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Lee Cowherd

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Where to put the lathe?
Jan 9^th, 2017 at 8:23pm

I am in the process of building a new house that will have a 14x20 shop in the basement. I currently have a PM 3520b, a bandsaw, grinder, and a mitre saw. I'll probably be adding my father-in-law's table saw and drill press - maybe a jointer and router table.

Any suggestions on layout? should the lathe be along a wall or out in the middle? How many 240 vs 120v outlets should I have?

Any other suggestions?

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David Hamann

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Re: Where to put the lathe?
Reply #1 - Jan 9^th, 2017 at 9:28pm

my lathe has always been up near a wall, about 18-20" away. i have a jet 1014VSI, so much smaller then your PM. as for 220-240 volt outlets, that will depend on your tools and how many spaces you have available in your breaker box. if you do not mind pulling plugs, one 220V outlet can be used for 2-220V tools, just put the outlet between the 2 tools and pull/plug as needed.

put up some pictures if you have any. we would love to see them.

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« Last Edit: Jan 9^th, 2017 at 9:29pm by David Hamann »

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Len Mullin Active Member Offline WR Rocks! Posts: 141 Miramichi New Brunswick Canada	Re: Where to put the lathe? Reply #2 - Jan 9^th, 2017 at 11:34pm If you have the room to spare, position it so that you have access to both sides. Len
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Ed Weber WR Administrator WR Patron Offline Posts: 8,997 Wilton California USA Gender:	Re: Where to put the lathe? Reply #3 - Jan 10^th, 2017 at 9:08am You may want to try this, Grizzly Workshop Planner Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!! You need to or
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Ralph Fahringer

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Re: Where to put the lathe?
Reply #4 - Jan 10^th, 2017 at 10:37am

I set my 3520b on an angle from the corner of the shop. That way, i can get to the other side..which I have discovered is quite handy for getting to anything and everything that drops off the lathe.

As for outlets, i placed outlets every 4 feet, alternating between 110 and 220 boxes so there is always an outlet near by.... and each outlet has its own breaker and a number on the outlet box that matches the breaker.

All of my outlets and conduit are on the surface of the walls. If I ever want to rearrange the shop, it is all available, rather than in the wall and have to break thru to move stuff.

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Glenn Jacobs

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Re: Where to put the lathe?
Reply #5 - Jan 10^th, 2017 at 1:37pm

Ralph Fahringer wrote on Jan 10^th, 2017 at 10:37am:

As for outlets, i placed outlets every 4 feet, alternating between 110 and 220 boxes so there is always an outlet near by.... and each outlet has its own breaker and a number on the outlet box that matches the breaker. All of my outlets and conduit are on the surface of the walls. If I ever want to rearrange the shop, it is all available, rather than in the wall and have to break thru to move stuff.

I like that idea! As to location of Lathe, if space, would place it 90 Deg to wall so could work from both sides and end.

Glenn J.

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Woodworking all my life. Turning since ~93

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Lee Watermann Senior Member Offline WR Rocks! Posts: 416	Re: Where to put the lathe? Reply #6 - Jan 10^th, 2017 at 9:55pm Mine is at an angle to the wall but I would prefer ninety degrees.
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Bert Delisle

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Re: Where to put the lathe?
Reply #7 - Jan 13^th, 2017 at 11:41am

I put lathe out far emough to be able to walk around it. It is the prominent tool in the shop. All my other table tools are on roller bases and can be stowed away when not in active use. Work space real estate is always a challenge to make efficient use of. 220 receptacles can be daisy chained, they do not have to be on separate circuit if you only use one tool at a time. Just put them at lots of locations so you can limit extension cord use. JMTCW.

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Guy Bratt WR Addict Offline WR Rocks! Posts: 940 Richmond Michigan USA Gender:	Re: Where to put the lathe? Reply #8 - Jan 15^th, 2017 at 10:14pm I'm a little late here. In my shop I have a number of outlets on the ceiling with cords dropped to locations over my lathe and work bench. I can used the tools with out extension cords all over the floor.
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Bert Delisle WR Addict Offline Posts: 1,424 Calgary Alberta Canada Gender:	Re: Where to put the lathe? Reply #9 - Jan 17^th, 2017 at 12:49am Guy Bratt wrote on Jan 15^th, 2017 at 10:14pm: I'm a little late here. In my shop I have a number of outlets on the ceiling with cords dropped to locations over my lathe and work bench. I can used the tools with out extension cords all over the floor. That is a great way to make use of space and limit floor cords.
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Rick Caron Senior Member Offline So many logs, so little time! Posts: 456 Greer South Carolina USA Gender:	Re: Where to put the lathe? Reply #10 - Mar 30^th, 2017 at 12:43pm My shop is 20 by 32. Problem now is it also has my 2 mowers, 4 chain saws, Weed eater, blower, wheel barrow, tool boxes, wood rack, ETC... Doesn't seem big anymore!
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Jeff Vanden Boogart

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Re: Where to put the lathe?
Reply #11 - Apr 5^th, 2017 at 11:32pm

My lathe is parallel to the wall, in front of a window. Very nice to have the natural light. A "shelf" runs from the wall to the storage cabinet under the lathe...stops stuff from falling behind the lathe. I've got several 240 volt outlets and three machines wired direct, all on the same circuit. Being a one-man shop, I can only use one tool at a time

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James polucha WR Noob Offline WR Rocks! Posts: 3	Re: Where to put the lathe? Reply #12 - Oct 30^th, 2021 at 12:23am I put mine in the corner not too close to 1 wall, kinda use the walls as stops for easy clean up
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Glenn Jacobs

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Re: Where to put the lathe?
Reply #13 - Oct 30^th, 2021 at 7:11am

Having been working in my shop a lot more since previous posting, I want 220 and 120 outlets about every 4-6 feet apart all the way around the building. might also drop an air line and vacuum in close proximity too. We had a posting on here about making a mobile unit to be able to move a lathe around. I made one and added drawers for storage. That could be a way to place lathe against the wall or out in middle of floor.

The grizzly layout is a very good idea.

Glenn J.

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Woodworking all my life. Turning since ~93

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robo_hippy

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Re: Where to put the lathe?
Reply #14 - Oct 30^th, 2021 at 11:03am

I have had one parallel to the wall, and in a corner, with the motor towards the corner. It does help contain the chips a little bit. Important to me is having the tailstock end open because I always slide the headstock down and turn bowls off the end. in front of a window is a plus. Plan for lots of shelves, some at waist height, and many overhead. Wood storage takes up a lot of room, like half the shop if you are a furniture maker. Do a scaled drawing, including tools for your shop and play around with it. Plan for 3 feet plus around each tool. I find shop carts really handy.

As for electricity, get more plugs than you figure you will need. If the shop is on a separate circuit, leave room to expand, perhaps double what you figure you will need..... Like tools, you can never have too many.....

robo hippy

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Robert Hayward WR Addict Offline WR Rocks! Posts: 774 Tampa area Florida USA Gender:	Re: Where to put the lathe? Reply #15 - Oct 30^th, 2021 at 5:58pm Does everyone realize this thread is close to five years old? Not that it matters though. The placement of of our machines in our shops is a timeless topic.
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