Lathe Work

[Commander]

Last weekend I completed a pair of the legs for the lathe bench. The thrill of achievement was short lived as I realized that with the heavy bench top and then the lathe, everything was still top heavy and while I might be able to bolt the lathe to the bench top, I would find the whole thing laying on its side.

The solution is an easy one if not for the work, but with the speed I am getting this all accomplished, it will be a while before I am turning anything in numbers.

[Commander]

The bench is coming along slowly, but this picture

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will show you what I am now concerned about. the two one by eights will be applied to the sides as aprons, but thenconcern is that I built it too narrow and with the weight of the lathe on top it will be top heavy. Even though it is sturdy, I may have to add some feet to the legs to keep it from tilting.

Right now it is just in test fit stage and not glued and screwed together.

[Commander]

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Here are the legs to the bench with the additions on the bottom that cost me five stitches last week. Back to the final assembly, two weeks later.

[Commander]

Finally, All over except the turning.

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Well, to tell the truth, the hold down brace on the left side cracked when I was screwing in some reinforcement screws (oh the irony ) But that will be the work of five minutes tomorrow. Then I might actually turn something.

Then again, maybe not, I'm so tired of looking at this thing, I might take a day or two away from it.

[Joe Wooten]

Looks good Bernie!

[Commander]

and already I am beginning to deface it. Off camera, stage left, I have a magnetic strip attached for holding lathe accouterments. Also there is a piece of pegboard with a holder for multiple screwdrivers I am using for my turning tools. Well the magnetic strip is crowded and didn't hold certain items very well. One of those items, a rod with a ball on the end for knocking out spindles and other Morse Taper equipment would roll off. I took my drill, bored an appropriate size hole, and now the item is handy by the head of the lathe. Another item, the chuck key, due to a lack of space on the accouterments holders was just sitting on a nearby bench, waiting to get lost. A 1" spade bit and the problem was solved as the chuck key now also has a home near the head of the lathe were it will be handy when needed.

Two of the lathe tools don't fit in the holder, a large skew and a gouge. I test fitted them in the 1" chuck key hole and they fit pretty well. I haven't drilled the holes yet, I'm not sure if I want the handles sticking up in the work area.