Lathe Bench

[Bill in Buena Park]

I decided to upgrade my lathe table from a sawhorse & board to something dedicated and mobile. Made this last Saturday from ~8 pieces of construction grade KD 2x4, all glued & screwed.

Tabletop is a glue-up of (5) 2x4 segments (and wide enough to accommodate a grinder and my mini lathe), as is the hinged wing for the extension bed. Added a drawer for tool/accessory storage, and a storage spot underneath for the extension bed. Under bed storage spot, I added casters on hinged levers - when pushed down, the casters lift the bench, and the levers lock together with barrel locks; I forget where I saw this idea, but it works well.

Thanks for looking.

[pelligrini]

Pretty cool design and execution, not bad looking either. I should make for a nice work area.

[Whaler]

That's a great looking bench Bill, be a shame to get it dirty.

[Bill in Buena Park]

Thanks guys. Dick, getting it dirty is the best part! I just love the smell of the tulipwood, cocobolo and lignum shavings - my idea of "potpourri".

[dbhost]

Very nicely done. Good storage ideas to boot!

[Richard in Smithville]

Great looking bench and at an ideal time also. I have been looking for a proper bench for my lathe and may just "pirate" some ideas from you post

[Larryl]

Great design and execution, you have a work table that will serve you well and have the room to expand (extra drawers down below) as you add chucks and tail spurs, etc.

[gerti]

Those are some nice looking 2x4s! And mobile too. I like it a lot, should give you tears of fun.

[Pappy]

Nice bench, Bill. I have to build another one for the wif's lathe but, unfortunately for me, most of your design won't work. Because of her back, it has to be designed so she can sit on a stool to turn. I do like the looks of the top and may use that idea.

[dbhost]

Don, FWIW, I tend to sit on one of my shop bar stools when I am turning to take the pressure off of my back. Has your wife tried doing something like that? My lathe is one of my few HF tools that is dead stock.... (Not counting the shelf I screwed to the stretchers that is...).