Build a Midi Lathe Stand

A good lathe stand is heavy, doesn't get in your way and has storage for all the stuff you use at the lathe. I haven't included storage for the lathe cutting tools since I would rather have those up higher. I did put a 45 degree on the top edge of the panel on the front if I change my mind and want to hang a rack on the front.
I haven't included plans because the construction is fairly straightforward and you are going to want to adjust the height of the stand for your own height. The lathe spindle should be at about the same height as your elbow.

[@SteveFrenchWoodNStuff]

That's one kick ass stand! I love the addition of the branding plate on front. Beautiful.

[@matthewharper170]

that really turned out great! I love the simple, solid look of the whole thing, and I'm sure it will work great.

[@broadsideguy967]

Great logo panel and the tool storage / drawers are really cool too . Cheers

[@roseteacher1]

Super creative approach to woodworking. Thanks for your videos, they're inspiring.

[@vl_hantverk]

I like your camera work dude 👍 nice production quality on both the lathe stand and this video

[@JohnHeisz]

Hefty, yet beautifully made - great build!

[@krtwood]

Thanks!

[@MaxBlantonshopdawg]

Great looking stand

[@mdavies441]

Great job. Pretty, functional, storage, it has it all!

[@davomontgomeryda3rd]

always look forward to seeing your work/designs/videos... they're all awesome but seeing your approach to shop furniture/ stands/ workbenches, etc. is especially awesome and definitely inspirational! thanks for sharing, and that is one badass lathe stand!

[@krtwood]

Thanks. I've been through a phase of just getting shop stuff done as quickly and cheaply as possible but now for the most part I'm trying to put a little more effort into it. Hopefully these things will be around for a long time so it's worth the small amount of extra effort and expense.

[@rickywalden4206]

Very nicely done! Looks great and appears extremely functional.

[@barretthageman3350]

That looks great. Your workbench was some of the inspiration for mine. Will have to keep this in mind when i go to build the stand for my shopsmith.

[@krtwood]

Cool! Thank you.

[@ScrapwoodCity]

I really love it's design! I admire the fact that you made most of your cuts with that awesome circular saw! Thanks for sharing!

[@krtwood]

Thanks!

[@rodriguesbob100]

Who needs a cast iron table?? I had thought about making a table from wood & just adding some weights to the bottom of it. The thought of sandwiching MDF like you did is an even better idea I think. Great build Kurt.

[@AndreaArzensek]

That stand looks great. I particularly enjoyed watching dado stack getting to a full stop :)

[@krtwood]

I thought it was a nice change of pace from all the tight editing :)

[@matt_williams1015]

Great lathe stand. The use of fluorescent bulbs as winding sticks is a great tip, I will have to try it.

[@krtwood]

I was looking around for something to use and it hit me.

[@Mitermikeswoodshop]

very well built krtwood I truly love the way you covered the pocket holes.

[@krtwood]

Thanks!

[@BCdesign1]

That looks great!the logo on the front really finishes the stand off well!

[@krtwood]

Thank you!

[@timberdish]

Really nice work as always! Loved the photography on this one, particularly the cool pan you made across the table saw. Great stuff :-)

[@janiearrington1098]

Matt Jones how tall is it

[@Jamesgreggy]

i love how the logo turned out.

[@mfwoodshop]

Cool project I like the purple. And great idea for weighing it down using the MDF

[@johnconklin9039]

That thing is a monster, bet it's solid as a rock.

[@frankorona1]

Wonderful project! ! Tanks for sharing.

[@hspringsteen]

That turned out really nice. The logo on the front is awesome.

[@krtwood]

Thanks! It was a little too much purple without it :)

[@JPDrew3]

Nice job! I like the color.

[@charleyandsarah]

Just found your channel and subbed. Great lathe stand, nice job.

[@MightywoodNet]

That is a need looking lathe stand! Great project! Thanks for sharing! Daniel.

[@krtwood]

Thanks!

[@TheWoodWerker]

Looks Super Sonic Great! I have ALWAYS loved the way MDF looks when finished, Really smooth! The Lathe Stand looks like a beautiful piece of furniture! Glad 2 B a subscriber! Have A Super Blessed Week!.....Gus

[@SawDustMakerRJM]

Nice looking lathe stand.

[@OlivierGomis]

Very nice work an idea with cheap materials, love it !

