lathe height

[Dave Fritz]

I'm finding I have a lot of pain in my right shoulder after a full day of turning. I had my wife measure the difference between my bent elbow and the spindle center and found my elbow was 1.5 inches lower. I assume I've been reaching up with the shoulder to get the correct angle for cutting and in so doing stressed my shoulder.

My plan is to build a platform that's 1.5 inches higher and see if that corrects the shoulder problem.

Does this seem reasonable?

Dave F.

 

[MichaelMouse]

IF that's the reason for the fatigue. Have her take a picture of you making your standard cut and see where your fist is. More meaningful, because most people drop the handle of the tool a bit. If your upper arm is vertical, and the whole half flexed, or more, you're going to want to look elsewhere.

Might want to use more body and less arm to get the tool moving.

 

[n7bsn]

Maybe Dave, I would mess with platform height until I knew what was right for you.

For me, having the lathe higher then my elbow is what is right for me, lower I end up too hunched over.

Remember the height of the spindle-elbow is a guideline, not a rule, everyone is a little different

 

[john lucas]

Lathe height is an arbitrary thing based on your comfort. Tool rest height and how you use a tool also has an affect on comfort. Experimentation is the key. Ilike my spindle height to be about 1 1/2" above center. If I did more hollowing this would probably be too high for me but is comfortable for most work that I do.

 

[Patrick Miller]

IF that's the reason for the fatigue. Have her take a picture of you making your standard cut and see where your fist is. More meaningful, because most people drop the handle of the tool a bit. If your upper arm is vertical, and the whole half flexed, or more, you're going to want to look elsewhere.

Might want to use more body and less arm to get the tool moving.

I really think the more body, less arm for tool motion is the key. Spindle height seems a bit more of a preference than an exact science. As I have become a better turner and learned to use my whole body as an extension of the tool much of the stress and fatigue have abated. David Ellsworth spends a fair amount of time in his "Ellsworth on Woodturning" book talking about stretching and exercise. There is a bit of athleticism in the turning art.

 

[hockenbery]

Sort of along the lines of what Patrick, Michael, others have said.

I find it important to work with good posture. Back straight.
I turn mostly with my legs shifting weight from one foot to other turning a little at the hips.
Leaning forward and back. Tool handle tight to my body when possible.

This yields smooth curves and is easy on the body all the forces go into the tool rest.

What are you turning? If it is spindle work and you continually reach up with the hand holding the handle to let the tool work, A Lower lathe height maybe the answer.

A lot of scraping can be tough on the body. It gets worse the further over the tool rest you work.
Here a higher lathe can let you anchor the tool handle more in your arm pit reducing the stress on the shoulder.

Could be as simple as gripping the tool too hard try opening oh hand as you work thumb and palm should be plenty to hold the handle against your side.

If you don't correct the problem it is likely to get worse.

Good luck,
Al

 

[Jake Gevorgian]

Dave, all the experts here have brought many important notes, from body muscles---leg muscles being stronger than hand, shoulder muscles---to type of turning, spindle vs. bowl.
I think in any case, a floor mat is a wise idea, because you'd be standing on concrete floor (I assume.) So, if that's the case, consider putting some kind of an industrial floor mat for your feet.
By the way, do you usually feel vibration on your hands passed from the tool?

Cheers

 

[Dave Fritz]

The injury came at a workshop. I was turning on an older Delta lathe that was not very user friendly. The tool rest locks slipped as did the tail stock. I think I was really stressed and held myself really tight while working on that lathe roughing out a 15 inch bowl. We then cored them out but that didn't seem too bad.

I guess being a little long in the tooth and having some issues with arthritis makes me more problem prone. I may end up having to stick with smaller material and/or spindle work.

I'm going to build a platform out of plywood, then put a mat over that so the working area is more user friendly. Concrete gets old fast.

Thanks for the comments and suggestions.

Dave F.

 

[Steve Worcester]

The injury came at a workshop. I was turning on an older Delta lathe that was not very user friendly. The tool rest locks slipped as did the tail stock. I think I was really stressed and held myself really tight while working on that lathe roughing out a 15 inch bowl. We then cored them out but that didn't seem too bad.

I guess being a little long in the tooth and having some issues with arthritis makes me more problem prone. I may end up having to stick with smaller material and/or spindle work.

I'm going to build a platform out of plywood, then put a mat over that so the working area is more user friendly. Concrete gets old fast.

Thanks for the comments and suggestions.

Dave F.

If you think it s lathe height , with the lathe being too high, throw down a 1/2 sheet of 1/2" plywood with the mat on top and see if that is more comfortable. Try it for a few days. If uncomfortable, try another 1/2" for a few days. Depending on the lathe, if it is on a bench, you could adjust leg height...

