VL300 lathe height adjustment

[Cliff Rogers]

I started this thread in answer to another member's request via a PM.

I tried different heights on my small Jet Mini lathe to work out what I liked best.
I am 5'11" (180cm) & I stand on a piece of dense foam rubber that is about 1.5" (40mm).
My elbow is about half way between the bed & the centre height.
I bought a piece of galvanised box steel 5" x 3" (125mm x 75mm) cut into 2 lengths to suit the feet of my lathe.
Marked out the place on the floor by drawing around the lathe feet, moved it, positioned the box over the marks & dynabolted them to the floor.
Did that by drilling holes in the box & marking the floor through the holes, then drilling the floor & putting the bolts in, dropped the box over the bolts & put the nuts on.
Then lifted the lathe up onto the box & bolted it to the box.
I didn't put any rubber between the joints.
My lathe has levelling bolts at each corner.
Once you have it level, you can tighten the nuts through the open end of the box.
There are pics here & there is a close up attached.
http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...1&d=1157342701 (http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/attachment.php?attachmentid=29841&d=1157342701)
http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...0&d=1157342701

The steel ruler in the close up is 6" (150mm)

Over all, because I stand on a thick rubber mat, my lathe is only about 3.5" (90mm) higher, I know one pro turner who is shorter than me & he has his VL300 sitting on masonry blocks so it is 8" (200mm) higher. :eek:
He has poor vision.:(

[hughie]

Cliff,

Good one! food for thought. I will looking at doing something to mine in the New Year. New base and a height change, so your timing for me is spot on.

hughie

[baxter]

Over all, because I stand on a thick rubber mat, my lathe is only about 3.5" (90mm) higher, I know one pro turner who is shorter than me & he has his VL300 sitting on masonry blocks so it is 8" (200mm) higher. :eek:

He has poor vision.:(

Or short arms:D :D :D

[TimberNut]

How does everyone else determine the 'ideal' height for their lathe? What would be ergonomically correct?

(eg elbows level with tool rest at centre height, or elbows level with lathe bed etc......)

I would guess elbows at about headstock centre height?

[TTIT]

I would guess elbows at about headstock centre height?That's what I was told and how I set mine up but I do wonder sometimes - have a bit of shoulder trouble and even though I know turning irritates it, I put up with it continue on. If it wasn't such a drama to alter the stand now, I'd like to try lower/higher to see if it helps.

[Cliff Rogers]

If you find your self bending over, it is too low.

[Baz]

I have mine about 50mm above elbow height, like Cliff said so you don't bend over.
Cheers
Barry