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Knowledge You Can Build On — Est. 1998

lathe height

Posts

lathe height

#1

lathe height

DWFII

>I have a rather urgent question...I got a new Jet 1014 for Christmas and I am wanting to mount it on a bench that I will have to cut down. I'm half way into the modification of this bench and stuck...

I stand 5 foot 6", maybe 7". How high off the floor should the center of the spindle be? I realize that there may be some difference of opinion on this but I've always heard that you should be able to stand with the arms bent at a 90 degree angle and the gouge resting easily on the tool rest. That looks to be about 39" for me. But I see Vicmarcs, for instance, that are set (with no apparent adjustment) so that the center of the spindle is at 47" from the floor. Who are they making the Vicmarcs for? Or am I approaching this bass-ackward?

I'd appreciate some guidance here..once I cut this bench down it's set in stone and if I'm badly off, I lose the bench and have to buy a stand. I don't mind buying a stand, I just hate to lose the storage.

Re: lathe height

#2

Re: lathe height

MikeinCapeMay

>Spindle height should be at the approximate height of your elbow or in my opinion a tad higher. My VL-300 is perfect, I'm 6'4".

Re: lathe height

#3

Re: lathe height

JL work

>The spindle height should be at a comfortable, safe height for you to use. If 39" is comfortable and safe, use that height. You may end up spending an hour or more at a stretch at the lathe. Therefore comfort is a major consideration. If you have a set of sawhorses or the equivalent, set the lathe on them with the spindle height at 39". Then try one or two other heights. I am most comfortable with about 44-46", but I am 6'1" or so.

Re: lathe height

#4

Re: lathe height

Fred in NC

>I have the Mini. My center is at 44" which is supposed to be 2" high for my 5'6". However, I turn small stuff, and found this extra height to be very convenient. I don't have to bend to look at what I am working on.

Re: lathe height

#5

Re: lathe height

Wally Dickerman at Green Valley, Az.

>Spindle height depends on the kind of work that you do on the lathe. If you do mostly spindle turning, the elbow height is about right. However, that's way too low for comfortable bowl or vessel turning. Nearly all of my turning is hollow vessels. I want to stand comfortably, without bending my back while using my Stewart tool, so my spindle height is 46 inches. I'm 5 ft 7 in.

Wally

Re: lathe height

#6

Re: lathe height

Wood Spinner

>Your comfort is what matters.

I am about 6'1" and have two lathes in my AZ. shop at two heights. My Oneway 2436 is at my elbow height of 46 1/2". My Jet 1014 sits on top of a mechanics rolling tool chest with the center at 43". I can stand at either all day and no back or neck pressure. I would not want the large lathe any lower as there is heavier work done on it.

Find what is good for you and use it.

Good turning and be safe

Bill in Casa Grande, AZ.

Re: lathe height

#7

Re: lathe height

john Lucas

>I am 5'6" and shrinking (used to be 5'7") My mini lathe is 44. My big lathe is 45. I always feel little bunched up on the big lathe so when I move I'm going to build a platform to get it around 44. I think you be hunched over if you are working at 39 inches.

Since your building the bench I would make it a little low. Then you can easily raise it or the lathe as needed. It's much harder to make it shorter.

Re: lathe height

#8

Re: lathe height

DWFII

>I've turned at 44" with my old grizzly. It was OK but I always wondered if sometimes the tool wasn't a little high. I have some nagging but inconsequential back and neck problems so I take it to heart when people say "you don't want to be bending over."

I will do some tool handles and a few pens and other incidental stuff like candlesticks and peppermils but mainly I want to be comfortable doing bowls and hollow forms...if only because I am most uncertain about that work. I did my first bowl a few months ago andalthough I haven't done anymore because of the limitations of the Grizzly, that's where I'd like to be, ideally--doing 8-9" hollow forms.

I used to be 5' 8". I too am shrinking and my back has a semi-permanent bend in it.

Given what I just described, would 45" be too high? I know I'm asking the impossible but I just need to know I'm in the right range. BTW, I measured my elbow at 43 1/2"

Thanks again, fellers...I really appraciate it

Re: lathe height

#9

Re: lathe height

Don Evans

>I'm with Wally above, same height etc and same reasons for wanting height I have. Here is what I did in order to have 2 different heights available. One for spindle and small stuff and another for vessels (hollow forms).

My bench makes the spindle height 46" so I build a platform to set in front of the bench that I stand on and it makes the spindle height 41.5". I find both these just right for me with neck and back problems also. The important thing on the platform is to make it big enough for turning. It is 30" x 60". I connect it to the front of the cabinet with "L" brackets so it doesn't have problems with slipping around.

The main point here is to see you have 2 options with regard to adjusting height, yourself and or the lathe.

The platform is simple to make, 3 2x4's laying on edge, 3/4" plywood on top, then rubber matt from Lowe's on top. To remove, just unzip with drill driver two screws from the "L" brackets at each end and move to side out of way.

Don

Re: lathe height

#10

Re: lathe height

Duane C.Leach

>I used to be 6'1" but have shurnk to 5'11" with alot of lower back pain. Getting old with out turning would pure h---. Anyway I have my PM 4224 at 48"..I got tired of bending over and the back pain so I put blocks under the legs.

But regardless of what I or others do You should put yours at a height that you will be comfortable and safe.

Happy Turning Duane

Re: lathe height

#11

Dick Hines

Re: lathe height

Dick Hines

>I am 6'5" and I have my 3520 sitting on 4x4 blocks with the leveling feet most of the way out. That brings my spindle up to 50". I keep a milk crate in the shop just in case it's to high for friends. Read most of my friends.

Re: lathe height

#12

Re: lathe height

Jorge Castaneda in Maine

>Hi,

I am 5'7" and my mini was at 44" until I took a class from Joaz and found that working on his lathe was a lot more confortable and and I was less tired, measuring, his centers are at 48", so that is where I want mine now.

It makes a world of difference if you do not bend your back.

Jorge

Re: lathe height

#13

Re: lathe height

RonZ

>As mentioned, elbow height is best. I built a cabinet for my Vicmarc VL100 so it reaches that height. It's also good when I'm tired and I sit and sand.

I'm 5'5" and had to build a platform for my Vicmarc VL300. I learned the hard way and after getting tennis elbow, I built it.