[@SpecificLove7]

Nicely done

[@AndrewKleinWW]

I really like the logo panel, the stand turned out great.

[@krtwood]

I had meant to put my logo on one of the drawers of the workbench but got ahead of myself and glued the drawer front on before I did it. So now I made up for it :)

[@greenskin3000]

Love the color!

[@tympt1]

Looks really smart. Great job.

[@krtwood]

Thanks!

[@Pete.G]

Love the colour scheme!

[@krtwood]

Thanks!

[@jaytechCFL]

Love the camera work. Great project.

[@krtwood]

Thanks!

[@crazethedave]

Very nice and elegant looking.

[@krtwood]

Thanks!

[@bluemtnsman]

Sharp looking unit.

[@intjonmiller]

Gorgeous!

[@RobbieEffler]

really nice .. I like the big logo panel

[@krtwood]

Thank you!

[@ConfusionWood]

GREAT WORK. very nice!

[@krtwood]

Thanks!

[@MattLaneWoodshop]

Great build man, mdf is definitely heavy stuff!

[@StoneandSonsWorkshop]

Very nice.

[@peterbrownwastaken]

I watched this early on mobile but didn't trust my thumbs... I see you're a purple person. Which means you're kinda crazy, looking forward to what you make your lathe do for you! :)

[@brothyr]

looks like you made the base of clay and painted it. so smooth.

[@krtwood]

The edges could have used another coat or two of primer but it'll do for the shop :)

[@69sungam]

I like the design /Swede

[@GlassImpressions]

Great production. Heavvvvvy! :0

[@krtwood]

It's a beast!

[@kporter85db]

And you painted it Carmichael Purple. Lol.... Nice, I like it.

[@krtwood]

I thought it was Ramsey purple?

[@kporter85db]

krtwood You're right. Next time I should wake up fully before commenting.

[@Unclebuddy01]

Awesome !!!

[@krtwood]

Thanks!

[@mcremona]

That looks sufficiently sturdy. I couldn't help but think about all the weight you lost when you made the hand hold cut outs :) Oh and that was one spicy glue up!

[@krtwood]

The only time it pained me to lose weight.

[@mcremona]

krtwood haha!!

[@thomasarussellsr]

Some good heavy 20/4 hardwood slabs would make great ends, Matt. Then, to not lose weight, you could just carve some contrasting d-handles out of another wood. Mortise and tennon a thick cookie slab for the middle. Dang I wish I had access to some beautiful slabs.

[@Wordsnwood]

Great stand. Love the contrast between the colour and the pale logo panel. Gives it a great look. And yeah, I actually listed to most of the closing minute of dead screen... ;-)

[@jaytechCFL]

Hidden track!

[@krtwood]

Ha ha! That's what I get for posting the video at 1 am. Thanks!

[@swifty3565]

Very nice stand,! Can you give me approximate dimensions on the legs and cross brace?

[@diycentral]

Awesome stand. Love the addition of your branding. Crazy cool. Maybe I missed something. But what were you filling at 3:38?

[@krtwood]

diycentral That's where the triangular piece met the squared off piece. The MDF just falls apart when it gets really thin at the pointy end of the triangle.

[@tomdoe6399]

Nice addition to your shop. It looks great. How tall is the table?

[@krtwood]

I was aiming to get the lathe spindle at 46" which is the height of my elbow though it ended up closer to 47". I think the stand itself is somewhere between 30-32"

[@BradleyMakesThings]

Love this! Looks great and looks really sturdy! I take it the logo panel was CNC? If so, was that wth V Carve or some other program? Looked awesome!

[@krtwood]

Yes, that was with Vcarve. Thanks!

[@MRrwmac]

Strong and well designed bench/storage that can be broken down! Is the logo painted or CNC? Nice work either way.

[@krtwood]

Both. Thanks!

[@daveharvey6141]

I have been searching for some ideas and came across this one. it is definitely one of the best i have seen. Question for you: on the crossbar, as I looked at your design, I thought I would dado(router) the ends of the crossbar into legs and also make it flush with the top of the legs, for added stability. As it is now, the weight is distributed across the two legs. For my benefit, do you see any issue with that, which I have not thought about yet? If not, I plan on starting on this next week. Thanks

[@krtwood]

Dave Harvey I don't see anything wrong with doing that. I kept it lower so I wouldn't have to worry about having it all flush at the top.

