
I am thinking of one of those Focus £150 sheds, any advice whether this is a feasible proposition ?

Also I only have a turning plate and a four prong thingy on my Axminster M330 lathe and looking for some accessories or upgrade if anyone wants to make me an offer.

 

[duncanh]

One idea that I came up with when fed up of removing shavings and dust from shelves was to put polythene sheets over everything I want protecting. I have a sheet permanently hung in front of one set of shelves and a shower curtain that I draw in front of another that I need access to more often.

When turning something where I can direct the shavings more easily I put the bottom of the shower curtain so that it lets the shavings fall into my bin, so saving me some clean up time with the brush

As to shed size - the bigger the better, obviously
Mine is 12x6ft and is painfully small at times (literally, when I bang into things). If you have nothing but a lathe in there then you might get away with 8x6 but it really depends what else will be in there - presumably a bench with sharpening system, some sort of tool storage, finish storage, sanding supplies etc.

Accessory wise it depends on what you plan on turning. With what you've got you should be able to manage most spindle projects and bowls - remember in the old days fancy chucks weren't available so you can get away without one (although they do make things a hell of a lot easier).

 

[Alie Barnes]

I turn out of a 8x 6 shed in the garden, i have a bench for the grinder, bench for lathe bolted to slabs and a bandsaw at the end. i can still swing a cat but storage is an issue. but as long as you dont clutter it up its fine.

I like having my little shed. But you are right the clearing up is an issue it aways looks messy.

 

[Bodrighy]

I work from a 10 x 6 shed and like Duncan I find it is at times cramped but that wouldn't be sucha problem if I had only the lathe and necesseray accessories. As a flat worlder I am sure that you could easily rig a set of shelves and cupboards with covers / doors etc under your lathe to store a lot of your bits and pieces such as sanding materials and finishes. The grinder could be on a small movable stand and the tools slotted into a rock behind the lathe. It can be done though it would be very 'compact and bijou' as the estate agents might put it :lol:

The lathe you have is a min lathe isn't it? which cuts down on a lot of your needed space. Prp of the wood with bands saw etc could be done in your main workshop as could wood storage.

As far as chucks etc are concerned you can make most thing with what you have if you also use glue chucks. I'd go for it personally. Unless you have ambitions to make tables, big bowls etc then it is certainly possible with good planning.

Pete

 

[Jenx]

Get stuck in John ... you know you want to !

Good luck with it, and all the best.