metaljunkie Posted October 22, 2016 Report Share Posted October 22, 2016 Ok folks, here's my new mobile work bench. After having to re-locate to the big city I was forced to leave most of my big tools and equipment at my home and adapt to apartment living. Being a guy that likes to fix things and yes, sometimes tear them up I needed my tools, mostly to keep me sane. I bought a mini wood lathe from Harbor Freight and started turning pens, small bowls, and such. Well now I am missing my G0602 metal lathe and decided to try and find a way to get it in this small one bedroom apartment without killing myself, or tearing up the floors. So after looking for a suitable mobile work bench that was priced within my budget I discovered there isn't one. Now I'm not that cheap, but I needed a work station that was a little wider and longer than my lathe, rated for the weight of 400lbs. So I decided my only alternative was to build one. Picked up the lumber from Lowes today, a few boxes of screws and presto. I have a new bench. Already had the casters I accidently double ordered from Amazon. I plan to enclose the back with 1/4" plywood, add two fold down shelves on the sides that I can raise up if I need to use a bench grinder or my smallish drill press. Took about 4 or 5 hours to build. Price $68.00 including three boxes of screws and a cheap 12" level. Let me know what you think. 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisK Posted October 22, 2016 Report Share Posted October 22, 2016 I think it's amazing every time a guy in apartment comes up with a new way to work. Awesome job dude! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metaljunkie Posted October 22, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 22, 2016 Thanks ChrisK. I'm new to this apartment living, but where there's a will, there's a way. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnarlyCarl Posted October 23, 2016 Report Share Posted October 23, 2016 19 hours ago, metaljunkie said: Thanks ChrisK. I'm new to this apartment living, but where there's a will, there's a way. Good looking quick setup, I think I would go crazy in an apartment... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metaljunkie Posted October 23, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2016 If it wasn't for tinkering on my lathe I would go nuts. I'm use to country living, but my job moved, and so did I. Got to eat and make it 10 more years til retirement. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nordraw Posted October 24, 2016 Report Share Posted October 24, 2016 What do you do about dust and noise that might disturb the neighbors? I have lived in a lot of apartments in my day and I feel your pain dude. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metaljunkie Posted October 24, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 24, 2016 Nordraw, I use a vacuum dust system I picked up at Harbor Freight with a trash can cyclone separator from Wood Craft that is not very noisy at all and the lathe is pretty quiet. No one has complained since I started back in April. The vacuum doesn't catch all the chips, but does a good job on the fine dust and when I'm done turning a project I disconnect the intake hose from the magnetic dust guard and suck up all the bigger wood chips on the floor. My floor is hard wood so I wouldn't recommend this for a carpet. I also try to time my projects for week ends and don't start too early so I don't disrupt the neighbors. I try to respect the neighbors and keep noise to a minimum. After clean up which takes maybe 30 minutes I cover the lathe with a grill cover and push the tool cart in my hallway closet. The only caveat is you have to make your wife a bowl or pen every now and then so she don't tell on you. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jronman Posted October 27, 2016 Report Share Posted October 27, 2016 Impressive it only took you 5 hours. Looks nice. You planning on any durable stain or finish/sealer? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metaljunkie Posted October 31, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 31, 2016 Haven't really had time to think about a finish yet. Do you have any recommendations on a low odor protective finish. I think it would be hard to use a standard stain or varnish because the smell would migrate to other apartments which would equate into pissing off the neighbors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnarlyCarl Posted October 31, 2016 Report Share Posted October 31, 2016 Water based poly? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metaljunkie Posted October 31, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 31, 2016 How strong is the odor? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metaljunkie Posted October 31, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 31, 2016 Update; The little cart handled the 400 lb load great. Rolled easy with no signs of stress on the frame. Now I just need to finish it as suggested with water based poly and enclose the top half. I pre-cut furring strips, 2x2"s and some 1/4" siding cut-offs from my last storage building project. I plan on using two set's of hinges so the top will unfold on two different axis. This way I can have access to the front and top of the lathe and close it after I'm finished with a project, and lock it up. It will/should look like a wooden box on top of a wood cart when I'm done until I unfold it foe the next project. