If I had a hammer...Atlas lathe bench and shop reorganization update - Week 2

Making a lathe bench for the new Atlas 10F and a quick update on reorganizing the home machine shop. Be sure to subscribe for more content on the new lathe as well as much more. Thanks!

[@edwardchristie3934]

Have A Merry Atlas Xmas.

[@theeddies]

Some assembly required, ha ha. Thanks dad!

[@craigtate5930]

Love your closing comment...I am also always striving to do better... Great bench

[@theeddies]

Thanks Craig, I almost cut that out because it sounded a bit preachy, glad I left it in. All the best buddy!

[@mftmachining]

" Messin with dead trees"...LOL....same here. Only thing i do with wood is sometimes a wooden model of a later to make part in metal, just to study the making process and if they would fit. So good to see that things are moving at yours. That place can really become a nice Lathe work area.

[@theeddies]

Thanks, I think it is going to work out well. I think it is the sawdust I cannot stand anymore. Hurts my sinuses, lol.

[@swanvalleymachineshop]

Good one . I am a bit the same when it comes to wood ! Cheers .

[@theeddies]

Thanks Max! I have actually made what I think are some nice pieces of furniture in the past. But just do not enjoy the sawdust anymore I guess. All the best! Eddie

[@TinkerInTheShop]

Never too much space around a machine. It'll soon attract all kinds of tooling when you start using the machine so the flat space next to the lathe will be welcomed Im sure. Boah straps are useful around a gear and the chuck. Sometimes a 2x4 wedged against a gear is enough to tap the chuck to break the seized thread (with caution) And keep oiling near the thread over a period of time. Sometimes you get lucky and the oil will wick into the thread. Nice space. Organising is oh so satisfying. Good luck! -Dan

[@theeddies]

Organizing is satisfying, I just wish I could keep it organized. The space is already filling up but still room to grow. I did get the chuck off. It was really on there. I used a 3D printed plastic wedge in the bull gear to lock it. But it still took a lot of soaking and an impact gun on a hex bar held in the chuck. Threads are fine, not quite sure what the hold up was but it would not move and even the impact had to work at it, and I broke a piece off the plastic wedge but nothing broken on the lathe. I have a bit of video soon of taking it off. Thanks, Eddie

[@wktodd]

Lol great Eddie:-) bench height looks fine to me

[@theeddies]

Thanks Bill. I actually gave the height a bunch of thought and I almost lowered it at the last minute . Glad I didn't. It feels more natural and I can still reach the rear of the bench easily. Best!

[@kitmaira]

To remove that chuck use a hex coupler 3/4” or so and a wrench with one of those plastic locks that fits the teeth of the gear. This is so you don’t have to use back gears. I’ve never had one so tight that this doesn’t work, but with the plastic tooth tool an impact driver will surely knock any chuck loose.

[@theeddies]

That's the way I am going to go, thanks!

[@deedeeindustrialsuperprecision]

I would look for a piece of plate steel to put under the Atlas, thicker the better.

[@theeddies]

I have some 14ga steel sheet that is planned to go down. The only plates I have access to at the moment are some 1/4" thick pieces about the size of the feet. I agree though, every bit of thickness helps and I am always looking for steel so if I can find some for a decent price I would certainly do that. Thanks! Eddie

[@swordfish1120]

Watching you struggle getting your lathe on the bench is exactly why a cut my TH54 to a TH36". Now I like my lathe because the foot print is reasonable.

[@theeddies]

I have thought about it. But I know as soon as i do that, there will be something come up where i want the extra bed length.

[@swordfish1120]

@@theeddies Better to have the bed length than not. I just don't use a lathe much to justify the extra space.

[@psgflier]

Looks good enough, don't have to Joe Pie. If you decide it's too high just make a slatted mat to stand on(ala Joe Pie), helps with the back for standing long periods. I use poly deck & porch paint for my work benches and shelves. Takes a few days to dry, but is tough and holds up to cleaning with solvents. White helps brighten up the room and makes parts easier to find.

[@theeddies]

Reminds me I forgot about the one inch rubber mat that is not down, I might have to raise it, lol. The poly paint is the stuff I have in dark grey. I thought about white but it is probably going to be mostly stainless on the back and maybe glav sheet on the bottom covering the paint. I have a bunch of sheets that I salvaged. I take your point though, some white would definitely be nice. I do have some high quality outdoor gloss that I could fill in the none covered areas on the back wall. All of it is subject to change though as I go along. One problem with the stainless is it might be a pain as backdrop for the camera with the glare. Not something most home shops have to think about, lol. The more I think about it white may be the way to go. Can you paint metal with the poly stuff?

[@psgflier]

@@theeddies If you need to raise it you can always block under the lathe itself. I mounted my Craftsman 109 to a 1/2" piece of aluminum and melamine I scrounged somewhere. Those Craftsman/Atlas lathes are famous for flexing. I have a rubber mat in front of my lathe, helps for standing, but swarf imbeds into it, makes it hard to clean, and cuts it up. When I get a permanent spot for the lathe( if I live that long) I'm going to build a springy wooden pallet. Joe Pie showed these on one of his videos. The older you get the more light you need, light paint helps. The poly does go over metal, question is how much it would help. Stainless splash back is a good idea, for recording you could tape up some masking paper or something. I have found more light is good for my eyes but washes out the camera, for videoing I turn off the work lamp.

