MadModder
Gallery, Projects and General => How do I?? => Topic started by: fatal-exception on September 06, 2017, 11:55:35 AM
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Hey guys. I'm debating building some stilts for my lathe stands to bring up the center height. The old back gets a bit sore after hunching over for extended periods.
What's the ideal center height? I'm 5'8" (173cm) so I would say about average height. Why does it seem that all import lathes are too short? This is my second lathe, and it's the same center height +/- as my first Craftex lathe.
Thanks for any input.
Paul
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Hi Paul, I think the recommendation is that the centre height is the distance from the floor to your elbow, with your lower arm held horizontally across your stomach.
I raised my Boxford approximately 4" and I find it's perfect. I'm about the same height as you.
Graham
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Hi Paul -- I grew up with the same advice as Graham gave you, but in my later life (now 63) I have raised my spindles by 4 inches to make micrometers and dial indicators more readable to my (now) bespectacled eyes.
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For me its the height of the handles , if you are hunched over using manual feed , for any lenth of time my back and sholders hurt .
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Have you considered using a high stool?
Works for me at 186cm tall and with a dodgy back.
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63? You're a toungster Lew. I'm well into 65 :D
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You're both youngsters - I'm 68 today :lol:
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Happy birthday Andrew :beer:
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Sorry to high-jack the thread!
You're both youngsters - I'm 68 today :lol:
Happy Birthday Andrew!!
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You're both youngsters - I'm 68 today :lol:
Happy birthday :beer:
Fron the young one, on only 2A years (or was it 42 :smart: )
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Thanks chaps - I have to pinch myself and calculate these days to check how old I am - certainly don't feel 68 until something needs doing down at ground level, then reality sinks in :lol:
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Agree with everyone else, get the twirly bits at or above elbow height. I'm 5'9" and my mini lathe spindle centreline is at 4'2". I'm an arthritic 70, as of last Monday..............
cheers
Bill
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The elbow height check was originally given for setting the height of vice jaws. This is so the hacksaw cuts nicely at 90 to the work piece (set flush'ish with top of jaws).
A long long time ago when I first set up my ML7 I set the top of the compound slide to "elbow" height.
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I am 6' tall and have my spindle at just over 4' and I still find myself stooping over it. I would like it another 3" higher.
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Yup,
Elbow height is good but I'm coming to the conclusion as I begin my 77th orbit of the sun that Elbow plus a hand might be better.
As Lew said the closer the better for spectacle wearers (Within reason else the loupe might be needed).
Andrew M , I find that floor level stuff really becomes a problem when trying to get back up. Gravity really works against me then.
John B
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Sorry to high-jack the thread!
You're both youngsters - I'm 68 today :lol:
Happy Birthday Andrew!!
+1 from me, congratulations.
I've got to say it - I'll see your 68 and raise you 12!! :D :D :D :lol: :lol: :lol:
(and that was back in April!)
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Sorry to high-jack the thread!
You're both youngsters - I'm 68 today :lol:
Happy Birthday Andrew!!
I can add a Magnificent Seven- and make it 87!
Cheers me dears!
Norm
+1 from me, congratulations.
I've got to say it - I'll see your 68 and raise you 12!! :D :D :D :lol: :lol: :lol:
(and that was back in April!)
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Blimey a collection of "SAGA LOUTS", who'd have guessed. :jaw: :proj: :jaw: :jaw:
Wishing you all many more years to pass on your collective wisdom to us all ,😇
Ian
Ps I built all. My lathe workbenches to give me centre height just above elbow level, but fotgot to allow for the thickness of the worktop on the wood lathe( oops 🤢) but on the bright side that makes planing cuts with a skew chisel much easier to do !
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Blimey a collection of "SAGA LOUTS", who'd have guessed. :jaw: :proj: :jaw: :jaw:
Wishing you all many more years to pass on your collective wisdom to us all ,😇
Ian
Ps I built all. My lathe workbenches to give me centre height just above elbow level, but fotgot to allow for the thickness of the worktop on the wood lathe( oops 🤢) but on the bright side that makes planing cuts with a skew chisel much easier to do !
Oops!! Sorry, I tried to include a web link but the FaceBook log-in page got in the way!!!
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Since this has been hijacked once already...
High! You want the lowest handwheel at elbow height. And buy a rubber mat to stand on!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk
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I'd love to have my lathe a bit higher - at 6'4" in my underpants, a few hours at the lathe is a recipe for a sore back...
