Lathe setup and Projects to come.

[Redneck7]

Well I haven't posted in a while. I got the lathe swapped over today to a better bench that's more stable. It's rated for 3k pounds and my manual says my lathe is 1074 pounds. If I notice the wood top sagging, I'll install some runners along the 3 bolts in some stout angle iron.

I got my QCTP installed and it should do just fine for my purposes until I get more serious. It's an accusize from Amazon, Wedge style and I have more than enough tool holders now.

Tomorrow is gonna be the day that I get to make some stuff. Couple small pins for my friends rifle. Starting my outboard spider as well. Then when I get a chance, install plastic inserts on my set screws.

 

[PeterT]

Nice. In in ideal world it would be better to have cross members oriented to the mounting pattern & integrated to the peripheral frame. Then the tabletop becomes just a secondary surface as opposed to carrying the structural load. Alternately some people beef up the thickness by laminating more wood if its a no-weld type deal. Do the feet have some form of adjustment where you can jack them up & down a bit? That will inevitably be necessary.

 

[6.5 Fan]

Looks good. I have that same Husky work bench with 2 Dillon presses on it. I ran a couple of large screws thru the back support into wall studs for a little more rigidity. Rock solid.

 

[Redneck7]

The feet are adjustable. I was going to make a new bench yesterday with some scrap steel and figured this would just be easier. The frame of the bench is pretty light but wouldn't be heard to do what you're suggesting in the picture.

I'll see how she spins today, mounting to the wall wouldn't be a bad idea either. Thanks guys.

 

[historicalarms]

he frame of the bench is pretty light

That would worry me with my lathe (same machine as yours but with different face plate)....I think I would gusset from bottom leg dividers up to center of the bench to prevent a leg fold-up for one reason or another.

 

[PeterT]

Bit of a tangent but this came up in another discussion where someone was using plywood in a loading situation. Something to the effect: 0.75" plywood sag = 0.5" under the weight, glue/nail a 2nd layer, sag = 0.3", add a third layer sag =... Kind of beam deflection but apparently other factors enter. The laminations benefit by the glue & nailing. Anyone seen a simple mans table to this effect? Maybe an option for @Redneck7 is cut up a sheet of plywood & save his nice bench table top. All I can say is MDF is another kettle of worms for these applications. Its dense and 'strong' but has different properties than plywood. And if it ever sees liquid it turns to mush.

 

[Downwindtracker2]

Rather than laminate sheets of plywood together, build a torsion box.

 

[Tom O]

Watch marketplace for a free desk top that’s solid wood.

 

[PeterT]

Yup, torsion box idea is excellent way to go if you are set up for the brown stuff. The depth provides rigidity in bending mode, I-beam concept.

 

[Redneck7]

I started messing around with a nut from an anchor bolt from a site i worked on. I'm turning this into a spider for the spindle. I need to buy a boring bar kit tomorrow when stores open. Here's the progress so far.

As for the top. I don't think it's gonna be too bad. If any deflection happens, I see it happening lengthwise, but it's still straight as an arrow. That top is 1.25" thick finger grooved laminated hardwood blocking. I'll keep an eye on it.