[@theeddies]

@@psgflier The rubber mats I have are the kind you might see in a commercial kitchen. They have maybe 1" thru holes every 4 inches or so and are about 1" thick. The swarf falls or is scraped into the holes mostly. Then every once in awhile you can vacuum up the holes or pull it up and vac underneath. A few pieces end up on top but most of that shakes off. Keeps me from tracking it everywhere. The wood is a nice idea though. I totally agree on the light. I refuse to work without tons of it. If I can not see what I am doing it drive me crazy. I have flashlights everywhere. Every time I go to my dads shop, I usually am turning on every light around if he doesn't.

[@Just1GuyMetalworks]

I think I know that carpenter! 🤣 I pretty much did what you did in regards to bench height for the exact same reason 😊. Level ain't a big deal really, straightness is a factor though. Even my short lathe has a tendency to get a slight twist. There is actually a very accurate way to level (straighten) the ways using a plumb bob. 😊 Adjustable wrench on a chuck jaw and a sharp whack with a small hammer usually breaks them loose for me (with bull gear pin engaged, backgears should lock the spindle). If that doesn't work, combine a little heat on the chuck side, shouldn't take much 😊.

[@theeddies]

I'm too much ape to risk the curse of Zamak gears by engaging the back gears just yet. Not sure the last time this has been off. Though please share your plumb bob trick, lol.

[@Just1GuyMetalworks]

@@theeddies well, it's not my trick but here's a link 😊 kzbin.info/www/bejne/aKKslaakoZqppsk

[@theeddies]

Oh Dale.... I saw that a long time ago, good stuff, he used to live just down the road, one of those people you just want to punch in the face for no specific reason but other than that he was ok, lol.

[@Just1GuyMetalworks]

@@theeddies 🤣

[@tomlee7966]

the make a 3d printed piece that locks on to your bull gear and holds the spindle i'm sure that would work. just look on ebay they are there looking good buddy. i'm currently working on a Atlas 10f i'm redoing and just picked up a Southbend 9 with quick-change gearbox waiting in line.

[@theeddies]

Thanks for the tip! I saw those awhile back but forgot all about them. I am going to go take a look right now. a QCGB would be nice but I am learning there are actually some advantages with the 10F without one. You should do a bit of video on yours, I think I have already watched every one on KZbin, always good to have more,lol. Thanks for watching!

[@DustinRogersinMO]

@@theeddies I was coming to suggest this 3D printed bull gear holder too. I couldn’t find a file for one to print, so I modeled one up for my Craftsman/Atlas and printed it out. I’ll see if I can track down my model.

[@theeddies]

@@DustinRogersinMO cool, thanks! I was going to check if a model was available. I am so so with CAD but could probably do it.

[@johnstrange6799]

You do have to be grateful for what you have. Yours is a palace to those who have none. I like the height a lot!! The shop is going to be awesome when done. It's a great little space. Underneath, or that right back corner would be a nice place for a shop vac. I have a little one hanging over my lathe.

[@theeddies]

Thanks, if I could keep things organized for awhile it will be much more of a pleasure to use. Yeah I think I hit the height, glad I trusted the plan and did not shorten it.

[@johnstrange6799]

@@theeddies Oh great! I went from Brenda Lee again earlier to Peter, Paul, and Mary. "If I had a hammer, I'd hammer in the morning..."

[@theeddies]

Here, this will help... Puff the magic dragon lived by the ...

[@johnstrange6799]

@@theeddies That dragon might be magical, but it doesn't have what it takes in the catchiness department to get the job done. You ever see the 'Pictures of stuff for 10 Hours' channel.? A solid red screen for 10 hours = 2.8 mil views. Totally stupid, yet kind of ingenious.

[@theeddies]

@@johnstrange6799 no I have not seen that one. I still want to make a video that is single frame. Is it a video or a picture. Pchpow mind blown.

[@kevingleason5434]

Puff lived by the sea. Kroil, soak it , then soak it again, is the Chuck reverse thread?

[@theeddies]

Lol. It's had a few rounds of soaking. No, it should not be reverse.

[@marioacosta9995]

Hola Eddie, muy bueno tu banco de trabajo... Es mucho pedir si podrías subtitular los vídeos en español...

[@theeddies]

Estoy probando el traductor de Google. He traducido el título y la descripción del video. Por favor avíseme si lo ve en español y si tiene sentido. Si está bien, lo intentaré con el texto del video. ¡Gracias!

[@marioacosta9995]

@@theeddies Si Eddie, se entiende bien el título del video en español...

[@theeddies]

¡Gracias! ¿He agregado subtítulos en español al video ahora? ¿Es comprensible para ti?

[@marioacosta9995]

@@theeddies Perfecto Eddie, Gracias por tu tiempo...

[@theeddies]

@@marioacosta9995 No toman demasiado tiempo. Agregaré subtítulos a los otros videos de Atlas en los próximos días. Te lo haré saber cuando lo haga. Es posible que obtengan más vistas con diferentes opciones de idioma. Gracias por la sugerencia.

[@machinenutdel6764]

Hi Ed, Which You tuber did you get to wear the monkey suit, some I know dont need one ! but their joinery is not as good !

[@theeddies]

It was me back in my apprentice days. I was much more handsome then. And had less hair except on top.

[@machinenutdel6764]

@@theeddies I can feel a waxing video on the horizon !

[@theeddies]

@@machinenutdel6764 lol, ouch!