FILENAMES:

Smithybench.gif

DESCRIPTION:

This is a drawing and instructions to build a lathe bench by Ted Edwards 
<Ted_E@bc.sympatico.ca>. Ted provided the following description:

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                            Lathe Bench for a Smithy
                                       by
                               E.M. (Ted) Edwards

    The accompanying stick drawing (SmithyBench.gif) shows a stick drawing 
    for the frame of the bench I built for my Smithy 3 in 1.  It should be 
    quite satisfactory for any similar size/weight machine.

    The legs are 33" long pieces of 1" pipe with circles of 1/4" plate 
    welded on the bottom.  These are tapped 3/8-16 for leveler feet.  All 
    bracing is 3/4" pipe.  The ends of the bracing pieces were flattened on 
    the anvil with a couple good whacks from a heavy hammer and cut off at 
    an angle where required for fit.  All pipe is schedule 40 and sizes are 
    nominal not OD.  

    The top of the frame is 1 1/2 x 1 1/2 x 1/8" square tube.  All frame 
    pieces are welded to form the bench frame as shown in the drawing.  

    The bench top is a 2' x 4' piece of 3/4" MDF with a 2' x 4' piece of 
    0.032" aluminum sheet on top.  The top is secured to the frame with a 
    border of 1 x 1 x 1/8" aluminum angle.  Clamp the angle in place 
    temporarily and drill clearance holes for #10 screws 3" in from each 
    corner and spaced 6" apart in between.  Fasten the top down with 2 3/4" 
    #10 screws and nuts.  

    The aluminum top is easy to clean and the 1/8" lip created by the 
    aluminum angle keeps round things from rolling off the edge of the 
    bench to disappear forever.  In addition, I have found this combination 
    of aluminum over MDF to be extremely dead.  You can drop a ball bearing 
    on it from two or three feet up and it just goes thump and sits there - 
    negligible bounce.  

    The legs sit on a 3" x 3" piece of 1/8" aluminum on top of a 3" x 3" 
    piece 1/4" thick rubber.  The bench top is just under 37" off the floor 
    with the levelers extended about 1".  I'm 6'2 and find this a very 
    comfortable working height either standing or sitting on a bar stool.  
    If you are much different in height, you may wish to change the leg 
    lengths.