Where have you located your lathe?

[Bruce Whitaker]

I am about to make an addition to my “toolbox”…space. I am finally moving into the newly built shop, with four major tools left to move: the 36” band saw, the Delta 20” band saw, the jointer and the compressor. All of these are too large to move with the engine crane, and i am waiting for a shop gantry to be modified so that the move can be completed. So far, my lathe and stationary tools are just pushed against the walls.

For some weeks now, I have been fooling around with cut to scale footprints of my machines. All are on mobile bases or set up to be moved with a pallet jack, so the final floor plan will not necessarily be permanent. In the past, the shop was elbow to elbow and working often meant moving machines out to the driveway to use them. My lathe was parallel to and against the wall. I have no intentions of ever doing any videos in the shop.

To the topic of this post: Where have you located your lathe? Is it parallel to and against the wall? Is it perpendicular or diagonal to a wall? Is your lathe in the open floor space? Would anyone care to comment on the pros and cons of these arrangements?

Thanks.

 

[Dave Landers]

My lathe is parallel to the wall, but oriented so I stand between it and the wall. So all my tools are in a cabinet and on the wall behind me. Makes it easy to turn around and access things (and I don't have to reach over a spinning log to get at them). The headstock end of the lathe is near-ish to a wall with my sharpening grinders on this end because it gets fewer shavings. And the tailstock end is open so I can stand there to turn off the end of the lathe.
Another advantage of having my back to the wall is I can see if someone comes into the shop and they don't startle me.

I'm currently in a transition space (garage) waiting for the new shop to be built. But in my old place (and planned for the new) the two bandsaws are back-to-back (column-to-column) in the middle of the floor (twist-lock outlet in the ceiling dropping power down to them). For me, that gives space to move tables or whatever around that space since the saws are mostly used for blank prep, and sometimes that needs adaptability.

 

[Mark Hepburn]

I am about to make an addition to my “toolbox”…space. I am finally moving into the newly built shop, with four major tools left to move: the 36” band saw, the Delta 20” band saw, the jointer and the compressor. All of these are too large to move with the engine crane, and i am waiting for a shop gantry to be modified so that the move can be completed. So far, my lathe and stationary tools are just pushed against the walls.

For some weeks now, I have been fooling around with cut to scale footprints of my machines. All are on mobile bases or set up to be moved with a pallet jack, so the final floor plan will not necessarily be permanent. In the past, the shop was elbow to elbow and working often meant moving machines out to the driveway to use them. My lathe was parallel to and against the wall. I have no intentions of ever doing any videos in the shop.

To the topic of this post: Where have you located your lathe? Is it parallel to and against the wall? Is it perpendicular or diagonal to a wall? Is your lathe in the open floor space? Would anyone care to comment on the pros and cons of these arrangements?

Thanks.

I think part of the answer will depend on your shop dimensions, and how you store your turning tools. Personally, I prefer them on the wall behind and to the right of the lathe, so I've positioned both lathes parallel and adjacent to a wall (in an "L" in the corner of my shop). I have a really narrow, long shop and this works best for my layout.

I never need to go behind my lathe for anything, so against the wall as reasonably close as possible is my preference.

 

[Marc Banka]

Diagonally, near the back corner, opposite the overhead doors, people door and window. Sharpening station against the wall to my left, about 4 feet from the headstock. Tools are behind me, and current used tools on a table, again to my left.
No reaching over the lathe, and with the view looking into shop and windows.
Working on the lathe with my back to the shop, doors and windows freaks me out. Not a lot, but enough that I’m aware, and so, distracted.

 

[Odie]

An equally important consideration, is to position your grinder within a step or two of where you'll be while turning.

-o-

 

[hockenbery]

My lathe faces the wall sherry’s lathe faces the woods. She also has the grinder.
I put the tools I’m using on a workmate. It works for me.

The other lathes are set up for a class. Facing outwards lets the instructor reach any student quickly and also puts a good bit of the “line of fire facing outwards.

