Subject: Re: lathe bench tool storage

From: [email-masked] (Chris Kantarjiev)
Date: 2 Dec 1996 20:03:53 GMT

Unless I mis my guess, your underneath drive SB
	is on cast iron stands

Unfortunately, no. They look so elegant...

My "workbench" lathe was really meant to be mounted on a bench; all the
underneath drive stuff needs to hang from something. This needs to be
deep, about 24". It came with a wooden bench made up of various pieces
of "two by" lumber, with "one by" diagonals and press board sides. It is
rather wobbly. It also has a bottom, which makes levelling the back
corner (which needs it most) quite difficult.

But it's doing the job for now, as I learn to use the lathe. For
example, I now know that I want the controls a few inches higher. And I
want a place to put tools and indicators and such down while working -
probably on a shelf set or cupboard on the wall, as you describe. I
attached a magnetic toolholder strip to the front under the tailstock.
This works fairly well at keeping the oft-used tools (3/8 sq wrench,
collet knock-out wrench, screwdrivers for the dial gauge clamp and the
micrometer collars) out of the swarf and close to hand, but it will
likely interfere with a drawer under it. I'm considering putting those
things in a drawer for storage purposes, and using the shelf to put
them down while in use. This will require some thought. I really don't
want to end up putting things down on the chip pan, such as it is,
since they tend to get lost.

The bench I have in mind is based on one described in HSM some time ago,
in an article "A Lathe Cabinet/Stand" by Ralph Walker. (I only have a
photocopy, so I don't know the date.) The basic framework is 2x2 angle
iron, with 1/2" steel plate to support the headstock and tailstock.
There is 1x1 angle welded in horizontally under the whole thing to support 
three ranks of drawers. Each of the eight legs has a leveller. It should
be solid as a rock.

My current thought is that there will be room for chucks and faceplates
under the headstock end, but nothing else. The middle "pencil drawer"
will hold measuring tools and such - things that need to be grabbed
quickly but don't want to be in with heavier items. Perhaps the
mag strip tool holder will end up in there, too. A drawer for a small 3C
collet rack and the associated pieces; if there is room left, the
tailstock centers and drill chuck. Another drawer for toolposts and
holders and bits. Another drawer for things like steady rests.

I would love to have another rollaround cabinet to hold everything.
Unfortunately, I'm out of floor space. So I have to organize what I have
as well as I can. The lathe takes up a lot (relative to the size of the shop!)
of floor space and I have to amortize that... I don't know *what* i'm
going to do when I finally find the Clausing 8530 of my dreams.

---

From: [email-masked] (Fitch R. Williams)
Date: Tue, 03 Dec 1996 07:01:43 GMT

[email-masked] (Chris Kantarjiev) wrote:

>	When the wall is put in to seperate the wood
>	and metal shops I will put a cupboard over it leaving a
>	useable work space below it.  that wall will probably have
>	cupboards on both sides of most of it.

>I know you probably want the storage space that a real wall provides,
>but have you considered putting in one of the walk-through dividers
>made of heavy plastic strips? They're quite good at keeping dust out,
>but don't stop light and don't require as much effort to install as a
>permanent wall.

Chris,

No, I had not thought of that option! (sound of hand
smacking forehead) but I certainly will give it some serious
thought.  It also has the feature that I don't need to deal
with the hassel of a permit to install it either.

Thanks
Fitch

---

From: [email-masked] (Chris Kantarjiev)
Date: 3 Dec 1996 23:07:14 GMT

McMaster-Carr and others sell those dividers; I want one to separate the
area in which I grind and make chips from the rest of the garage (where
I actually do maintenance on cars and build the occasional engine). 

They are frightfully expensive, especially considering what they are:
vertical strips of plastic, overlapped, clamped to a horizontal frame
with a strip of aluminium and screws. 

I plan to make one from a sheet of heavy plastic and a small jig to cut
the strips - a few nails and a single edged razor blade should do the
trick!

---

From: [email-masked] (Chris Kantarjiev)
Date: 3 Dec 1996 23:09:47 GMT

Wow, I didn't think that any rcm'er would think twice (or even once)
	about a permit for anything.

All depends on where you live. In Palo Alto, the neighbors have a nasty
habit of reading the permit listings in the local paper and reporting
people who are doing non-permit work.

That's why my garage extension isn't done yet ... we've only passed the
first round of the permitting process! Roof design and engineering
drawings next...