 

[Dave Fritz]

Thanks Steve,

I did make a platform that is 1.5 inches high and have a mat over that. Yesterday I roughed out a walnut bowl and it went really well. My Jet 16/42 is as low as it will go.

Truthfully I think the injury happened at the workshop where the lathe was not user friendly and I was stressed out. I was holding myself tight all over. When the instructor asked if I wanted another blank to work on I said no, I already got my money's worth.

At my age and in the health condition I'm in maybe I'll just have to tell instructors I go at my own pace and pick up what I can as I need it. I know many feel they need to work extra hard so folks feel like they get their money's worth. Maybe that's another topic.

Thanks again for the information.

Dave F.

 

[john lucas]

Dave Don't forget about exercise. I know that's probably a bad word around wood turners but I firmly believe that weight lifting, stretching, and aerobic exercise helps me stay at the lathe more comfortably.
I do have arthritis problems(who doesn't at my age). I find that walking and bicycling keeps it at bay. One of the best things I did for the shop was put put in a chinning bar. Hanging from that really relieves stress on your back. Of course if you can do a few pullups while your there it strengthens your back, and arms.
I'm short and had to lower my Powermatic all the way to make it comfortable for long stretches.

 

[MichaelMouse]

At my age and in the health condition I'm in maybe I'll just have to tell instructors I go at my own pace and pick up what I can as I need it. I know many feel they need to work extra hard so folks feel like they get their money's worth. Maybe that's another topic.

If you're using someone else's grind you may have to bend to get them cutting as you prefer even if you're at your own lathe. I prefer to keep the equation to a single variable and bring my own tools.

How's that old saying go? Work smarter, not harder?

 

[CleteBoothby]

Dave,

When we teach classes to new folks looking to turn, we teach them " The Dance". Use all your large muscle groups, legs, shoulders upper body and less arm movement away from your body. Start with your weight on your left foot (if your intending to move right) and as you move down your shifting from left to center to right without exerting stress on your arms and shoulders and incorporating the larger muscles causing less fatigue and stress.

I hope that helps!

 

[n7bsn]

Dave Don't forget about exercise. I know that's probably a bad word around wood turners but I firmly believe that weight lifting, stretching, and aerobic exercise helps me stay at the lathe more comfortably.
I do have arthritis problems(who doesn't at my age). I find that walking and bicycling keeps it at bay. One of the best things I did for the shop was put put in a chinning bar. Hanging from that really relieves stress on your back. Of course if you can do a few pullups while your there it strengthens your back, and arms.....

😀
Yup. I have Martial Arts background and I find myself using that as I turn. Just yesterday I was sanding the shaft of a Bubinga cane and noticed I was shifting from Tiger Stance right to Tiger Stance left as I sanded up and down the shaft.
I also often note I move from front to back stance as I form a bowl.

The advantage these stances has if is your knees are slightly bent, which allows up to move more easily

 

[Odie]

I believe the common "rule of thumb" is to have the lathe spindle at the same height as your elbow. As others have pointed out, this is a general concept, and won't be true for everyone. I've experienced zero physical problems with my spindle height, and my lathe spindle is very close to exactly the height of my elbow.......so, it would seem that the theory does have merit! I purchased my current lathe in 1992, so my spindle height is definitely the right height for my use.

Right now, I'm 5' 7 1/2" (but at nearly 63yrs old, I've shrunk from my former 5' 9 1/4" when I was 20)......anyway, I'm very close to the average height of men.....or, was!

Lathe turners taller than 5' 9", and shorter than 5' 7", will most likely need to adjust the spindle height......that is, if they spend any serious time at the lathe.

ooc

 

[Jake Gevorgian]

LOL Odie 🙂 you've a great humor!

Someone has to come up with an auto-adjusting lathe height device. 0.001" per day or so.

Cheers
Jake

 

[KellyDunn]

Dave, here a lot of turners took the idea from Jack Straka but put the spindle height chest high. My first major back surgury was in 89. The doctor was the one to tell me to put the shaft high and use platforms. For jack and myself I found out standing straight really helps the back. My shoulders are another thing depending on what I turn. I had other turners watch me turn and all said I was slightly bent over. No wonder my back hurt. When I had a lathe made the shaft was high. I now turn on a oneway 2436 and cast it higher in concrete. I also besides platforms use rubber mats and wear rockport walking shoes. For spindle and hollow vessel work the platform makes it much more comfortable. A high spindle can bother folks at first cause the turning is in your face. This getting older stuff is not fun on the body. I find I have to take walks to get the body in other movements. So the only rule is the one that works for you.