 

[Leo Van Der Loo]

In my previous shop (1 1/2 car garage) I had the lathe parallel to the wall with the sharpening setup to the left of the headstock, placed a thick Lexan sheet between the lathe and sharpening station as I found a lot of metal floating around, I wasn't happy with that setup.

In my new separate shop I set the lathe away from the wall still parallel, but now I stand between the wall and the lathe, this way I can use the whole wall for cabinet and other uses, so I gained that.

Also shavings and sap is not flung onto and behind the wall as before, the sharpening is now a couple steps away and the metal is not a problem like before, a curtain catches the shavings and cleanup is just easy with a broom and large shovel.

Of course I now have 3 lathes and it works just fine, the small 10" lathe does not throw shavings like the large and midi and it's fine sitting in front of the large lathe, most all turning supplies are on the wall in the place/area that I was not able to use in my previous shop setup.

 

[Tom Gall]

My lathe faces the wall sherry’s lathe faces the woods. She also has the grinder.
I put the tools I’m using on a workmate. It works for me.

The other lathes are set up for a class. Facing outwards lets the instructor reach any student quickly and also puts a good bit of the “line of fire facing outwards.
View attachment 53133

Wow, nice shop, Al. Very spacious ... I'm jealous. Any reason for hanging your JDS air cleaner upside down?

 

[Gerald Lawrence]

I have had headstock to the wall, Parallel to wall with me facing wall, now in open (kinda open) . Have a shelf in front of lathe hanging from ceiling , Behind me to garage door is a bank of drawers. Tools in use on wheeled table to my right.

 

[hockenbery]

Any reason for hanging your JDS air cleaner upside down?

. Just where the eye bolts were when I got it.
We used it all the time in MD. In FL we keep the shop with fans running so the JDS has’t run in years.

 

[Darryl Fective]

I have mine sort of in a corner parallel to one of the walls. It's out enough that I can get around it when I drop something or decide to clean up a bit. The headstock is toward the other wall and I have a rack of tools, accessories, sandpaper hanging close by. It works for me, because I have plenty of space, grinder is close. I can see out the window to the road, and I'm looking at my door.

 

[Ron Solfest]

I’m on my 5th instantiation of a shop in as many houses, the last three have included a lathe. I also spent lots of time anticipating arrangements on my current shop by paper-dolling tool placement as the house was being built. I ended up with my lathe at ~45 deg coming off of a wall near a corner with the headstock placed at a window. This gives me pretty good light and a view, as well as access to both sides of the lathe, and lots of nearby wall space for hanging tools. I’ve been happy with this setup for about 6yrs now. The lathe is on castors so I move it around a couple feet every once in a while to accomodate various projects or whims.

Enjoy the planning and anticipation phase

 

[Bruce Whitaker]

Thanks to everyone for their replies.

I should have given dimensions. The shop is 30’x40’. Facing out, the overhead door is on a 30’ wall and to the left. The man door is around the corner, about 3’ away.

Marc, I opted for no windows, although the overhead door has windows in one of the upper panels.

I never considered placing myself between the lathe and the wall, but after looking at Leo’s photo, I think that I will begin with this configuration.

My sharpening station is a seven drawer metal cabinet of the type that attaches to the side of a mechanic’s tool box. It measures 16x18”and is about 30” high. My grinder sits on top and tilt out panels on the sides hold 24 turning tools. Of course, it is on casters but usually sits at the tail stock end of my lathe.

Despite the larger space, I intend to keep most tools at least semi mobile. Rather than mobile bases, I am leaning towards using the pallet jack for most moving needs.

Thanks,

Bruce W

 

[Russ Braun]

My lathe faces the wall sherry’s lathe faces the woods. She also has the grinder.
I put the tools I’m using on a workmate. It works for me.

The other lathes are set up for a class. Facing outwards lets the instructor reach any student quickly and also puts a good bit of the “line of fire facing outwards.
View attachment 53133

Nice shop Al!

