Knowledge You Can Build On — Est. 1998
Moving lathes and casters
JL work
>This is sort of in reponse to John Lucas' nice little lathe moving "accessory wheels". I have gone to the local Woodcraft store and they have their lathes on lockable casters - but they move them around. I sort of question the wisdom of this as the vibration may cause a little movement. So - I figured I would throw this one out there. Are casters a reasonable idea?
Re: Moving lathes and casters
John Lucas
>I've turned on a lot of demo lathes that have casters and all of them vibrate if not sitting flat on the floor. I tried that on my first lathe because everything in my shop was on wheels. I didn't like it. That's why I decided to make the wheels removeable on the Powermatic.
The Birmingham club had a good idea but it made the lathe a little tall for short guys like me. The wheels were permanantly attached and they had a large bolt with a nut welded to the frame. The head of the nut was upside down. They welded another nut on the opposite end. Then then just took a big socket wrench and cranked the nut down until it lifted the wheels off the ground. This was very solid and also allowed them to level the lathe if necessary.
Re: Moving lathes and casters
EagleS.C.
>A while back I made a home made version of Rigids "Herculift+" for my Tablesaw.
It whorked well but when they went on sale at H.D. for $40.00 bucks, I bought the real thing.
I don't the the "Herculft+" itself would work for a lather but a home bulit version could be designed so the lathe would lift3/4" of the floor foe moving and then be lowered for use.
If someone has already done this I apologise.
I have the Jet mini so at this time no need to move a large lathe.
Re: Moving lathes and casters
Tony - Memphis
>Let me qualify....I have Jet mini and turn small stuff - mostly furniture parts. My stand is on wheels (has to be in my small shop). I added a shelf on the bottom that holds a bag of sand. I added two rubber feet on threaded rod that would take two wheels off the ground. But, I figured out I don't need them. This thing doesn't move at all.
Tony
