?? Mini Lathe position on stand...

[John Sanford]

I'm finishing up a stand for a Jet mini lathe inspired by one I saw one Wood magazine's site. The stand's top is 17.5" wide and 49.5" long. A grinder will reside on one end.

My questions are two:


Should the lathe be on the long axis centerline, or would it be better to shift it towards the front or back edge of the stand?
Left (headstock) or right end for the grinder?

[Gordon Seto]

1. Towards the front. It will allow you stand close to your work.
2. Left for grinder. Tail stock towards the end of the stand if you don't have a bed extension. It will allow you access from the tail stock end. You have to allow room for you tool handle swing during hollowing.

[Cyril Griesbach]

If you mount a grinder on the left make sure you leave room for the knockout bar.

[Thomas Bennett]

Please post some photos when you finish the stand. I want to make one for our lathe club.

[John Sanford]

Thomas,
My buddy (it's actually his lathe, but the rest of the shop is mine, all mine, mwahahahahahahahahha) brought his digital camera over yesterday, we'll be taking some pictures of it tomorrow before final assembly, then assembled sans the lathe and grinder, then with both mounted. I'll be sure to post them.

Gordon,

On the swing for hollowing, please be a bit more specific. I have very little turning experience, and what little I have is spindles. Pretty much getting a little familiarity with the tools, that's it. I actually haven't even done a project on the lathe yet. As a result, I'm not even to the point of knowing what I don't know until something I don't know jumps right up in my face. ;)

[Gordon Seto]

John,

You can see from this Nick Cook YouTube video. You will need a lot of clearance on the right of the lathe bed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERog06dvWew&feature=channel_page

I would also like to caution you on YouTube videos. This Nick Cook and Jet series is very good. Most of them are good. But there are some real bad "what not to do" disguised as the how to video. Some are just dangerous. It would be better to join a local AAW turning club. They have good resource. It would shorten your learning curve and is the best bargain in turning.

[Gordon Seto]

BTW,

You also need clearance between the grinder and the lathe. You need room to swing your tool for side grinds.

[Steve Campbell]

John. Just one more thing to think about is where the grinding sparks will go when you are sharpening your tools. I think I would be VERY careful having the grinder and the lathe on the same stand. At the very least make sure you clean off all the wood chips before using the grinder. Those chips can smolder for a long time. If you are anything like me I have wood chips all over the place when turning. Don't forget the nice little curlies laying all over the floor either. Just a couple of sparks in that pile could spoil your whole day.

Steve

[John Sanford]

Steve,

Thanks for the reminder, but the truth is, this project is a solution to exactly what you've said. A true dedicated grinder stand is likely in the cards down the road. Until then, this serves to get the grinder off a large (55gallon or so) trash can that serves as the repository for long offcuts.

For those interested, this beastie (http://www.woodstore.net/enlarge.html?http://us.st12.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/woodstore_2042_95663154) http://www.woodstore.net/enlarge.html?http://us.st12.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/woodstore_2042_95663154 is the inspiration for my stand. Mind you, it was the layout of the two tools that got my interest. My construction is a wee bit different.