 

[Mike Drake]

My work area is ”U” shaped, or more “J” shaped now that I think about it, with the lathe in the bottom of the “J” parallel to the wall with me facing the wall and enough room to work from either side. Standing at the lathe facing the wall I have my sharpening station to my right near the tail of the lathe. It is in a common stand with a vertical belt sander. To my left, the head of the lathe is the dust collector deep in the corner, the table saw to my left and slightly to the rear with a short walkthrough and my bandsaw to the left rear corner. I like this set-up a lot but the idea of having the wall behind me at the lathe is very appealing for the future.

 

[Bill Blasic]

In my shop I have all lathes facing the center. On the width of the shop there are two at the top and two at the bottom. In the length there are 3 on the left and as soon as the new Nova Neptune gets here there will be 3 on the right. This especially works well when we are having hands on as the instructor can roam the middle area with easy access to all lathes. There is also a grinding station there with 3 grinders for use by the students. I can also bring in a club lathe and add it to the right side if we have 10 students. At lunch time we set up 12 feet of tables so everyone can sit and eat and talk in the center of the lathes.

 

[Tim Hunter]

My 12" Delta HD is diagonal to the wall (headstock toward the open room to enable outboard work) with tools at-hand in a cabinet on the wall to my right, a free-standing and movable tool tray sits atop my outboard turning tool rest stand to hold the tools currently in use, and sharpening equipment is directly behind me.

In contrast, my 30" lathe is parallel and close to a wall with the operator's side away from the wall. Sharpening equipment about two steps away. Sometimes I wish I could stand behind this lathe.

 

[Doug Freeman]

My lathe is in “open space” due to having all the walls covered with shelving and other storage, which I prefer. I solved the “flying chip” problems with ceiling to floor curtains. If I did not have storage mounted under the lathe, I probably would not have much need to get back there.

Each user’s situation is different - likes, dislikes, different requirements, etc. Just have to customize to fit your situation.

 

[Paul M. Kaplowitz]

Two words - Scale drawing. Get a pad of 1/4" scale paper. ( 1/4" = 1' ) On one sheet draw the perimeter of the shop, with all doors and windows. Take another sheet or two and cut out paper scaled to every machine. Lay these on the first drawing and move them around until you have a workable layout. you can now locate your electrical outlets, dust collector ports and anything else you have. You can also dertermine what needs to be mounted on wheels and what is stationary.

 

[John Hicks]

I like to be able to get all the way around the lathe with no ubstructions.

 

[Isaac Fisher]

I put mine against the wall and to the right of the tablesaw. The wraparound surface of the saw and its outfeed table make very convenient work tables while turning. Most tools, chucks, etc are on the wall behind the lathe, along with dust collection. A few lesser used items are stored below the outfeed table.

 

[GRJensen]

My big lathe (PM3520C) is in the center of the shop ... I have 360 degree access. My small lathe (PM2014) is in an island behind me when I am working at the 3520C.

 

[henry dalton]

I put my lathe by the garage door so when I am done turning I can blow all the shavings out of the garage.

 

[Dennis Weiner]

I have my Oneway 2436 in the center of a 9 x12 room with 360 degree access. I do a lot of hollow forms with long boring bars. Hollowing donut shaped forms, I find myself hollowing 45 degrees from the other side of the lathe. I could not do this if the lathe was against the wall. The bar would hit the wall. So there are some other instances where it is convenient to have that extra space. I’m sure there are workarounds, but why restrict your turning when you have plenty of space.

 

[Neil S]

One wall of my workshop has windows right along it. I positioned my lathe parallel to that wall with a table between the lathe and the wall for a bit of separation. I turn 98% of the time with the headstock at 90° to lathe bed, so I can always look out the windows to enjoy the view whenever I look up. The lathe position has remained there for twenty years and I cannot see any benefit in changing that. Everything else fits around the lathe there within a step or less.