[@patprop74]

the stand looks good, but I sure hope your protecting yourself from the MDF dust! a local woodwork died at age of 45 from MDF dust build up in his lungs due to poor shop ventilation and dust extraction. you seem like a good guy! im sure you would be missed if you past away before your time because you used the most toxic woodwork cabinet material on the market.

[@vaulimere]

Looks great. Would the vibration of the lathe not weaken the pocket holes in the mdf until they pop out?

[@krtwood]

I don't think so but I guess we'll find out.

[@TheWoodKnight]

This looks fantastic, and rock solid. Time to do a good demo with some nice out of round stock! ;) Heads up though, you've exported a few minutes of black/silence at the end there.

[@mcremona]

Paul Jenkins That's where the hidden track lives

[@AndrewKleinWW]

Yes, there actually is a bit of stray audio at at the very end --> 9:44. I think youtube lets you go in and trim this off.

[@KSFWG]

Perhaps it is intended to be an "audio blooper"....

[@krtwood]

Yeah that was completely intentional... the video got a couple minutes shorter in the final edit and there as a rogue piece of audio hanging out way after the new end.

[@mcremona]

krtwood Your very own easter egg

[@sigguy1361]

Very nice. I must have missed the step in there though where it went from looking like five pieces of mdf sandwiched together to looking like it had been dipped in plaster or something, because it was so smooth. Was that just from sanding it??

[@krtwood]

+Sig Guy mdf takes paint really well, except on the edges. The edges aren't that good in person, you'd have to a couple rounds of primer and sanding or do something else to seal them up to get them really looking good.

[@sigguy1361]

Sounds good! Thanks for getting back to me. It sure looked more flawless than you said. Nice work, and it's inspired me to do one of my own for a lathe I recently acquired. Cheers

[@onemorehunter]

Beautiful lathe stand. The only thing I dont like and please don't take offense to this but I dont like MDF because it doesn't hole up well to moisture. I would make one out of 3/4 or 1 inch pressure treated red oak plywood. My only concern would be the weight. I would also use water seal on it was well. Either Thompson's or BEHR. I prefer BEHR, however, the choice is ultimately the particular individual doing the work. The point still remains, would the plywood be heavy enough? Any thoughts?

[@krtwood]

The paint gives it some protection and it's almost an inch off the ground so if there's that much water in the shop I have bigger problems to worry about than a ruined lathe stand. Plywood could work too.

[@ITSAWOODTHING]

I really like this project............... any Idea of an estimated weight....................

[@krtwood]

ITS A WOOD THING I think a sheet of mdf is about 90 lbs so I'd guess somewhere between 150-200 lbs.

[@garrybrpwine3073]

Nice !! You forgot how did you establish working height ?

[@krtwood]

+Garry Brpwine The spindle should be at about the same height as your elbows is what I read. I think I'm maybe an inch higher than that.

[@garrybrpwine3073]

Thanks.. I also heard of that but was not sure if it was true or not..

[@jasonb4350]

Looks good but why pocket holes for something that heavy you could have used two or three large threaded bolts on each side and you could still disassemble if you needed

[@krtwood]

Or I could use what I already had and it would work fine.

[@edbuell67]

what is the weight of the stand without the cabinet. ie how much weight did the legs add?

[@krtwood]

A sheet of mdf is about 90 lbs.

[@joe5938]

What did you trade with Steve for that paint?

[@krtwood]

David ODell A whole bunch of plans I got from this guy named Ted.

[@Uncle_Buzz]

I dunno...I think it's a little underbuilt. j/k Cheers! --Chris.

[@KSFWG]

The one thing it forced me to do was ponder this question: How much does a board foot of MDF weigh? Sheesh, I know MDF is heavy, but the sheer size/heft of the stand gave me a hernia just watching the video.

[@krtwood]

2.8 lbs if my math is right. A full sheet is about 90 lbs so I figure the stand is at least 150 lbs altogether.

[@KSFWG]

If you ever move your shop to another location you might want to hire a couple of young guys from the high school football team to move it. :)

[@krtwood]

KSFWG Well the idea was it can come apart into 4 pieces that all weigh less than 50 lbs. But the lathe weighs 120 lbs and while I can pick it up by myself I then have to put it right back down again... so there's already going to be help... so I don't think there was much point to making it come apart beyond getting it off the bench.