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.
Meh, it’s a pretty low power lathe, it wouldn’t kill him, just hurt him. Which would be detrimental to your inheritance. :bigsmile:
My 1hp lathe deposited mine helpfully, but loudly, into the chip pan the couple of times I made that mistake.
My friend’s little Harbor Freight lathe deposited his into the sheetrock wall the first time, through the window the second time, and a square ricochet into his nads the third time… some people have a hard time learnin’… A hunk of metal bouncin’ off his dangly bits seems to have improved his lathe hygiene… or he’s too embarrassed to mention any later Flying Chuck Keys of Dooooom… Speaking of which, always wear loose fitting clothing and a necktie before operating a lathe… but after writing me into your will. Somewhere out there is a video of some idiot being decapitated by a spiffy necktie caught in a big mill.
Maybe get yourself a springloaded key that you can’t leave in the chuck 
Not wearing rings prevents your fingers left in the chuck.
I know a guy that built a 5'x10' flatbed cnc router table out of wood and it was accurate as hell too.
Nice work Justin!
You really need to start a whiskey fund. It will help sooth the nerves as you learn what not to do. Above all - HAVE FUN....I admire your abilities!
08/03/15 - Now there's a little more light in the work shop.
The lathe should arrive Thursday before Noon Central time.
Other parts are coming daily. It's getting even more exciting every day.
i hope someone makes a movie of ’lil justin jumping around when the lathe is delivered 
That will be his wife jumping around because she will not have to hear Justin complain about finding things to do! LOL
Plus she gets the remote back for the TV :)
Don’t forget the safety glasses in all the excitement 
Looking forward to seeing you work your magic with the new machine. 
After shirtless pics and somebody wants a picture of “lil Justin” dancing around … did I miss where this thread was renamed?
Fifty Shades of Justin: Rebel with a Lathe 
EDIT: wow, and those more recent posts just continue the theme …
Almost everyone had done or will do this- but not everyone will admit it.
Some guys use one of those brightly colored coiled plastic wrist-band keyrings to hold the chuck key; the far end is tied to something where you have to stretch it to use it. Helps remind you to remove it, is more visible, and for me at least solves the perpetual problem of “Where did I put that $%^& thing?” which in total takes more shop hours than the work does.
Also remember to tighten all chuck holes then go round once more. 3 single jaw tightens does mischief with a 4 jaw chuck, and the habit of going round twice ensures you can never miss a jaw. I learned these things a little too late.
Phil
How is it getting from the pallet up onto the bench?
Looking great OL! Congreats! Thanks for taking us along for the ride.
Good observation Scott, by having the bench in place (with shelves and stuff at the end and boxes for tools attached) it will make it very difficult to lift several hundred pounds of lathe into position. Limit’s it to 2 people, and the boxes on the end of the bench will compromise that persons position. (similarly, any hooks or nails on the other end may well gouge someone)
Not trying to be critical, just making an observation based on years and years of carrying heavy items.
Don’t know yet. Haven’t figured it out. Progably will have to rent an engine puller and have a guy drop it off. Don’t want to use people. People can drop things and Murphy is usually on the heavy end.
Unfortunately, there is only one place the bench can be and it’s a bad place, because the area is narrow and it is higher than the “floor”, because the area for cars is slanted at an angle and the only areas that are flat, are on the edges. The only other way would be to have the bench out, load the lathe and then pick it all up and that would be over 500# and still no more than 2 people, because it still has to go against the wall. No good solution has come up yet.
I have a chain hoist bolted on my ceiling to lift stuff between 150-800lbs. It was cheap and has been useful on multiple occasions. If you have it mounted on a bar you can get some side to side shift out of it.
Like this
