Design for Lathe bench.

[mattfc]

I would have slight worries over the stroboscopic effect, it may play tricks with your eyes.
But that's easily countered by adding an incandescent spot to light out the spindle area.

True if it has old style tubes and ballast, fluorescent lamps using high-frequency electronic ballasts do not produce visible light flicker, since above about 5 kHz, the excited electron state half-life is longer than a half cycle, and light production becomes continuous (ballasts now operate at 40-50Khz, so you are going have to have a very fast lathe!!). In addition some of the good twin tubes run each tube alternately, providing continous light. Thankful the days of 50/60hz type flicker are going away fast!

 

[jvsteenb]

I didn?t account for that - probably because electronic ballasts as of yet aren't exactly standard around here, and the FL lighting in my shop/garage/dumping ground is of the cheap-be-it-rugged-and-waterproof kind.

But you are right, of course.

Regards,

Job

 

[waynelang2001]

Ive looked on a few woodturning websites and they mostly suggest using a good CFL. I think i will stick with that and use my old table lamp. At least that way i get the light just where i want it.

 

[mattfc]

Ive looked on a few woodturning websites and they mostly suggest using a good CFL. I think i will stick with that and use my old table lamp. At least that way i get the light just where i want it.

Given how many SA dentists we have over here in the UK, wonder if they are selling any kit off back home. I have seen dental lights for about ?100 on ebay (used) which are a superb light source.

Someone is already using for their lathe

 

[waynelang2001]

Hello all,

Im still no closer to actually building this bench but i have come up with the final design, so i though I would share.

 

[AlexThePalex]

Looks neat. I like the red and the overall colour combination.

 

[image132]

I don't know how well this would work but I'll just throw this idea out there.

For dust collection how about using a toaster type thing. Make a thin first drawer above the ones you will use as a collection for dust and chipping. Mill either holes or do a cell type form on the top to allow dust to fall into that first "dust drawer" from the lathe. so when ever you want to clean up just pull open the drawer and suck it all out.

Hope I explained myself well enough. Great design and good luck.

 

[Wood_Junkie]

I use a hood like that shown in mattfc's post on my mini-lathe.  Its gets about 60-80% of the chips.

Perhaps, take the hood and attach it via knobs onto a T-track.  Mount the T-track to the back rail of your lathe.  Then you can slide it along to wherever you need it.

 

[nclemmons]

Would you not want to think about a kick-space?  The bottom stretchers would seem to potentially interfere with your feet.  I know that sometimes I want to get really close, other times I want to put a foot forward to brace the turning tools with my arms properly, etc.

I'd think about a 4" or so clearance at the bottom so your foot could go forward as one potential change.

BTW, what do you use for rendering?  I seem to recall these are a high-end CAD program, not something you could knock out in Sketchup with a rendering plug-in!

Thanks for the inspirational designs!

neil

 

[Corwin]

Would you not want to think about a kick-space?  The bottom stretchers would seem to potentially interfere with your feet.  I know that sometimes I want to get really close, other times I want to put a foot forward to brace the turning tools with my arms properly, etc.
...

I'm with Neil on this one.  I have a mini lathe on top of a cabinet now, and don't particularly like that setup.  I would prefer a stand with the area under the lathe open.  Furthermore, I don't care to have storage directly beneath my lathe -- would rather have a cabinet to one side. 

 

[waynelang2001]

Would you not want to think about a kick-space?  The bottom stretchers would seem to potentially interfere with your feet.  I know that sometimes I want to get really close, other times I want to put a foot forward to brace the turning tools with my arms properly, etc.
...

I'm with Neil on this one.  I have a mini lathe on top of a cabinet now, and don't particularly like that setup.  I would prefer a stand with the area under the lathe open.  Furthermore, I don't care to have storage directly beneath my lathe -- would rather have a cabinet to one side. 

Neil and Corwin,

I agree that i should rethink the design to have some kick space. I have seen many professional turners that have storage space just like my design and they seem to be happy with it. Having a big open space under your lathe in a very small workshop just doesnt make sense in my opinion. Besides that the drawers will also add some much needed weight on top of the weight the bench will get when i fill the bottom with concrete bricks.

 

[waynelang2001]

Would you not want to think about a kick-space?  The bottom stretchers would seem to potentially interfere with your feet.  I know that sometimes I want to get really close, other times I want to put a foot forward to brace the turning tools with my arms properly, etc.

I'd think about a 4" or so clearance at the bottom so your foot could go forward as one potential change.

BTW, what do you use for rendering?  I seem to recall these are a high-end CAD program, not something you could knock out in Sketchup with a rendering plug-in!

Thanks for the inspirational designs!

neil

Hi Neil,

I use 3ds max 9 for all my design work and renderings. Glad you enjoy the work. [cool]

Hi Neil,

I use 3d