Lathe table/station

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Posted this a while back on another site…thought I’d share it here too…
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My father-in-law passed away and I inherited some things from his shop, including a couple turning tools. I'm comfortable in my own shop, but I've never turned wood before. But, I figured, he'd be disappointed in me if I didn't learn something…so I jumped in and bought a lathe…and, of course, gotta have a place to put it so….

The carcass is plywood that I had lying about. Assembled with pocket screws and some dadoed joints, as is my convention. I try to finish all my shop furniture differently so I can learn from it. I'm usually a clear finish guy, but I did this one with General Finishes milk paint. The drawer fronts are are walnut, with some epoxy inlay, and finished with Odies.

I installed my 8" slow speed grinder on the end, and bought a Wolverine sharpening jig…because I'm lazy and enjoy accuracy! After a few quick trial turns, I've found I surely need a near-at-hand tool rack to hang some tools on for a given project, so I'll add that at some point, I want to do some practice first, but I intend for my first 'live' project to be a set of drawer pulls to finish out the cabinet.

Already I can see the appeal to turning, I'm very much looking forward to working on the skills to bring it into a useful part of my shop. This one's for you Glenn…I'll make good on it.

Ryan/// ~sigh~ I blew up another bowl. Moke told me "I made the inside bigger than the outside".

Very nice Lath and mounting Table. I like the Ideal location of the grinder.

-- Soli Deo gloria! ( To God alone be the Glory)

nice setup.with the grinder next to it no excuse for dull tools !

working with my hands is a joy,it gives me a sense of fulfillment,somthing so many seek and so few find.-SAM MALOOF.

Ryan, That is an awesome set-up!  All right there!  You will enjoy that....I am afraid to say that you will out grow those drawers in no time...lots of gadgets available for turning!

Mike

Moke, it’s funny you mention the drawers…because I’ve outgrown them. I kind of knew it was going to happen. I didn’t have enough room to build a bigger stand so that’s what I got. I’m trying to convince SWMBO to let me build a laundry room and that would open up some space in the shop (because it’s a garage, not really a ‘shop’…sigh, someday I’ll have a real shop).

I’ve got some less accessible storage behind the lathe where I store some of the less used stuff. And my sanding station is nearby too and that’s got some storage that I utilize as well. It works out ok for now. 

I’m that kind of lazy person who will use all the right tools if they’re easy to get to/set up, so I usually go to great ends to simplify access to stuff. Mount it where it’s easy to get to, wire everything for power so there’s no searching about for cords, pipe the DC everywhere humanly possible and automate the hell out of it so it just works. 

Someday, when I’m all grown up and retired, and I can get the hell out of California, imma build a big boy shop and have storage for days!!

Ryan/// ~sigh~ I blew up another bowl. Moke told me "I made the inside bigger than the outside".