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Lathes setup.

Glenn Lefley

Glenn Lefley

Joined
Jul 10, 2017
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Location
Windermere, British Columbia
I’m trying to set up a garage shop. It’s a 2 1/2 car garage, which will never see a car,

24 by 40. I’ve seen at schools etc too lathes setup on angles. Is there any where I can find info on the best way to setup two full size lathes up. Ones my wife’s. Ie. spacing etc . I see the classes always have them on angles in case something flies off etc. I found one resources in woodturning fundamentals, but I am looking for a more detailed shop setup including all the other tools bandsaw, unisaw etc that other people or businesses have found functional. We just bought the house so want a forever setup so can duct in dust control etc.
Scetches would be awesome. With suggested measurements between equipment.
 
Nice size work space!
Part of it is personal preference part is safety.

I like to be able to walk all around the lathe and be able to sweep/shovel shavings easily.

Consider the main danger zone for both the turner and other shop users.
The area 2 feet in front of the headstock perpendicular to the lathe in both directions is the danger zone for pieces that might break off from the turning. You want these aimed away from areas where shop,users might walk.

The grinder should be close to both lathes and not require either turner to walk through the danger zone of either lathe to use it.

Partitions can be used to wall off the danger zone
 
A good way to start is with some graph paper. Scale all your equipment down and cut out squares equal to the size of all your equipment. In addition to tools, make sure to include workbenches and permanent storage you plan to include. Moving the paper cutouts around can help visualize the space needed for each tool/work area.

Next, think about lighting and power requirements and restrictions. Are you going to wire the shop to suit your needs? Any windows you want close to work area/lathe for extra light. Add lights as needed above work spaces?

In arranging the shop think about your workflow. How, and what type/size of wood are you bringing into the shop. Through an overhead door, or walk in door? When wood is being moved into the shop is it being processed into blanks on the band saw, or cut on the table saw before being stored.

Although it can be a pain, you can also tape out shapes of the tools on the floor of the shop to see how things fit and space you have to maneuver around things.

If all else fails, move the tools in, start using them and any changes that need to be made will become quickly apparent.
 
The cutouts on graph paper are a great tool.
Also remember that every stationary tool has an invisible buffer of a few inches on all the sides where people walk around.
You will find that out as soon as you have them in place.
I am happy that most of my machines ( except my main lathe ) are easily movable.
 
Tim hit the nail on the head. You need to consider all of the other tools, storage, etc.

If your shop will be dedicated to turning the focus will be on the lathes. If you do other work then design it as a general shop.

I have my lathe in a corner in my shop against the wall. I ran the DC to it and put in track lighting above it.
 
Delivering heat to your shop may produce zones that you might not want to spend extended hours working. I would also consider that my needs could change. Forever is a long time.
 
Some good tips so far . I would add to that There is no permanent shop setup. Between flat woodworking and turning areas in my shop get either a major ort minor rearrangement at least once or twice a year. And with that I still cannot say I have the perfect setup.....maybe I am too picky. My shop is 24 x 36 and includes half dedicated to flatwork and half to round work.
Allow for a way to curtain off each lathe when roughing out or you will have shavings all over the shop. Shower curtains work well and there are a number of ways to hang them from wire to rods.
Tool storage ideas are abundant but for those tools you rarely build or buy a chest so they do not catch all that dust.
For the tools and accessories used on both lathes (deep hollowing rigs, drill bits and such) create a common area between the two lathes.
The biggest problem I have to solve with each arrangement I have had is supply of electrical outlets. A drop from the ceiling works well . Also you can build your own outlet station with a bank of outlets attached to a board and attached to the lathe or a large surge suppressor. Also you might want a switch to cut power to the lathes when you leave the shop.
Air supply can be noisy so pipe in from outside or give it a special room. The same holds true for a dust collector. Also I have recently added a second air cleaner hanging from the ceiling and that helps a lot in our size space.
Wood storage is a constant search so will it be outside (some) or inside and what racks will you use for that.
Hope some of this helps as I know you asked only for arrangement and all this will influence the placement of tools.
 
As Gerald mentioned above electrical distribution in a shop area is a constant struggle when moving equipment. Many commercial and industrial shops use a bus-duct or bus-plug power distribution system which can be moved along the system at any time to allow for equipment moves. A similar system is a Unistrut system which can contain the wiring to distribute the power along the channel which also supports outlets that can be installed anywhere along the strut system which is hung from the ceiling joist system. This strut system can also support the linear lighting luminaires that are used to light the shop area. This strut system also allows moving the lighting luminaires anywhere along the strut system. The strut system uses a closure cover that contains the electrical wiring inside the strut and satisfies electrical code requirements as a conduit/enclosure system. If you plan ahead and install a power distribution system in your shop that provides flexibility you will save money in the long run. If you rely on hiring an electrician each time you make changes in your shop, the labor costs add up quickly, installing a versatile system will allow for quick easy moves that the owner can accomplish if they follow basic electrical safety LOTO procedures.
 
Another cost effective power distribution system used in a shop area is the Wiremold cable management wall system and power strips. For general purpose 120V outlets they offer a system that is installed horizontally along a wall with outlets spaced along the system. For higher voltages and ampacities they make a wiring enclosure system with removeable covers that are installed horizontally along the wall to house the wiring and outlets anywhere along the enclosure system. If you move a machine, you move the outlet to the new location along the system and re-term the outlet to the wiring inside the cable management system on the wall. You have a slightly higher initial installed cost but you can make changes along the length of the cable management system reusing the components of the system which allows adding additional wiring and outlets and switches anywhere along the system at anytime. Depending on the voltage and amperage requirements they make a 2000, 3000, 4000, 5000, 6000 series systems which are used in schools, hospitals, offices, industrial and commercial applications. Anyone building a shop and office will save money by using these systems.
 
I have three lathes set up, although one is small and on a stand with casters. My lathes are at right angles near the corner of the room with the floor model drill press in the corner between them. I keep one 12x 36 set up for one operation and another lathe for other operations. I hate changing tools and accessories around. I keep my lathe tools and accessories in a 4 drawer metal mechanics cabinet on casters from Harbor freight. It has large shelf under the 4 drawers. (cost on sale $109) On the lid to the top, I mounted two magnetic strips to hold my commonly used lathe tools up right. I can move the tool cabinet from lathe to lathe easily. The only thing I have not set up yet on a permanent stand is my grinder. My 2 lathes and drill press take up an area about 8 ft on one wall and 8 feet on the other.
 
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