I want my Real Woodworking Bench
(http://home.comcast.net/~charliebcz/.../CBbench0.html)
back so I've decided to build a lathe bench for my JET midi

I've got a maple top (1 3/4" thick, 5' long and 20" deep)
for my future Ultimate Lathe Bench, but I want to do
a First Lathe Bench just to get the damn lathe of my
real workbench. Have a 3 foot long 4x12 header remnant
for the top and plan on 4x4 pedestals for the base with
2x6 stringers.

I want the lathe as close to the front of the bench top,
and because the top is only 11 1/2" wide (don't you
just love how the wood industry changes the meaning
of dimensions? "Oh, when we cut it it was 2x4 but
after it's dried and milled it's only an inch and a half
by 3 1/2.") - the base of the end pedestals should
be wider than 11 1/2"

Having the base extend foreward seems like it
would be a stubbed toe waiting to happen.

It's my understanding that the bench should
resist toppling over backwards so the center
of gravity should be towards the front. I
plan on having space at the bottom for adding
weight - sand, steel or lead shot, cast iron.

SO - which of the followng base configurations
would be the best way to go?
+----+
| |
| A | too narrow
| |
+----+

+----+
| |
| B | "feet" extend foreward
| |
+------+

+----+
| |
| C | "feet" extend rearward
| |
+------+


+----+
/ D \ symetric "delta" base
/ \
+---------+

+----+
| E \ rearward trapezoid base
| \
+--------+

+----+
/ F | foreward trapezoid base
/ |
+-------+

charlie b