Lathe Weight

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Since I built a heavier tool rest I needed to add some weight to the lathe to keep it from scooting across the floor with an un-balanced turning.The tube is 5"x5"x1/2" and the end "flanges" are 1/2" plate. The support angles are 3"x3"x3/8". The original plan was to open the ends and fill it with sand if needed. Now I'm thinking of welding caps on the inside of the flanges to make the tube section water tight. Then put the new mag drill to use and put holes for a fill and drain port so the added weight can be removed easily. The angle tabs would still bolt on because it has to be moved under the lathe, raised with a jack and they get bolted on to secure it.Don't look too hard at the welds, I was experimenting with metal cored wire and the wind kept blowing every time I started. Attached ImagesTOO MANY TOOLS & NO MORE SPACE
Reply:Your lathe really shakes so badly that it moves across the floor?Is this  a wood turning lathe?Miller a/c-d/c Thunderbolt XLMillermatic 180 Purox O/ASmith Littletorch O/AHobart Champion Elite
Reply:Just saw the other post.Miller a/c-d/c Thunderbolt XLMillermatic 180 Purox O/ASmith Littletorch O/AHobart Champion Elite
Reply:Yes it is a wood lathe, my dad has started turning bowls out of rough logs and untill they get rounded things are kind of "interesting".The base I made for his lathe has big leveling feet that transfer the load off the casters and onto the floor but the lathe still shakes a little. The weight is going half way up the base of the machine which weighs about 600#. The steel tube and other parts probably add up to about 150#-175# without any water or sand.Last edited by Chris T.; 05-06-2014 at 08:12 PM.TOO MANY TOOLS & NO MORE SPACE
Reply:I'd go with sand since it damps vibrations.Miller Dynasty 200 DXBuildPro TMA52238 (38" x 22")Miller MP-10 & Jackson Nexgen EQC20 Ton Press & Swag HD Press Brake
Reply:No way to secure the lathe to the floor using vibration isolators?
Reply:Unfortunately it has to be semi mobile because he wants it by the garage door when turning exotic woods for ventilation but it blocks the table saw. He is not a big fan of anchoring things to the floor and the garage floor is allready cracked so the added vibration probably would not be the best thing.If I had my way, there would be some 3/4" drop in anchors being installed.It will not walk itself across the shop but the base does shake from the out of balance turning.TOO MANY TOOLS & NO MORE SPACE
Reply:I added about 200 lbs of steel and 300 lbs of lead to make mine better.....not good just better
Reply:Originally Posted by vwguy3I added about 200 lbs of steel and 300 lbs of lead to make mine better.....not good just better
Reply:Originally Posted by dhemI'd go with sand since it damps vibrations.
Reply:Originally Posted by Chris T.Is that on a bowl turning lathe or what? That's an awful lot of weight to just make it "better".
Reply:Originally Posted by vwguy3I added about 200 lbs of steel and 300 lbs of lead to make mine better.....not good just better
Reply:I would love to do that but the price of lead around here is ridiculous. I'm kind of trying to make this removable if needed so there is only so much weight that can be put in it. Tube dimensions (inside),39"x4"x4"= 0.39cu.ft0.39cu.ft x 700lb/cu.ft= 273lbs of lead + the weight of the tube 175lb +/-That would be fun to put up there. I'm sure the neighbors would love having a lead smelter in the drivewayTOO MANY TOOLS & NO MORE SPACE
Reply:At this time the lathe is setting under my trolley rail so I used a sling and the chain fall to move it.The lead is wheel weights I gathered over the years.
Reply:That sounds really cool. Have any pics?TOO MANY TOOLS & NO MORE SPACE
Reply:If you rough cut the wood in a vertical band saw first, should be able to get it true enough that the lathe won't walk around at a low speed during the initial cleanup.
Reply:If you need more weight instead of using metal you could use concrete. Concrete is not as heavy as steel (about a third of the density) but cheap and it's also very "dead", no vibrations. Water is not good, only about a third of the weight of concrete.We have a wood lathe too that is a little unstable because it's top heavy. Your post reminded me that I need to do something about that... Perhaps I'll bolt it to a concrete base. And make moveable with a pallet jack.BTW, what is the lathe standing on? You could use those adjustable rubber machine feet, that is common on lathes and mills. Don't know if you call them "machine feet" in the US...Last edited by Pete.S.; 05-14-2014 at 09:59 PM.