I prototype any changes to the setup around the lathe with minimal input by way of time and effort, other than a bit of thought. Many of those changes remain as prototypes while ever they are still working. Should I think I need to change any of them at least not much time or effort will have been lost in prototyping of them.

 

[Karl Best]

I've got my 3520C perpendicular to the wall on my right, so I'm facing the garage door when I'm turning. I've got about eight feet between the lathe and the garage door so I've got space to accumulate shavings. Tools on the wall on the right, and sharpening station on the workbench behind my right shoulder. Bandsaw to the left of the lathe, and more work benches behind me.

 

[Alan Weinberg]

mine is outside by the garage. With a custom cover. Powermatic 3520. I put wheels on it from Zambus so it’s easy to move and the wheels lock the 700+ pound lathe in place. When rain is coming, it goes in garage.

 

[JeffSmith]

Mine sits at the front of the shop - just behind the bifold doors. I typically Turn with both doors open - I enjoy the forest view and the sound of Aiston creek falling down the ravine next to the ship. There’s about 4’ to the doors and behind me about 8’ to the table saw/assembly table that fills the middle/back of the shop.
there’s two large windows on the side, a slider to a deck at the back. I like lots of natural light and a look at the trees, even when it rains. I pull a curtain completely across behind me when roughing to keep shavings cleanup a little easier…

 

[Mike Drake]

Always had my lathe against a wall expect one time when I angled it. After following this thread I realized I was losing a lot of space on the wall behind the lathe, as I recall, after reading some of @hockenbery comments early on. Couldn’t duplicate his setup, but was passing through Missouri and stopped by Grizzly to buy a heavier mobile base, had my son weld some extensions on it and put it under the old P90.

Swung it 90 degrees to the wall, off enough to work on it and run dust collection, remounted my grinder to a smaller stand and feel pretty good about the setup. Table saw will shift South a foot and now have room on the wall as well as space behind the lathe for a sanding/small projects station.

Still need to recess another electrical line and put up some stud plates, but happy with progress.

 

[robo hippy]

My sliding headstock lathes are all situated so I can move the headstock down to the end and I can stand up straight to turn. My mini lathes are no wheeled benches/tables so I can move them around. Since I don't turn bowls on them, I am not worried about access to the tailstock end of them. With my Vicmark 240, it is kind of in a hole, but since the headstock pivots, I can still stand up straight for turning bowls.

robo hippy

 

[Michael Anderson]

@JeffSmith inspirational setup there

 

[JeffSmith]

@JeffSmith inspirational setup there

Thanks - when we decided it was time to retire, we bought a place on a small island with access by ferry only. We spent two years seriously downsizing our lives to be able to afford the move On what would become a single income in just a couple of years. The home we found was on a great piece of property overlooking the water and situated on the side of a mountain virtually at the end of the road. Fully forested with Douglas Fir, Big Leaf Maple, madrone and alder with a sprinkling of NW Bitter Cherry. A seasonal creek runs beside the property in a steep ravine that runs to the Salish Sea.

The only thing it didn’t have was a place to put my shop. So for two years we figured out how to get one shoehorned onto the property without drawing the wrath of the dept of natural resources and the shore commission. I found the retired architect that drew the house we bought and asked if he’d be interested in making sure the shop fit with the land and existing home. He did it for bowls. Got very lucky. It’s small at only 500 ftsq downstairs with another 350 ftsq upstairs that was supposed to be an office/guest room but has served as home for our son who boomeranged back home a couple of years ago. I consider myself a turner and that’s the built of the floorspace, but the shop needs to house a fully equipped wood shop with table and bandsaw, large assembly table workbenches that double as cabinets/storage and a small jointer and a planer on mobile bases that can be moved as needed. It is pretty tight, but I still grin every time I get to spend some time in there.

 

[Michael Anderson]

That’s a great story, Jeff. Thank you for sharing. I can appreciate the planning and logistics involved in getting everything set up. And what trade—shop plans for bowls! Perfect.

