Here are some pics of my bench. They show a progression from when I first attached the lathe, to having attached the grinder and Wolverine jig (good decision!), to the final caster setup. With regard to the last, because my shop is "intimate", I needed to be able to move the lathe, but wanted it to be steady when in place. I first tried retractible casters from Rockwell which you can see in two of the photos. They were a very BAD idea, since they are engaged one at a time and the lathe is mounted off-center for easy access. I had to be VERY careful to engage the heavier side of the bench first, then the lighter side. Otherwise, there was a real danger of the whole business tipping over. After awhile, I discovered that there is a type of caster called "Total Lock". Also sold by Rockler and others. To use them, in this case, I had to remove the equipment from the bench, cut about 4" off the bottom of the legs, and mount the caster permanently to the underside. When engaged, they put a "brake" on each wheel to prevent rolling, but ALSO have two sets of gear teeth that engage and prevent the caster from swiveling. I found that, maneuvering the bench so that the casters all face to one side or the other before locking, the bench is about as sturdy as if it were resting on its own legs. This was a wonderful discovery, and I highly recommend it if you need portability. Russ
:biggrin: That cart is WAY under-utilised !!!
