Looking to set up my workbench for the rod lathe. I was wondering what height most people have their workbench set at? I bought a couple of height adjustable folding tables. It has 3 positions the bottom two seem to low and the third seems to too high. The highest setting is 35.5 inches from floor to top of table. I mainly work on the rod sitting down in a rolling chair.

It all depends on your stool or chair and where you are comfortable.

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Super Tight Lines......Don

If you do any turning work, you'll likely do that standing up. In which case the rule of thumb is to have the center of the chuck the height as your elbow when standing. You can adjust chair height for working while seated.

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Julian, the higher the better. What you do not want is a situation where you are hunched over the rod as you (or your son) are working on it. I think 36" is the "normal" hieght

Julian, the higher the better. What you do not want is a situation where you are hunched over the rod as you (or your son) are working on it. I think 36" is the "normal" hieght

I like to have the rod blank about 10" from my eyes, and no more than 12". But then I am getting old and eyesight is not that good anymore. But I had it the same height for at least 35 years since my father-in-law made me a custom work station. I have revised it several times, but the height of the rod blank remains the same. Make it high enough so you will be able to keep close track of your wraps. If you turn cork on it, it should be about waist high so you aren't having to bend over too much, that gets tiresome. Hope this helps.

Julian, I forgot to say that I have a separate lathe for the cork work so there is no cork dust getting on the wraps. I know this is not possible for all, so I would anchor your lathe to a piece of wood, that you can move to the garage or outside for cork work. Vacumnm the lathe and motor and head well before doing any wrapping. Then wipe it down with a damp cloth.

Build your bench somewhere in the middle and adjust your height with an office chair with wheels and an adjustable height.

Don

Julian,
I use a standard height table of 28 inches.
My rod lathe puts my rod 7 inches above that or 35 inches.
When wrapping, I am always sitting down in a typical office chair.

I have everything arranged, so that normally I just roll the rod by my work station on the long bench. But if needed, the chair has rollers to roll to another spot on the rod.

I have back issues so it is difficult for me to stand for long periods of time.

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My turning lathe is in my dirty building - where everthing gets turned, then the turnings are cleaned up, and the balance is blown out the door with high pressure air.
On that bench, I have it adjusted for hitting my waist or about 36 or 37 inches.
The lathe does it turnings about 10 inches above the surface or 45 inches. With this bench, I am normally standing, But I also have a pull up stool to sit on, when making adjustments to the work piece or lathe.
But for turning, I have tried it both sitting down and standing up, and find it many times easier to do turning work on the lathe while standing.

My old table was stand-up height. I could stand and work or sit in my chair and work....my chair wasn't a standard office chair...it was a higher drafter's chair.

Julian,

Go with the 36" as mentioned above. My work bench used to be 36" high, until my wife talked me into cutting off the legs. She didn't like the work bench showing through the garage window. I cut it off as requested. 'Have not like the work bench as well ever since! Go with the 36" or with what Tom suggested: "have the center of the chuck the height as your elbow when standing".

Don Campbell
don@sensorfishingrods.com