However, having once managed to lift it an inch, an effort which took the best part of an afternoon and copious amounts of sweat, I need to find a better way than a 5ft pry bar!
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Elevating my Boxford lathe so the center of apron handwheel matches my elbow height is ideal for me. I'm 6' tall.
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The elbow height comes from old visdom when you need power like filing. Think of vice, clamp iron and start filing.
(https://ergo-plus.com/wp-content/uploads/ergo-principles-6.jpg)
https://ergo-plus.com/fundamental-ergonomic-principles/
There is a difference when arms are used to manipulate something on confortable height. Think of drawing board.
It is actually beneficial to have to move a little on not too essential controls (as long as you don't need to hunch over something dangerous or reach too far to trip) ocassionally. In modern offices peope have way more restricted mobility on "mouse hand" than non-rodent-hand.
Long winded story...where I am getting at?
When lifting: Hands should be in "Power zone" when reaching or lifting or using heavy controls. This is standing position. This ofcourse has a little consideration if the parts you machine are very light weigh and your milling machine has no 1930 lever operated clutch.
When working (sitting or standing): the hands should lie comfortably on the most used controls. And E-stop (button, stomp bar) should be easy to operate.
I see some people hunching over a small lathe like vultures over carcass, that can't be too comfortable. Clock makers lathe table is diferent than floor mounted affair.
Habits are hard to break...I mounted one lathe to "perfect" height. I made the table. 15 years later it is time to come clean and make a new table for it ....it is too low, I can comfortably hunch over it. The thing was - it was perfect height for my vision, now I need glasses (and often magnifying lense), I would like to have it "closer".
Pekka
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The stop start button on the clubs Colchester Master is just above knee height , as I was screw cutting a metric thread on a imperial lathe , stop reverse stop forward repeat until done this got old very quickly especially as you cant see the buttons .
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The stop start button on the clubs Colchester Master is just above knee height , as I was screw cutting a metric thread on a imperial lathe , stop reverse stop forward repeat until done this got old very quickly especially as you cant see the buttons .
My Bridgeport's e-stop button is at almost exactly knee height. I soon learned to stand well away from the control box whilst milling...
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The Bridgeport eStop at knee level is EXTREMELY handy Ade when power feeding on the X axis, and the handle gets caught up in your workshop coat pocket and drags you along. AMHIK :lol:
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So its called a KneeStop
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I have since found out that if you flip the reverse lever with it running that stops the motor , so I didn't need to have my finger on the stop button hunched over as I was screwcutting to a sholder .
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You're both youngsters - I'm 68 today :lol:
Hi Seadog -- In another week I turn 67. -- Lew
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Pah! Heading speedily towards 69 Lew :D
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Pah! Heading speedily towards 69 Lew :D
Me too!
Cheers, Matthew
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Which with me at 71 STILL makes you a pair of youngsters all these years on!
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But percentage-wise we're gaining on you, Andrew :D
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Pah! Heading speedily towards 69 Lew :D
Me too!
Cheers, Matthew
Me too!
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90 now :clap:
My contribution to this unforgiving world is to re-cycle as many whisky bottles as it is humanely possible .
Hic!
All lathes are now to tall to tall. I'm either drinking or shrinking!
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The older I get the more critical the lathe height becomes , and the heavier the chucks get .
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Andrew,
I don't want to start catching you up in age!!
Cheers, Matthew
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Elevating my Boxford lathe so the center of apron handwheel matches my elbow height is ideal for me. I'm 6' tall.
Did you add feet or a frame for the lathe to stand on? I have a Denford Viceroy lathe that shares some similarities to Boxfords, hence my interest. The lathe is quite top heavy so I think a wider frame may be the safest option.
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For my Bantam, I bought a set of those rubber machine feet and fitted them on small hollow spacers, giving a total height increase of 2-3 inches. There were 4 holes in the base already, so very little work involved. No experience of this outfit but they seem to have a decent selection at reasonable prices. And then there's ebay, Amazon, Aliexpress etc.
Something like these perhaps https://www.bpfonline.co.uk/search.asp?catid=10977 (https://www.bpfonline.co.uk/search.asp?catid=10977)
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My lathe was a little low, (I'm 6'3"), so mounted it on 5 wheels, which makes it easy to move about single handed. Ideally it could have been a little higher. :)