mklotz
Well-Known Member
In my tiny shop space it's inevitable that any horizontal surface will quickly fill with stuff. It used to be a real pain clearing a space when I needed to work on something large (which, fortunately, I do very seldom).
I solved the problem by identifying some key working areas and making flat plywood "serving trays" which sit on those surfaces. These trays have sturdy steel handles (the type one might see on a shed door) fixed to them so it's easy to lift the tray and whatever it's collected, set it on the floor, and, voila, a big clear patch of working space.
I did something similar on my lathe. Like many Chinese lathes, it has a flat, hinged top on the headstock that one must lift to change speeds. Being flat, it's a perfect place to lay chuck key, mike, screwdriver, etc.. Then, when a speed change is needed, all that must be picked up and a place found for it.
The local craft store sells a set of three small pine trays (really 1.5" high topless boxes) of varying sizes. These are meant , I believe, to be painted with craft paints until suitably hideous, then gifted to relatives one loathes.
One on top of the headstock and the others scattered in key "tool collection sites" have helped enormously. Instead of picking up a whole handful of tools (and probably dropping a couple) one simply sets the tray aside, performs the needed operation, and then replaces the tray.
Re lathes hanging on walls... I toured a WWII submarine here in CA (can't remember which harbor offhand) and the lathe was mounted to the bulkhead. Not that surprising given the cramped interior of a sub. But this one had the spindle axis vertical! I wonder how long it would take to adjust to working on such a tool.
I solved the problem by identifying some key working areas and making flat plywood "serving trays" which sit on those surfaces. These trays have sturdy steel handles (the type one might see on a shed door) fixed to them so it's easy to lift the tray and whatever it's collected, set it on the floor, and, voila, a big clear patch of working space.
I did something similar on my lathe. Like many Chinese lathes, it has a flat, hinged top on the headstock that one must lift to change speeds. Being flat, it's a perfect place to lay chuck key, mike, screwdriver, etc.. Then, when a speed change is needed, all that must be picked up and a place found for it.
The local craft store sells a set of three small pine trays (really 1.5" high topless boxes) of varying sizes. These are meant , I believe, to be painted with craft paints until suitably hideous, then gifted to relatives one loathes.
One on top of the headstock and the others scattered in key "tool collection sites" have helped enormously. Instead of picking up a whole handful of tools (and probably dropping a couple) one simply sets the tray aside, performs the needed operation, and then replaces the tray.
Re lathes hanging on walls... I toured a WWII submarine here in CA (can't remember which harbor offhand) and the lathe was mounted to the bulkhead. Not that surprising given the cramped interior of a sub. But this one had the spindle axis vertical! I wonder how long it would take to adjust to working on such a tool.