I'm thinking about building a shelf to go between the legs of my Powermatic 3520B to store wet turning blanks as I process them. It'll get them out of my way and inside where they will dry a little faster and add weight to the lathe. I got thinking and wonder if putting all that moisture under the lathe would create rust issues, even though I keep the exposed cast iron coated with wax/Boeshield. My shop is heated and air conditioned. Any thoughts? Thanks.
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Shelf question PM3520B
- Thread starter Lynn Dudenbostel
- Start date
I tried some turning blanks under my lathe once, and found out that they can vibrate off, unless dead flat. They were sealed, and I didn't have any rust issues other than from all the wet wood I turned...
robo hippy
robo hippy
Well, I didn't think about the vibration! That's why I posted this. I figure there could be issues I hadn't considered. I'd hate to have a blank fall on my toe while I was turning, or any other time for that matter. I guess I could put some bungee cords over them to prevent that, but it may be wise to just store them somewhere else. I'm sure it'll make it more difficult to clean up as well. Thanks. I appreciate your input.
You could put a row of plastic milk crates on a shelf under there, however I relocated even the extension cords from under there just for cleanup, don't like to leave shavings piled up, even overnight.
Only way I would do it is to make a container with a lid and the lathe was far enough away from the wall to sweep behind it. I have a tiny shop, storage is critical but chose to leave that area open.
Only way I would do it is to make a container with a lid and the lathe was far enough away from the wall to sweep behind it. I have a tiny shop, storage is critical but chose to leave that area open.
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I have always kept turning blanks in my shop, not a bad thing to have them sit just on the floor if you have the room for it, I would not place them under the lathe, they would always be in the way and also a PITA when shovelling the shavings out.
The other thing you mention, faster drying is NOT a good idea, as it will make for more splitting of the turned items, slowing down the drying is what you need to do to prevent the splitting, the reason I put all my rough turnings into brown paper bags.
It makes for an artificial environment like a kiln, so that the bowls can dry evenly and prevent some part to dry faster than the rest thereby creating tension and splitting.
The other thing you mention, faster drying is NOT a good idea, as it will make for more splitting of the turned items, slowing down the drying is what you need to do to prevent the splitting, the reason I put all my rough turnings into brown paper bags.
It makes for an artificial environment like a kiln, so that the bowls can dry evenly and prevent some part to dry faster than the rest thereby creating tension and splitting.
I guess I thought bringing them in as opposed to being outside in the weather might be a good thing. I'd have all the end grain sealed, of course. I think I'll just find a space in my shop for a shelf, or maybe use an existing shelf in the storage area of the basement. There is one heat/air register in there, so the temps don't go to extremes, but it wouldn't dry them as fast as my shop would. Thanks. The more I think about it, the less I want stuff under the lathe.
I put a shelf comprised of 2 2X6s under my Powermatic, and have stored my tool rests and chucks on it, and a bin containing jam/friction chucks. I had some chunks of wood that lived there and never had anything vibrate off. Recently, I put a rectangular box with my Oneway coring set up in it on the shelf in place of the jam/friction chucks. Can you say MASS!
The coring box hangs over the edge of the 2X6s a little in front and more in back. The box is immediately under the spindle/blank, but the places I need to get closest to the lathe when turning are toward the headstock and tailward, so it doesn't get in the way.
Before, I would sweep shavings from behind the lathe, under the shelf, and then shovel them up and out. The shelf itself catches a little debris which isn't hard to brush off with my hand. With the box 'o coring in place I have to sweep shavings off the top with my hand at cleanup time, and then do as previously. Neither of these processes is especially onerous. I have much more trouble cleaning up in the corner where live miscellaneous chunks of wood that didn't get turned when planned, right next to the bandsaw. Now that's a problem area, but there's not one under the lathe.
The coring box hangs over the edge of the 2X6s a little in front and more in back. The box is immediately under the spindle/blank, but the places I need to get closest to the lathe when turning are toward the headstock and tailward, so it doesn't get in the way.
Before, I would sweep shavings from behind the lathe, under the shelf, and then shovel them up and out. The shelf itself catches a little debris which isn't hard to brush off with my hand. With the box 'o coring in place I have to sweep shavings off the top with my hand at cleanup time, and then do as previously. Neither of these processes is especially onerous. I have much more trouble cleaning up in the corner where live miscellaneous chunks of wood that didn't get turned when planned, right next to the bandsaw. Now that's a problem area, but there's not one under the lathe.