I’ll say, whenever I end up retiring I hope to follow your lead. In my current mind’s eye, it sounds like a fantasy situation. Really spectacular.

 

[Mike Harman]

My lathe is against t5hee wall and with the head stock clear of the end wall to allow me to ron a sanding disk on the end my tools are to thye right of the tail stock on the wall the reason for them in this location is the lathe switch variable speed control is on the tail stock end I also have a fold up tray on this end that i can put tools etc on when working on the lathe. all my calipers hang on the wall directly behind the lathe so that if I need them they are right there.

 

[Odie]

Everything in my shop is a "shoe horn" fit.....there is absolutely zero room to spare....anywhere! This is not the best situation, and those who can afford about three times the room that I have, are much better off. Over the years, I have learned to deal with what I have in a somewhat organized fashion.

The lathe is in the corner of the building, and I've made some special tools to grab and sweep up the shavings between the wall and the lathe. That super sized dustpan just barely showing on the left....is a God-send!!!!!

-o-

 

[Aaron Cheateaux]

I’m in a state of tinkering with my setup. Used to have the headstock at the garage door end, flipped it around and moved my sharpening / tool cabinet to the headstock and my back to the wall with about four feet of space.

I’ve read as many articles and threads on shop layout to get ideas on what’s most efficient.

 

[hughie]

Due to the fact I am moving this thread has abit more interst than usual. But the actual layout and final position will come somtime later as at the moment the 'Shop' is in two places, and like Odie much of it will be a shoe horn fit to the extent some are on wheels to make it easy.. But at the end of the day the addition of a new grandchild any day now will put stop to much if not all of this for a week or so.

 

[Erik Christensen]

When I bought my Robust lathe I got the factory wheel kit - with a low profile floor jack it takes < 2 min to attach/remove the wheels and it easily rolls to where ever. After trying all kinds of locations I realized the best place for me was at the open garage door if I was turning anything bigger than a small spindle project. Living in SoCal the weather cooperates almost year round and especially for sanding it is so much easier to clean up if the fan just blows all the debris out on the driveway. Never need a respirator and the canvas curtains contain most the smutz so cleanup is usually just a couple of minutes.

 

[Alan Weinberg]

Never need a respirator

Disagree. I turn outside in S. California and still wear a respirator. It’s the fine dust you cannot see that is the issue—carcinogenic over long term. I wear a PekeSafety Powercap and it’s even air-conditioned! Amazing how much dust is in the filter that would have been in my lungs.

 

[Mark T Racowsky]

I am about to make an addition to my “toolbox”…space. I am finally moving into the newly built shop, with four major tools left to move: the 36” band saw, the Delta 20” band saw, the jointer and the compressor. All of these are too large to move with the engine crane, and i am waiting for a shop gantry to be modified so that the move can be completed. So far, my lathe and stationary tools are just pushed against the walls.

For some weeks now, I have been fooling around with cut to scale footprints of my machines. All are on mobile bases or set up to be moved with a pallet jack, so the final floor plan will not necessarily be permanent. In the past, the shop was elbow to elbow and working often meant moving machines out to the driveway to use them. My lathe was parallel to and against the wall. I have no intentions of ever doing any videos in the shop.

To the topic of this post: Where have you located your lathe? Is it parallel to and against the wall? Is it perpendicular or diagonal to a wall? Is your lathe in the open floor space? Would anyone care to comment on the pros and cons of these arrangements?

Thanks.

My shop is the third garage of a 3-car garage. I’m pretty full in there with table saw, band saw, workbench, lumber rack, lathe, grinder, cabinets, etc. everything including some cabinets on wheels. My lathe, being my primary focus, sits parallel to the wall near the garage door (and opposite the table saw) and I frequently, weather permitting, roll either out as needed onto the driveway. Maggie Mae and I get to meet people that way, but more importantly, I don’t collect volumes of wood debris.