Jet lathe legs

[Val Henschel]

I have acquired an older Jet 16” lathe with one piece cast legs, which is about 4” too tall for me. I noticed the newer Jet lathes have a removable 4” block at the bottom. Are the newer leg mounts a match to the older one piece legs? In the photos it looks like I could just take the riser block off and have the correct height legs. If someone in the Pacific NW or the westside of the Rockies has need for a taller lathe, can they add the riser blocks to my set of older legs to give them even more height? I am thinking maybe some tall person with the newer Jet legs might be able to switch leg sets with me and add the risers to the old legs. Has anyone tried this kind of adaption? Or does someone have a newer set of legs that they want to sell? I hate to go to the expense of buying new legs plus heavy shipping costs if two of us could benefit from a trade, or sale.

 

[Jim Reynolds]

At the risk of telling you a solution you already know, you could build a platform out of 2x4s and skin it with sheet goods (plywood, OSB, MDF, …) and provide the missing height. My apologies if this alternative is not acceptable.

 

[Val Henschel]

At the risk of telling you a solution you already know, you could build a platform out of 2x4s and skin it with sheet goods (plywood, OSB, MDF, …) and provide the missing height. My apologies if this alternative is not acceptable.

Platform considered and rejected. I had to use one at work, and sprained ankles were a BIG problem. Easier would be building a work bench for the lathe since I have two lathes in a small space and the other one is the correct height. I am hoping the leg swap would be a good solution. But thank you for suggesting it.