New lathe with Stand almost done??

[tjchigh71]

So tell me what you think? Got the DVR last day of the year and needed to take advantage of all the space below. I built the frame and drawers out of Baltic birch all 1" or 3/4" dividers and drawers accept bottoms are all 1/2" faces are wormy maple it added alot of weight very stable,should I build the last three drawers ? Or not? I like the foot rest capacity of the open shelves but they get messy, I may just put drop leave type fronts on them.
Still some work on the top and back as I plan to incorporate dust collection across the length of the bed I dont think it'll pull all the chips but it'll give me some where to sweep it to like a wide floor sweep? Still in the design stage?
I cant afford to fill them with anymore tools LOL You guys should have warned me. I also haven't decided on the pulls yet I'm thinking to just change the pink cord for a leather lace so I don't have anything to bang into.
Thanks
Tim

 

[colinsp]

DVR bench

Tim,
You may find a couple of problems with your bench. I have my DVR on an all wooden version and whilst you are turning every time that you open a drawer some shavings fall in so make sure that it is easy to get the drawers out for emptying! Also for some turnings I find that I want to get very close to the lathe and I kept a 4" high foot slot at the bottom so my toes were able to go beneath the bottom shelf / drawer. With all that said it is a very nice addition to the standard Nova legs. 😎

Colin
www.turnspain.com

 

[Bill Boehme]

My initial reaction is the same as what Colin stated. It looks like there is not enough room to allow you to get sufficiently close to the lathe and the result may be back and shoulder strain from leaning over rather than standing upright with your body close to the bed of the lathe.

Bill

 

[MichaelMouse]

I fall firmly on the other side of the furniture/function debate, so take this for what it's worth. I'd put a set of sides and top on the cabinet and rebuild my lathe stand.

Two points already mentioned are that you've put yourself too far from the lathe, without leaving much room to even tuck your toes under, and you've created a nest of debris-catchers in those drawers. Since you're far away from the wall already, wouldn't have been a nice idea to make a square-sided cabinet (or negative slant, as with some old lathe stands) with forward-slanted front legs to take the down thrust? Would answer the problem of inadequate access for you, and excessive access for other things hoping to fall behind and between. With an inch or so lip on the front of the top, it would give a bit of protection for the drawers as well. I have drawers right under the top, by the way, and even with the lip I find myself cleaning them fairly often because I knock into the heaps on the top while rummaging. Perhaps next mod will include the classic workbench drawer door.

Then there's the shaving removal problem you have left yourself by accepting what some Nimrod lathe-maker decided was adequate clearance under the bed. Ought to make that guy or girl go around and hook long wet shavings out through all those narrow openings for a few weeks, and maybe we'd see some changes. My changes were simple plywood feet for the lathe mounting points to lift the whole 1 1/2" above the tabletop, and I don't even cringe much when I drop the pin out of the chuck or the bit out of the hollower, because I can get my whole hand under there, magnet included. Old lathe often found me with a magnet on a stick trying to pick up the whatever which had fallen between the ways. Or using a hook to incrementally remove shavings which I now grab or sweep and scrape forward, over the lip and into the open drawers ... disregard ... into the open bag underneath.

This from a guy who got his 3000 almost a year before you got yours, and used and heartily cursed his mod 1 stand on the old lathe for over ten years. The original, which was itself inadequate, was used for the first dozen. Lots of ideas, little energy. Already two ideas for the next one, which will house a 3520. Covered drawers like the classic workbench, and a better bag hook setup under the lip in front. By then I'll be old(er) and my back will feel even less like bending.

 

[john lucas]

Nice Stand. Personally I like drawers. They do eventually get shavings in them so once every 6 months I dump them out. Doesn't take much work. I found shelves were harder to clean off when I have losts of stuff on there to clean around. I usually just use the dust collector hose and have sucked up rulers, pencils and all sorts of things which leads to panic trying to get the dust collector shut off before it hits the fan.
My only change in your stand would be to take out the bottom 3 or 4 inches so you can get your toes under there if needed. I like to stand very close to the lathe for some cuts. It's also easier to speep under the lathe.

 

[Brian McInturff]

Just do a recess cut on the bottom shelf about 4 inches in for the entire length. To take care of the fallen shavings getting in the drawers make a drop down or roll down canvas curtain. It can just drop down over the drawers and be attached along the top. Use the venetian blind design with a cord to make it easy to raise and lower.Canvas works best for this as its strong enough to withstand any abuse. Just a different perspective to think about that wouldn't take to much effort to add.
Brian

 

[Jeff Jilg]

Tim - that's a really nice set of drawers. I've done hundreds of hours of turning. You need that space under the lathe for your feet. Those drawers are nice enough that you could possibly mount them on a wall or put them near the lathe. Just my opinion.

 

[Barry Craven]

Lathe Stand

Hi Tim,I had this stand built a couple of years ago it's weight is 305 lbs less the lathe, lagged into a 6" concrete floor with 5/8"anchors and it's columns are filled with shot, its solid in all direction's, I thought about putting some drawers into the frame but resisted the temptation, its easy to move around and comfortable at 46.5" high.
I like your drawers, nice job if it works for you thats all that counts. :cool2:

 

[tjchigh71]

Thanks for the input Guys!!
I agree about the foot space. I wished I had thought it thru / had more experience to base it on but nevertheless my work space is very tight thus the need for built in type arangement. I am probably going to wait on the last three drawers/shelves and will probably cut them back for added foot room.
The drawers do come out very easily and so far no real problems with chips / dust infiltrating when closed quick shot with vacumn when cleaning up or shot from compressor does it. I do wish I'd raised the lathe headstock / bed off the stand but I have small hands so I'll deal with that I have also thought about extending a ledge from the underside of the bed but I like the canvas roll up Idea alot. I will certainly change it all if I ever get out of the small basement location only 21' x 11' narrowing down to 9' wide for10 ' of the length. With all the tools and not much assembly area you learn to get by.
Tim

 

[Mr. Don]

drawers

All this is real nice....better to put your efforts into wall racks and/or a nice roll-a-round, and build hell-for-stout shelves under the lathe for sandbags. They will serve you better if you try to turn a very lop-sided hunk of wood....and are a lot easier to clean!!!!

 

[TurningDog]

Tim - that's a really nice set of drawers. I've done hundreds of hours of turning. You need that space under the lathe for your feet. Those drawers are nice enough that you could possibly mount them on a wall or put them near the lathe. Just my opinion.

I agree with jeff that having feet space under the lathe is important, at least to he and I it is. I an having a problem of how best to add it to my new lathe and stand. The cast iron legs are great but in the end I think I am going with sand or concrete filled box as I need every bit of antivibration I can get in my shop and a 1000 pounds of stand are what it is going to take..