Under lathe storage and weight cabinet done.

[Sparky Paessler]

Well this is not a turning project but it is for my lathe. I wanted to make a cabinet for under my new G0766 lathe to store all the various turning stuff that we seem to collect and I also wanted to add a little weight to it so after thinking about various options I decided to completely replace the legs and build a whole new cabinet. I used some 2x4's, 2x6's, the shipping crate, a sheet of 1/2" plywood and some old 2 1/2" thick maple boards I had been moving around for 20 years to build it. I made chambers down both sides and across the top and added 450lb of sand to it. All total I think the cabinet weighs around 650 lb. 5 large 28" deep drawers should hold quite a bit of stuff. I still need to mount a piece of 80/20 on the headstock end that will stick up over the headstock to mount my hollowing TV on and I am thinking about building a 20" extension to the bed so I can slide the tail stock down out of the way of the hollowing rig so that I don't have to pick it up off the lathe. By replacing the legs I also was able to lower the lathe an inch which is a better height for me.

[Bill Bulloch]

That's a nice looking set up.

[John McCaskill]

Nice cabinet. Your solution follows the same route mine did, I salute your thought process and finished project as well.

[Randy Red Bemont]

Nicely done and great looking.

Red

[daryl moses]

I'm jealous!! Nice job.

[Roger Chandler]

Well thought out design, Sparky! You have a great setup there! Do you have feet on the cabinet, or did you put casters on it ao you could make it mobile?

[Doug Ladendorf]

Terrific cabinet Sparkey. That should be super solid.

[Sparky Paessler]

Well thought out design, Sparky! You have a great setup there! Do you have feet on the cabinet, or did you put casters on it ao you could make it mobile?

Roger
I used the feet off the original legs. The old floor is quite unlevel so I needed to be able to adjust for that. Didn't want to make it mobile as the lathe and cabinet total about 1200 lb.

All

Thanks! It seems that it going to be really stable and I know I will love the storage.

[Thom Sturgill]

Nice looking cabinet and about the right number of drawers. The sand should give plenty of ballast and since you use a hollowing rig, not as much need to stand at the end.

Consider making an insert similar to a kitchen drawer insert for tableware to keep spindle accessories in. I did when I built my drawers and it has proven very handy. Drive centers in one slot, worm screws in another, jacobs in a third and live center a fourth. Other slots for other commonly used items like the green weeny, small brushes, tailstock chuck adapter, spindle thread adapter, etc.

[Sparky Paessler]

Nice looking cabinet and about the right number of drawers. The sand should give plenty of ballast and since you use a hollowing rig, not as much need to stand at the end.

Consider making an insert similar to a kitchen drawer insert for tableware to keep spindle accessories in. I did when I built my drawers and it has proven very handy. Drive centers in one slot, worm screws in another, jacobs in a third and live center a fourth. Other slots for other commonly used items like the green weeny, small brushes, tailstock chuck adapter, spindle thread adapter, etc.

Thanks Thomas! Still trying to get all basic cabinet stuff finished! :) Will worry about the drawer inserts later after I use it some but your idea of putting some in is a good one. Once I get the TV mount built and decide on the bed extension and make it (or not) then maybe I will move on to drawer inserts. Might actually use it to turn something one day! :) Although the pictures seem to indicate otherwise you could still stand at the end and turn, I never seemed to do that though. Might buff off the end.

[Roger Chandler]

Roger
I used the feet off the original legs. The old floor is quite unlevel so I needed to be able to adjust for that. Didn't want to make it mobile as the lathe and cabinet total about 1200 lb.

All

Thanks! It seems that it going to be really stable and I know I will love the storage.

Thanks for that info, Sparky......I could not tell on my ipad if they were the feet off the lathe, or leveling casters. When I get my new shop, I may "borrow" your design for my G0766, but may use leveling casters on it for mobility and stability when needed. 1200 lbs. should serve you well!

That is truly an impressive and functional lathe cabinet!

[Jon Nuckles]

Sparky,
That is a fine looking cabinet, particularly the matched drawer fronts. That big 766 looks like a midi lathe mounted on top of that cabinet! I am impressed that you were able to repurpose some of the Grizzly crate. Your shipper must be a lot more careful than UPS Freight in Chicago. I have received two crated Grizzly machines, and the crates barely held together long enough to get the tools out of them and get them to the dumpster.
Congratulations.

[Sparky Paessler]

Got my TV mount for my video hollowing rig mounted to the bench this afternoon.

[Michelle Rich]

stellar job..very well done..my only quibble is I think your feet will bang into the cabinet while you work..I find that totally annoying so I had to extend my top.

[Sparky Paessler]

Thanks Jon and Michelle!

MIchelle you make a good point about my feet hitting it. Don't know if that will bother me or not. If it does I think I can cut a toe kick area out in the bottom of the front and fix it hopefully!