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Thread: Lathe Spindle Height
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17th March 2014, 11:51 PM #1
Lathe Spindle Height
hiya everyone
as some may have seen in a previous post, i let the smoke out of my woodfast lathe about 4 weeks ago, they just don't want to work anymore after that smoke comes out, and i am damned if i can get it back in
after much deliberation i decided to go with a Vicmarc VL150, which should arrive late this week or early next week
i will need to Adjust or build a new bench for the lathe due to the 100mm spindle height variance between the new and the old machines
i know we are all different builds but does anyone know if there is a preferred height to body part when setting up a lathe, my previous lathes i have setup so that the spindle is just above my elbow
i am also interested to know how everyone else has setup their lathe, spindle to body part height
should be interesting, i look forward to any and all comments
all the best
MIKNo Result Without Effort
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18th March 2014, 01:04 AM #2
Elbow height +- for personal preference.
Remember it is easier to put a board on the floor, than dig up concrete.
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18th March 2014, 10:24 AM #3
Elbow height is good Also for bench vices, top of jaws at elbow height ?) I remember when I started my apprentice ship all those yrs ago ,I was 14. and 5 ft nothing .they had to build me 6" high 1 metre square wooden platform so my elbow was level with the top of the bench vices, also had to use when working on machines ,so I was "Duckboard will travel " hehe . Cheers ~ John
G'day all !Enjoy your stay !!!
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22nd March 2014, 12:29 PM #4
Lathe Spindle Height
This is one I have to address myself. After spending a few days at the lathe I have decided two things
1)It is too low
2)Bench encroaches on standing space
My MC900 I believe with my elbow bent my arm and chisel is about horizontal when resting chiles on the rest aligned with spindle centre
I think I will be aiming for this again
Add to that I want to be able to give lessons when I have the skills to do so and I am a little short one end. Likely I will make my lathe higher and then have a platform for myself or an easy way to raise it
Dave the turning cowboy
turning wood into art
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23rd March 2014, 11:23 AM #5
Hey Mik,
my lathe from floor to centre height is actually 1500mm
because it is on a bench that is sitting over a bar fridge on a concrete step. Now that height is not really workable but it was the only place I have to put it,
but then I found that my 900w x 300d x 250h metal tool box (that I don't use that much of any more)is perfect for me to stand on and bring my centre height up to about 1250mm,
lim 6"2' and 1200 is about even with my elbows and I actually find for doing pens that the little bit of extra height is great so I don't need to lean too far to check out the pen/blank, if I was doing a lot of bigger turning I would probably have it a bit lower so I had more control over my tools,
Nice new lathe btw, can't go wrong with a Vicmarc. Our turning club has 12+ of them! I have started saving for mine, I want to get a VL300
cheers Ben
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23rd March 2014, 11:41 AM #6
i have set the new lathe up even with my elbow, but for small turnings i think it is a bit on the low side, i plan to get some 90X45 pine and raise it 45mm just to see if that makes it better, elbow height is definitely a workable height
we can only try it out
thanks for the replies
MIKNo Result Without Effort
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Mecha Blanks now Available at Perfect Pens and Pencils
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26th March 2014, 03:37 PM #7SENIOR MEMBER
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I know most people say elbow height, but for me personally I prefer much higher. Almost nipple height.
I find that when I bend over to turn at elbow height (I like to have my eyes close to the action where possible and safe) I get a sore back from the lathe being too low.
I will (one day) raise up my lathe to the correct height for me.
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