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jronman Posted October 31, 2016 Report Share Posted October 31, 2016 oil stain does smell but its not too noticeable when poly is put on top in my opinion. I have used both polyurethane (sprayed) and polyacrylic (brushed). urethane is faster to apply cause I sprayed it but acrylic had a heavier coat cause I brushed it. I think the acrylic dried faster. I cant remember if there were many brush marks with the acrylic. The Acrylic is thiner than urethane and is white but dries clear. The urethane is a more golden yellow color and a bit thicker. Ive also used amber shellac (brushed). It dries faster than the other 2 I've used and has an amber color to it that will dry with an amber tint. I've never used any other finishes. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metaljunkie Posted October 31, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 31, 2016 I'll have to make a run to Lowes on Saturday and check out both options. Thanks for the pointers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metaljunkie Posted November 6, 2016 Author Report Share Posted November 6, 2016 Got a few tools out today and decided to get creative. The work bench seems to work great with the 400 lb. load except for getting it out of the walk in closet. Plenty of clearance to get through the doorway, but it's tough to turn with that much weight on it. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnarlyCarl Posted November 7, 2016 Report Share Posted November 7, 2016 That's pretty cool to see you making do with what you can. looks like a pretty decent lathe!!! Also did you figure out a finish? Anything water based is going to have much less odor then oil based 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metaljunkie Posted November 7, 2016 Author Report Share Posted November 7, 2016 Thanks and no word on the finish yet. Both me and the wife have been under the weather this weekend so we stayed in. I did use the wood cut offs to enclose the bottom half of the cart with the front as hinged doors and a hasp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Surfer (aka Nalu) Posted November 7, 2016 Report Share Posted November 7, 2016 Wow that's terrific MetalJunkie! I've always appreciated the ingenuity that people have when constrained by space. It looks like you got that workbench dialed in for your needs. Thanks for sharing! On another note, have you ever checked out "This Old Tony" on YouTube? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metaljunkie Posted November 7, 2016 Author Report Share Posted November 7, 2016 Thanks Surfer. Never heard of "This Old Tony", but I'll check it out and get back to you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metaljunkie Posted November 7, 2016 Author Report Share Posted November 7, 2016 Pretty cool videos Surfer. He explains processes that even I can understand. Thanks for point him out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Surfer (aka Nalu) Posted November 8, 2016 Report Share Posted November 8, 2016 1 hour ago, metaljunkie said: Pretty cool videos Surfer. He explains processes that even I can understand. Thanks for point him out. Your welcome man. I have no idea about metal-urgee or machining stuff but I really enjoy his videos. Especially the one on Multimeters lol 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimboS1ice Posted November 8, 2016 Report Share Posted November 8, 2016 Nice bench dude, I love building your own work stands because it allows you to customize to your needs and the best part if you ever need to change it, you know how you put it together 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metaljunkie Posted November 10, 2016 Author Report Share Posted November 10, 2016 Thanks Jimbo. Your right, no guess work on changing it if I need to later. I had some cut offs from 4x8 sheets of siding from an out building I built a year ago and they work out great for enclosing the bottom of the new work bench. I just had to add a few 2x2's, hinges for the front and a hasp. I'm thinking of building another one a little smaller to hold my bench size drill press, band saw, and rock well table saw. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metaljunkie Posted November 26, 2016 Author Report Share Posted November 26, 2016 My second work bench with new compressor. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CATERPILLAR Posted November 27, 2016 Report Share Posted November 27, 2016 54 minutes ago, metaljunkie said: My second work bench with new compressor. nice bench man and smart way to have it enclosed in the bench and on casters what is the top made out of looks very clean and smooth have a good one 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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