Sitting Down At The Lathe

ih8beingold

ih8beingold

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I hope this is the right section to post this. I'm going to need to sit down at the lathe sometimes. I will need to sit down more as time goes on. I really don't want to wait until I need help and I'd like to get ready for the future now while I'm able. Does anyone else here sit down while running the lathe? Is it more dangerous? Any hints or ideas that will make things safer and easier? My son will use the lathe also so I'd rather me be uncomfortable rather than him, so I can't really modify it too much. It will be his one day. He is the main reason I got a lathe and mill. So we can be together as much as possible with a common interest :grin:. Thanks
 
I have a shop stool in my machine area, I don't use is very much while running the lathe, but it's nice for the mill. I don't think there is any real safety issue when using a chair, but it would take some getting used to.
 
I raised my lathe to 52" so I can stand comfortably.
I sit at the mill pretty much all the time.
 
If you google "jewelers lathe, you will see a number of photos of people sitting at the lathe. I remember years ago there was a jewelery store where there was a window into the watch repair room. The jeweler would frequently be sitting at the lathe. Also years ago, I used a friend's Sherline and he had his set up for sitting while working.
I think that it works very well for small lathes but gets increasingly more difficult as the lathe gets bigger.

Bob
 
As you need to it will all come together , sitting is no more dangerous then standing at the lathe. I've been disabled since 1979 , so I indeed know about sitting and running machinery. At first I had a steal machine stool but as my age and pain level keep me in my wheelchair, I'm still gona keep moving and working on things just to help keep me moving. Don't give up on things just because you cant stand constantly . I have a ton of iron in the fire things I'm building projects to finish and repairs on items to sell. When I grew up you had to work or you didn't eat, I kinda like to do that a little. Do whatever it takes to get in your shop and work with your tools , makes a man feel good making things or repairing items.
 
ih8beingold said:
I hope this is the right section to post this. I'm going to need to sit down at the lathe sometimes. I will need to sit down more as time goes on. I really don't want to wait until I need help and I'd like to get ready for the future now while I'm able. Does anyone else here sit down while running the lathe? Is it more dangerous? Any hints or ideas that will make things safer and easier? My son will use the lathe also so I'd rather me be uncomfortable rather than him, so I can't really modify it too much. It will be his one day. He is the main reason I got a lathe and mill. So we can be together as much as possible with a common interest :grin:. Thanks
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I sit running my lathe all the time except when I'm single point threading.
 
I imagine that sitting in a chair with wheels on it and a clear area to push back into would be OK.
 
Hardinge offered a padded swivel chair(which I have) to go with their HLVH. However,unless I'm taking a long cut,I can't see the work if I'm sitting. Much easier to sit at the mill as the work is easily seen.

Nothing wrong with sitting. You might get a hot chip in the lap. Maybe wear an apron.
 
Hot chips in the lap? Sounds like a good reason to wear pants while operating a lathe... :))
 
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