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Thread: 260 - tall order?
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11th Oct 2018, 09:33 PM #1
260 - tall order?
I have my Hercus 260 at home and the next step is to fabricate a base for it that will incorporate heavy duty castors and 4 big levelling feet/screws.
The lathe is on a standard Hercus cabinet at the moment. I am 6 ft 2 or so and it occurred to me this evening that the lathe might be set a bit low for me. To put it into perspective, standing next to the lathe my belly button sits just below the spindle height. This was a lathe being used in schools and while there are plenty of strapping, tall kids around, I'm wondering if the lathe cabinet is designed to also allow for somewhat shorter individuals?
Just wanting to know what the experience of taller forum members is with this setup? Do you think I should be building in a bit of extra height when I fabricate my stand/levelling frame?
All opinions much appreciated.
Moz
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11th Oct 2018, 10:13 PM #2Most Valued Member
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- May 2011
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Hi Moz, Ideally the spindle centre of the lathe should be at elbow height.
To save extra fabrication, why not build a base for the existing cabinet, with your castors and leveling feet built in.
KrynTo grow old is mandatory, growing up is optional.
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11th Oct 2018, 10:21 PM #3
Thanks Kryn.
Sorry, should have made that clearer, yes, what I'll be fabricating is a base/cradle for the standard cabinet that will incorporate retractable castors as well as levelling feet/screws.
Cheers!
Moz
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11th Oct 2018, 10:35 PM #4
All three of my lathes were too low; a few hours work resulted in a back ache. Put up with it for years (slow learner...). I did a bit of research and the conventional wisdom suggests the centre of the cross slide wheel should be at bent elbow height. I raised the standard cabinet on a square frame of 100x100 Cyprus pine beams bolted to the floor. A good solid base. Anyway, it helped enormously - better back and I felt I had a better view of the action. For me, 100mm did the trick. Now all 3 machines (and the mill) are raised up from the 'out of the box' height.
My experience, for what it is worth, hope it helps. Cheers, Tony.
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12th Oct 2018, 05:57 AM #5Most Valued Member
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- Nov 2017
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- Geelong, Australia
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My Takisawa lathe is also raised - about 90mm which makes it roughly spindle at elbow height and cross slide handwheel slightly below elbow level.
Seems to work pretty well for me.
My suggestion would be if possible to put it up on blocks of timber or something at the height you think will work and use it a bit before fabricating the stand. Mine sat on a pair of heavy skates while I cleaned it up after I first bought it, and although I didn't actually machine anything like that, I still faffed around with it enough to feel it was a good height.
Not sure how much other gear you have or space available, but I find a pallet jack more flexible than castors on individual machines. Build a frame with leveling feet for the bit of gear that the pallet jack will go under then just pick it up and move it when you need. By the time you buy a couple of sets of decent casters you've well and truly paid for the jack and it's much more flexible. You can even use it to take the grandkids for rides around the shed!!
Steve
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12th Oct 2018, 08:43 PM #6
Hey all, thanks for the input.
Seems like 'elbow height' is the rule of...erm, thumb, so I'll go with that. Space is pretty limited unfortunately. Steve, I think the suggestion to plonk the lathe initially onto blocks of timber is a good one.
Anyhow, I'mm off to stand next to my lathe with my elbow bent and do some estimations. Cheers guys!
Moz
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