Lathe location

[Tractor manParticipant @tractorman]

Hi all.
I have a Raglan 5 inch and a modern Boxford and I would appreciate any ideas as to the best way to site them in my shop. I currently have them with their back to the wall side by side. I’m toying with the idea of turning them so they are back to back with the intention of saving a little space. Is there any merit in this or will I regret placing them back to back. It’s amazing how much machinery I have to fit into my single garage workshop space. Any saving of space will greatly assist. Mick

[Tractor manParticipant @tractorman]

[Anonymous]

What I did when I started was to draw the garage to scale on graph paper. And then make scale outlines of the machine tools; not forgetting to include the mill table being moved to it's extremes. You can then play with various locations without having to actually move the machines.

Having said that, if I'd known how many machines I was going to eventually acquire I'd have organised the workshop differently.

Andrew

[MuzzerParticipant @muzzer]

I quite liked having my lathe at 45 degrees to the wall after years of it sitting against the back wall. I think it may have made slightly better use of the floor space but I suspect the benefit was mainly that it broke up the otherwise rather unimaginative, rectilinear layout. It also freed up valuable wall space.

One of the most useful machines in my workshop has always been the engine crane. As different fads have taken a grip of me, I have moved stuff about to give better acces to the gear I will use most, including the Bantam and the Bridgeport. That flexibility is probably more valuable to me than trying to find the definitive layout. Besides, you should always be planning on more acquisitions. You can figure out how to fit them all in later…

Murray

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

Enough space to fit drawbars or longer lengths of bar that need supporting? Best have the one with the wider spindle clearance towards the middle of the garage? The stand with mg Raglan has a cupboard in the front and coolant space (or other) accessed from the rear, so best spaced away from everything!

[JAParticipant @ja]

Don't put the back of a lathe against a wall if you have room. I did not have the room and regret not being able to get to the back of the lathe (just once in a while). Don't use the excuse if you have already done so that it is a good place to hide stuff you don't need. Sooner or later you will need something and once again you will have problems.

JA

[Tractor manParticipant @tractorman]

Thanks for the advice all. I have done a bit of moving round today and ended up with the lathes at right angles to the side wall, facing each other with a confortable gap between them to stand and work.
As mentioned I have allowed for longer bar stock in the larger bored lathe and plenty of room to access the change wheels on the Raglan.
This has allowed me to get two lathes into a 7 foot space rather than 9 foot plus. I can now put up some wall shelving to accommodate tooling. Again thanks for the help. Mick

[Tractor manParticipant @tractorman]

Hi all. I have posted a few pictures of the layout of my two lathes. Levelled and cleaned I am sorting the tooling and will be turning soon. Then on to the mills to make sure everything travelled with me. All the best for the festive season. Mick

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