Selecting a Space For Woodturning
When selecting a space for turning wood, several factors must be taken into consideration which together render a space suitable for your lathe work. A solid floor is a must for a turning shop, as it minimizes vibration which is often generated by a piece of wood that is not yet round on your lathe. A solid floor could be either cement or a solid piece of wood, such as thick plywood. My shop was built with a piece of thick plywood which I then laid plastic tiles over for a smoother surface making the sweeping of shavings off the floor easier. I initially started turning in a gravel greenhouse whose flooring was composed of gravel, a material that significantly augmented vibration and that was also uneven. If vibration is still a problem with a solid floor, some turners prefer to bolt their lathes down to the floor, but I do not recommend this if you think you might want to rearrange your shop because it would be a pain.
This greenhouse which I turned in for over a year had another problem which is ventilation, another factor that determines a good turning space. A good turning space should have adequate ventilation or large windows and doors to ensure that your dusty shop air does not sit stagnant. I personally do not have any AC or dust collection set up, however, I do have two large barn doors and two windows that I leave open at all times which allow for decent air circulation.
It is also essential to have a space with several outlets and good lighting. I remember when turning in the greenhouse a few years ago, I only had two outlets, and it was a constant annoyance of unplugging and plugging, as I would often use several power tools, aside from the lathe. Lighting is also essential when turning, as proper lighting can help you turn smoother bowls by emphasizing the areas of imperfections or highlighting the tool marks/ sanding scratches. I recommend using LED bar lights that can be plugged into your outlets. Their position can be easily manipulated depending on your equipment layout.
Furthermore, when selecting your space, you will want enough room to maneuver around, but lots of space is unnecessary. When I started turning, I worked in a greenhouse that was 5x10 feet. In that space, I had a bandsaw and a long bench that had my mini lathe and my grinder on it. However, most turners agree that the minimum size for a shop should be 8x8 feet. The benefit of being a woodturner over a general woodworker is that we only need a bandsaw, grinder, lathe, and maybe a bunch of handheld power tools; those tools together do not require so much space.
