Lathe table?

[Toni Stennett]

I am new to turning and need to get organized. My husbands assembly tableis too high as well as all the other work surfaces because I am only 5'2" short. My husband wanted to see what others are doing before he builds me something that will hold my tool and supplies as well as incorprate dust collection. I have a small Rikon midi lathe and will probaly end up getting the bed extention. I would appreiciate an help and or pictures.

[David E Keller]

I've got the same lathe and love it. I have mine sitting on the front right corner of a bench. I've not secured it to the bench because I often turn the lathe when hollowing bowls and boxes to get a better angle. If I built a stand I would make it as small as possible to allow me to work around the front and tailstock ends of the lathe... That might not be possible with a bed extension. I use a computer moniter stand to mount a dust collection hose. It sits on the bench behind the lathe and is mobile so that I can move it around for the best possible location for whatever I'm turning. If you choose to build a stand, there are a number of ways to store turning tools but I don't like drawers with loose tools because I think they bang together which can't be good for the cutting edge. Also, whatever your setup, being close to your sharpening station would be a good thing. In my case, the grinder/wolverine setup is just the the left of the headstock on the same bench so that I can just step to the left and touch up the edge and get right back to turning. Sand paper, paper towels, and finishes are nice to have nearby. Also, you might want to incorporate a place to stash calipers within reach. Lighting would be my final thought... I've installed a dedicated light directly over my lathe which has helped immensely. That's the stuff that comes to my mind as far as setup goes. Have fun

[Kyle Iwamoto]

I think a good starting height is elbow high at the spindle. Is that your question? You may have to adjust after that.

I put my Jet Mini on a 25 buck CL rolling tool chest. (It's short) The expensive tool chests are all to high for me. Put tools and stuff in the drawers. Almost always handy, but lots of tools are too long for the drawers. Put some weight (more tools, steady rest etc) in the bottom, to help the rocking. Since I really don't have a shop, everything is on wheels.

[phil harold]

scroll thru some of these threads

http://sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=65230

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=39494

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=68596


I like my lathe spindle to be a few inches higher than my elbow...