Female threaded glue-in anchors are available.

Use a tube with an inward lip welded on the bottom and a large washer on the bolt or stud. That will allow adjustment so you do not need to be over fussy with the holes.

Make a cap with a rim for the top with a female thread in it to attach the machine. If you doubt the ability of gravity to hold everything in place, bolt cap to tube sideways.

I’m about the same height as you Jelly and I know I couldn’t work with machines at ‘standard’ heights.Apart from the effect on your back it’s harder to see what’s happening,another thing that doesn’t improve with age.

My miller stands on 6” of concrete,another one that I had was raised by 8”. My lathe is on a purpose made stand so I’ve no idea how that compares to the manufacturer’s one except that it’s a lot higher.

My advice would be to cast a concrete slab,slightly bigger all round than the base, with bolts cast in. It’s not that much work and once it’s done it’s done.

I stood my Chipmaster on solid concrete blocks laid on their sides to gain 150mm in height. The floor is pretty good so I didn't bother with grout, but if floor not so good I'd use some

Edited By duncan webster on 09/04/2023 18:10:34

What is a "standard height"? When I set up my present workshop, some 25 years ago, I started with the basic idea of setting the vice jaws level with my elbow. That then fixed the main bench height, and since the lathe/drilling machine bench was to be adjacent to the main bench, I made the machine bench surface the same as the main bench. That might have been a mistake, but I didn't fancy different heights.

Now, I have Ankylosing Spondilitis and I was shocked some years ago when my GP casually informed me that as a result of that disease I was now 5ft 5" as that meant I had lost 3" off my erstwhile maximum height. Since then, I suspect I've gone down a bit more. Which means that I now have to use a 5" "step up", to get me to a comfortable height to use the lathe.

In addition, following on from an idea in either ME/MEW, I've extended my bench mounted vertical drill by 4". I now have to use an old caravan step when using it for any length of time. Plus, I've added a set of mounting posts for the lathe something similar to Tubal Cain's suggestion in one of his books.

So, rather than increasing Machine Tool height, I actually need to reduce them, and indeed, my milling machine, a Sieg X2 clone, is mounted on a trolley whose worktop is quite a few inches below the other two workbench tops.

It's horses for courses, and perhaps we should, if possible, custom build our workshops individually to suit our individual heights.

Cheers,

Peter G. Shaw

I  adjust my lathes so that centerline of crosslide spindle is at elbow heigth.

Edited By Niels Abildgaard on 09/04/2023 20:00:09

I used a couple of bits of RSJ laid on their sides under my Harrison – quick and easy. Previously I'd made concrete plinths; if you do this for a lathe, its worth using one each end with a gap in between for your toes.

As long as it is stable and meets the height you need it at, is all that matters. Many ways to get the same result.

Excuse a slight detour. Rather than standing, stooped, with aching back, at a machine, I (now) prefer to sit. I'm of average height, but my back still complains. Therefore, I like to mount bench machines on a bench/stand with knee-room below the machine. An office chair with quick-action height adjustment, and on wheels, is added luxury!

Have you tried cutting your legs down? 😁

Edited By Hollowpoint on 12/04/2023 09:18:31

My Bridgeport is bolted to a separate "H" shaped channel section subframe, [ with a double cross bar], legs sideways,. Originally the legs carried wheels on a separate sub assembly and once in its final place, these were replaced by machine mounts for levelling. The original base of the mchine is now some 5 – 6" above the floor level.

The machine also has the wide head riser fitted. All front to back loads on the machine are within the footprint and side loads, even with the 48" table extended are adequately dealt with.

After all this I have air driven drawbar as the top of the head is quite high!!