Bill Tindall, E.Tn.
That was a lot of information but none addressed the question posed. Would someone that found the ideal height of centers for a motor powered lathe desire a different height for a pole lathe? It is not an irrelevant question for someone about to invest a bunch of time building one. It would not be hard to find a motor driven lathe and determine the ideal height of centers at it, then replicate if the replication if the two are similar. The centers of my lathe are 42" and that is a comfortable height for my hands/arms and tool presentation while turning. I could live with 40. I would want to stand on a stool at 48". But perhaps tool presentation is different for a pole lathe or others like to hold their hands higher.