need to setup shop in an apartment

Signed-In Members Don't See This Ad
Status
Not open for further replies.
pssherman

pssherman

Member
Joined
Jan 19, 2006
Messages
846
Location
Paragould, Arkansas, USA.
Looks like I will be spending my summer in Huntsville, AL doing research at Marshall Space Flight Center. I will have plenty of time to make pens but my equipment is too big for an apartment. I need recommendations on how to setup a shop in an apartment.

Thanks
Paul in AR
 
Signed-In Members Don't See This Ad
Paul,
Do you have a balcony/patio/deck? If so, you can do what I used to do and put your lathe on a stand that's on wheels (like a dolly), and simply do your turning and finish work on the balcony. If you get a relatively light DP (or use a cordless drill) and a small table-top band saw, those are pretty easy to move in and out. Just do everything in batches of 10 to 20 at a time...pick your blanks and kits, take the saw outside and do all the cutting, call it a day (unless you have more time); next day, take the DP outside and do all the drilling and gluing; the next day do all the trimming and any other prep work; then you can spend the next several days just turning.
 
I'd do all of my cutting and drilling at home then put the blanks in with the kits for glue up, turning, finishing during the summer...less to carry.
 
I haven't gone their yet to arrange for an apartment, so I don't know if there will be a balcony or not. It would be a good option to look for. Getting one that is short term and at least partially furnished may not have many options to choose from. My wife will not be going with me since adding wheelchair access and allowing for pets would be too much to ask for. I will be going home every other weekend so I may be able to do the cutting and drilling then. I can also PC any shell casings then.

Any suggestions for a small portable lathe (inexpensive hopefully) that is easily transportable and can be clamped to a table? Mine is an old full-size Craftsman mounted to 30 x 60 inch worktable with MT#1 headstock and tailstock.

Paul in AR
 
What do you define as inexpensive? Some here have suggested the Wilton, which I think Amazon has for <$100. PSI's TurnCrafter Pro is a decent lathe, and is about the same price as the Grizzly that King Bubba mentioned.
 
For ultra portable lathe the Jet pen lathe, it weighs about 10 pounds and is the size of a shoe box and less than 100.00 (I think I payed 75.00 on ebay). Not the best lathe I guess (other members feedback) but the only lathe I have turned on so far. Big proble I have found with it is it has a mt0 so you cant get extra mandrels for it and cant do kits that need B mandrel. I got a Jet VS ordered but plan to still use small on for slimline kits.

Nolan
 
Paul, Have you checked with the MWR office there to see if they have a woodworking shop? A lot of the military installations have shops on post (base).

Fred in TN
 
I bought a Carba-tec lathe form PSI for around $235.00 a couple yrs ago. It weighs less than 40#. It takes a #1 morse taper and is variable speed. I haven't had any problems at all. I actually like that little lathe. Hope this helps,
Jim
 
I have one of the tiny JPLs, love it! of course with the 0MT you are right you are limited to 7mm but it is so small I take it everywhere I go in our RV. So far I have made only slimlines and click pens so hasn't been any problem. I am told you can turn larger blanks using two live centers, one in each end, although I would think it would be hard to center the blank, maybe not with the cone shape.
J.D. Drayton
 
Originally posted by fhinde
<br />Paul, Have you checked with the MWR office there to see if they have a woodworking shop? A lot of the military installations have shops on post (base).

Fred in TN
Click to expand...
I just spoke with the MWR office and the arts and crafts center at Redstone Arsenal. They do have a woodworking shop available during selected hours. I will need to be "certified" on the equipment for liability reasons. I signed up for the 3 hour class on May 22 and June 5 if I can't make the first. Thanks Fred, you just saved me a bunch of money and hassles.
Thanks to all who made suggestions/recommendations. I may still get a small lathe since the shop is not open during all of my free time.

Thanks
Paul in AR
 
I would suggest a Jet Mini or the Delta Midi if you decide to get one anyway. I have used both and still have the Delta, both work great for anything that will fit on them it seems. A lot of people seem to have done what I did, start with the mini/midi and then get a "full size" lathe. I wish I was closer to Huntsville and I would loan you my Midi for the summer. I don't use it for much since I got a bigger lathe, but I also don't want to sell it for $1.50 at a garage sale. I would be glad to loan it but I live about 7 hours from H'ville. I do have a BIL that lives near Huntsville and we do see each other occasionally. Just a thought- [:)] I would rather see you busy on the lathe in your free time than waiting for the MWR people to open up. [8D]
 
Here you go:

livingroom.jpg
 
I would agree with most of the comments about the JET Pen lathe. Extremely compact.....will fit in a standard sized brief case with all of its tools and accessories.....
but is a little limited. Absolutely perfect for someone touring in a RV. I had one and made some nice pens; but upgraded to a JET mini, primarily because of the mandrel situation. That was before I knew you could turn your own bushings or that all Woodcraft bushings are designed to be used with a 7 mm mandrel even those for the Berea kits that normally need a "B" mandrel. Not sorry that I traded up; but under the right circumstances, the JPL can be a good choice!!

One concern I would keep in mind is that chips and shavings falling from your balcony onto a neighbor in the unit below might cause some difficulty. If you have the option a first floor unit, it might be better and if not I would visit the neighbor with a complimentary pen and see if you can discover and resolve any problems "BEFORE" the fact!!!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top Bottom