Lathe Bench

[jleiwig]

I'm getting ready to build a bench for my new lathe so I can finally get the shop up and running and turn out a few pens. I was originally planning on building the mini lathe stand from shopnotes, but got to thinking last night.....and we all know what happens when we think.

My question is this. I have an old drafting table that right now is currently filled with my knicknacks. The top on it is probably between 3/4" and 1" thick. Could I just use this as a bench top and build a cabinet underneath it? Or should I go for something more substantial?

I'm thinking that the shopnotes design has 3 layers of 3/4" MDF for it's table top. If that's what I need for the mass I'll use it, but if I can use this piece of tabletop I'd like to use it for that. If not, part of it will become a router table.

 

[Whaler]

It seems to me that a 3 1/4" top is overkill. Here is a picture of my lathe bench, it is just a piece of countertop on a 2x4 frame which is anchored to the wall. Solid as a rock.

 

[Wheaties]

Good luck deciding what to do. Here is what I did. The bottom "box" is filled with sand so the total weight of the stand and lathe is somewhere between 350-400 lbs. It was a very cheap build.

 

[jleiwig]

LOL...two opposite ends of the spectrum there. I'd like to fit somewhere in the middle! I do plan on making some small hollow forms and bowls, but nothing that I think would require the behemoth that Wheaties posted.

 

[Woodlvr]

The big problem is that both benches are too clean.:biggrin: Very nice benches though, I am trying to design one that I can sit at in a chair. Zachary I really like your design. Good luck with the thinking thing:tongue:, It does not work for me either. Also have a look at old posts about what our shops look like, I cannot remember the exact title to the thread, sorry.

 

[TBone]

It seems to me that a 3 1/4" top is overkill. Here is a picture of my lathe bench, it is just a piece of countertop on a 2x4 frame which is anchored to the wall. Solid as a rock.

I agree that's overkill unless your intent is to dampen vibration. That sounds more like a workbench than a lathe bench.

 

[CSue]

Justin,
I've used a "converted" dining room table for a few years now. If the support for the table top is sturdy, I don't see why you can't make do with your drafting table. Here's my lathe table. It ain't pretty. But it works.

 

[ngeb528]

We used heavy duty shelving units from Lowes. That gave us two stands - which works out good since LOML & I each have lathes (well, ok. They're both his but he likes the bigger one so I took over the mini:biggrin

If you want to enclose the bottom as a cabinet, the uprights are easy to bolt sides to.