Ended on 08/22/15

I’m a Carpenter/Contractor and know something about workbenches as I’ve also done my time as a Mechanic (before computers took over). First doors- you want not just a “solid core” door but a “Lumber core” door for maximum strength. Inside these are like butcher-block. As long as the base was solid and stable and kept dry, a solid core would do OK here. Sturdi-floor also makes great benchtops and Home Depot has a generic @ $13 something a sheet. Be sure to get the correct side up as only that side has rated water resistance. If solidly built, the entire base could be 2X4 but do add ‘racking’ support for the legs (like the plywood skirting). I’d prefer the top rails 2X6 or 2X8 just because that gives more to mount the legs to. Glue everything with polyurethane (Liquid Nails). Carriage bolt the legs. This will hold a smallblock V8 shortblock assembly without complaint so it will certainly hold the lathe! Once you have the lathe mounting bolt dimensions(or whatever your mounting), add rails underneath from front to back to attach to. Make these out of whatever you’re using for the rest of the top frame. Once you’re built set the bench in it’s permanent location and level it. If on a wooden floor, set the legs on 2X8 plates laid flat across the floor joists if you’re building engines- probably don’t need for the lathe. Add “L” brackets to the bottom of all legs, if on concrete “Tapcon” screws are a great fastener. If it’s against a wall, tie it to the studs with screws through the back upper framing from underneath. If it’s free-standing/portable or on wheels, you can increase the stability by having a shelf at the bottom and adding sandbags, bricks, scrapmetal, or whatever for ballast. If you’re bench is narrow enough you can add a laminate countertop section on it; waterproof and highly oil-resistant but can be a little slick.

Lathes and large bench tools were once all mounted on wood benches as metal was not easily available everywhere like it is now, so you can be certain that with a good design it’s enough for just about anything you’d want to do. For advice on this and other home related projects, I recommend you surf to This Old House Advice Forums where you’ll find a bunch of guys whose overall knowledge of everything “house” and “wood” is unmatched anywhere. I’m there as “Mastercarpentry” (shameless self-plug!).

Phil

Just a quick update. I still had not heard back from Grizzly, so I called them and they are just doing nothing, waiting for the trucking companies to e-mail replies to them, so maybe next week, if they find out something. They did not seem to eager. Dan warned me they were difficult to deal with and after the last call, I believe he's right. Hopefully, something will happen next week. I doubt anything will happen this week.

In the meantime, I am making a drop chute out of Metal Flashing. I will get some photos along the way.

07/30/15 Photo in the OP, of the catch pan mounted in the bench. Still waiting on something in the way of a shipping quote, from Grizzly.

If I forgot to say it, that’s a good workbench OL, and I think it will do you very well. Sorry about the “TL.DR” of my last post but it’s a subject near and dear to my heart.

I am impressed to overwhelmed by how good the people here are. Can’t wait to see what the new workbench produces, may it bring everyone many smiles and much happiness :bigsmile:

Phil

Very cool of you to make this thread O-L. I've often wondered what all was involved to set up a small metal lathe. Best wishing on this project. :)

First you gave us your lights, then your expertise to mod our own lights. Now you’re making your own workbench and supply us “en route” with the do’s and don’ts of “building your own workbench”. By the looks of it you’re heading in the right direction. It looks great, even under construction.
Suggestion: wait with adding boards to the sides of the bench until your lathe is up and running. Wood is flexible material, good in absorbing small movements (sound). On the other hand it can act as a resonance-box of a violin: increasing certain movements. Let your ears help you in making the decision of covering up one or more sides. You can use balls of a ball-bearing on a plate to detect resonance. When adding one or more boards is not enough you can apply (car)undercoating on the boards (inside the bench). By coating I mean the thick, tar-like, goo that was used before specialist companies took over the market. I used it in the 70ties, building accoustic transmission line speakers, when you want to create a resonating folded column of air in the speakerbox instead of resonating walls of the box itself (using a KEF b139). http://members.home.nl/ton.van.der.mark/afbeeldingen/Rogers%20MKIII/Rogers%20MKIII_front_r.jpg

Wow OL, I like your idea about making that pan below the lathe to funnel the chips. Nice work man.

Looks like a solid bench. Bring on the lathe! :beer:

OP updated on 07/31/15 - Grizzly is "Supposed to", ship the lathe today. I certainly hope so.

EDIT: Ships from Springfield IL.

Updated the OP again, LOL.

Where does it ship from?

"Hopefully, a never ending thread" ... why are you saying this in your title? Why would you hope or with that this thread never ends? :)

It was all looking fine up until that one picture. Do all you Texans work naked in the heat? Yik.

For 99.9999% of all my measuring I use six inch digital vernier calipers and a six inch steel ruler.

I believe theres a few of us here as excited as you are about the new acquisition. Bet the wife is tickled pink about the goings on. Well maybe she will be if you save enough for a bunch of red roses.

Does the lathe come with a four jaw chuck? They do come in handy at times as well as a dial indicator on a magnetic base.

Never heard of strapless T-shirts?

Nope. I've never heard of strapless T shirts. Have you seen the other half of the picture?

Can’t say I did. Do I want to see it?

LOL. No.

Yes a 4 jaw chuck comes with and the dial indicator on a magnetic base will come too.

Ig you are in the Dallas area, you should stop by CDC Surplus in Richardson. They sell lots of quality tooling (a lot comes from local aerospace companies) for very affordable prices. They are closed Sunday and Monday and at at 3:00 on Saturdays. There is also a Harbor Freight a couple of blocks away.

Don’t forget to forgive yourself when you screw up. I usually start with “Oops, $H!T” and then move on to more profound polysyllabic expletives before running down and turning philosophical. In the end you still just have to go on. A cookie helps.

And remember to always leave the key in the chuck before starting the motor (but after writing me into your will) J) Flying chuck keys can be and eye-opening, trouser browning experience.