Assembled workbench minus bottom shelf.

Comment

Comment by Jerry Alfaro on March 19, 2010 at 10:47pm

Thaddeus,

It's been nice mil my own lumber for future projects. I just picked up a 7' x 25"wide maple tree for milling. I'll do that next week.


I think if you were to use 4x4's for the legs and use a 2x6 support runners under your solid cor door, it should be plenty strong to hold the lathe. You just don't want the bench moving around when the lathe is in operation. Just a suggestion, if you can afford to have a sheet metal top made, do it. When you use cutting oil on the lathe it's going to end up on the bench top and oil on wood over a period of time is going to make the wood sag.

I'm headed to our cabin Saturday, so when I get home I'll get a picture of my stand so you will have an idea how you can make your stand. My stand is the metal optional stand sold for the lathe.


I just used the Kreg to to build a redwood sand box with my 3yr. old grandson yesterday. We had a blast doing it together. He had to hand me the kreg screws for each one I needed.

Antonio In Sand.jpg

Comment by Thaddeus Webster on March 19, 2010 at 6:39pm

Jerry,
Good to hear that you're able to get things done now that you have some free time! It's great that you are using wood from fallen or cut trees. I don't have much opportunity to do that here in Phoenix, but when I go up to the cabin I try to take advantage of any pine or oak I find.

The doors I have for the table tops are solid core. They are very sturdy and had a hinge from top to bottom. They had mirrors mounted on them and were used to 'hide" a closet. So you don't think the door would be sturdy enough for the lathe? I was going to add cross supports... I already have the motor here. My father disassembled it when he brought it home due to space concerns. That wasn't light with the lathe motor mount, pulleys, etc attached. I was expecting the lathe to be a beast. That's the primary reason I wanted to use the 4x4's for legs instead of the 2x4's in the plan. I'm not sure if the motor mounted to the gears in back or not... I have to get the rest of it here to put it back together. I wish I had the stand for it. I can't remember what my grandfather had it on... I could take a pic of it if you would like to see the motor etc., that I have here.

Comment by Jerry Alfaro on February 21, 2010 at 11:29pm

Thaddeus,
Thanks. I've been retired for a couple of years now and it's been fun catching up on a lot of things I just couldn't get done when I was working. I just built a similar table only bigger for my sons house for them to fold clothes on in the garage. His wife loves it. I've gotten into milling wood from fallen trees or trees taken down by the different cities around where I live. Oak, Elm and Maple are what I have been get the most of. I may have another maple tree coming up in a few days. I think I'm going to go down and purchase the 1/2" KREG system this week. My wife purchased plans for a sewing table for her to do her quilting on. Good reason to buy more tools.

If you can find a solid core door for your table top that would be great. I don't know about putting an Atlas lathe on it. I have the equivalent Sears metal lathe and it's not light. Does your late have the motor on the back side of the gears? My buddy has one like that and it will take you a small army to lift that puppy. I have the metal stand that Sears sold for those lathes and I really like it.

Comment by Thaddeus Webster on February 21, 2010 at 7:11pm

Looks good Jerry! I had the same idea but will be using an 80" door (no handle hole) for the work top. I have an old Atlas lathe that was my grandfathers that I want to mount on it!