Setting Up Your Wood Lathe: Where Will It Fit In The Shop?

If you have a little, portable wood lathe, setting it in the woodworking shop is not a huge question, it can always be moved. However, most are large machines and will remain in one place for a long time. There are a few considerations when selecting a spot for it to live.

Kitchen design has long decided on using a work triangle to position major appliances. A cook will wish to be near the sink for water; a counter area for cutting and mixing; the refrigerator for supplies and temporary food holding; and the stove for cooking. These all should fit into a triangular arrangement for easy movement and efficiency. Similarly, such a triangle is needed for a woodturning station.

In general the positioning for work preparation is not a great need to be immediately in the triangle because the wood is prepared for the lathe and mounted but the preparation area may not be visited for some time. This is particularly true for large pieces but a different case may be in order for small pieces. If your turning tends to be mainly of small, repetitive projects such as pens, tea lights or ornaments, it is good to have either a work preparation spot or a materials holding spot in easy walking distance.

Tools need to be in a spot that is out of the way but easily reached. They need to be out of the way simply because they are sharp and a sharp tool cuts if walked into or hit in the wrong way. However, woodturners are often reaching for a different tool and they should be at arms length. It is a good idea to have them racked with the tips down and distinctive handles for easy selection. Also, any accessories such as chucks, faceplates, centres and the like should be nearby.

Sharp tools are an enjoyment to a turner and dull ones are a dangerous curse. However, the reality of the craft is tools dull quickly and need to be sharpened often and well. The sharpening station needs to be a step or two away and all the sharpening needs with it. At a minimum, any jigs should be set and ready and a wheel dresser handy to keep the wheels in good shape.

We sometimes forget that sanding and finishing is a big part of wood turning. Sand paper should be stored near the lathe in appropriate grits and sizes along with whatever sanding aids are typically used. Finishing supplies may be stored for safety but brought out to the turning as required.

Not absolutely necessary but a good addition is a small bench to hold extras that are needed for some projects. This area should be kept clean except when needed.

While all these need to be within the work triangle, room needs to be left around the lathe to work in safety. Sometimes an extra step to get a piece of sandpaper or run a new edge on a skew gives just the bit of a break that is needed to catch a breath and enjoy the whole woodturning process for which the lathe was set up in the first place.

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