Pipe Maker Question Regarding Lathes

[jeepnewbie]

Question for the other pipe makers out there. I’ve been planning on having a shed built to move all my wood working stuff into including my Craftsman wood lathe and Grizzly metal lathe.

Do you have a lathe on a wood floor or concrete. I’m not sure I’ll be able to have the concrete slab poured due to finances. The wood flooring will be 2x6 floor joist on top of 4x4 skids. I hear vibrations are a problem, but how are they on smaller projects like pipes?

The metal lathe isn’t huge and weighs roughly 700 pounds. Mounted on a wooden cabinet I built for it.

 

[mawnansmiff]

Lathes are often bolted to a length of old (wooden) railway sleeper. This gives it some rigidity and minimises vibration.

The railway sleeper is of course first bolted to either a sturdy bench or have its own trestle.

Hope this helps.

Regards,

Jay.

 

[chilllucky]

You'll be fine. Vibration concerns are for paid work with call-outs for surface finishes and tolerances under .001"/ .1mm.

You can go slower, take lighter cuts, and use sandpaper without blowing your (boss's) profits.

 

[rdpowell]

I have a wooden shop building sitting on pier (blocks) and beam and have a 500 pound metal lathe.
At first I had trouble with it rocking a bit but, after I bolted it to "C" canel and mounted the feet out board
of the stand my problems ended. You shouldn't have a problem as long as you stabilize it weight isn't a real
factor here.