George said:

"Greg G." wrote in message
.. .
Thanks for the input, and do you have a photo of such a stand built of
chipboard? And is chipboard the same as OSB (they are both considered
the same thing around here). Or do you mean particle board, that
flaky stuff they build Wal-Mart furniture out of? I don't really have
much respect or confidence in that stuff either... ;-)

My former setup - still there.
http://personalpages.tds.net/~upgeor...In-the-Bag.jpg

OK - I get the idea now... Nice job.

My current setup.
http://groups.msn.com/NovaOwners/geo...to&PhotoID=228

I'll trade you one used Jet mini and a used SWMBO for your Nova. ;-)

Melamine-coated chipboard (particle board), which is what was on sale. Top
is a laminated double layer, with a piece of 3/4 birch ply on top of the
chipboard. Poplar end frames are fully reinforced by glued sheet goods in
rabbets. Dados, biscuits and glue for the rest. Fully-glued back.

OK - Melamine coated particle board. Sure, they use that stuff for TV
and kitchen/bath cabinets, office furniture, etc. It's everywhere...
For some reason, they call (dis)oriented strand board "chipboard"
around here - probably because it looks like a lot of big wood chips.

I wouldn't build a doghouse out of OSB - but it's the material of
choice around here for roof sheathing, walls - and sometimes, floors -
when they throw up another frackin clump of McMansions.

The lathe is elevated for ease of cleaning. You'll want to do the same with
your mini for motor and chip clearing, though if you work from the back,
being a lefty, you probably will want symmetry, which limits the depth of
your shelf. The first picture shows why I built the new stand with lifts.
Tough to get the stuff out with it packed between and below.

The bed on the mini is high enough to get a vacuum under it, and it's
not that heavy, so lifts are out for this particular job. But I can
see the benefits on a larger, heavier lathe.

You may "lack confidence" in the material, but you live with it everywhere.
Even when it's assembled fasteners only, there's utility to it. Use real
joinery, and it's incredibly rigid.

Until it gets wet and swells like a viagra soaked woody... ;-)

I live in an area that has humidity levels hovering around 80-90% for
many months out of the year. It rained for 2 months this summer.
Everything made with particle board swelled and distorted slightly.
Even MDF swells up and molds in these environs.

But yea, I know it's everywhere. See above. Doesn't mean I have to
respect it, however. I used to work on high end home theater systems
and it was rather disconcerting to see a $5000 BS constructed out of
painted 1/2" particle board. I have FAR more respect for a 3/4" slab
of oak, cherry, or walnut. ;-)

I noticed one stand touted extra extension of trestle-type feet behind the
lathe. Unless you're going to be turning in reverse, that's a waste of
space. With the counterclockwise motion, the acceleration wants to dig in
the front and lift the rear. Remember that in weight distribution.

I noticed that in the picture posted earlier. Seemed like an
interesting idea until I though about it. But by the same token, any
added depth to the stance is probably not a bad idea, but one I can't
consider due to space considerations.

Thanks again,


Greg G.