Steady rest

I need to turn some long (about 30") very slim spindles. I need to make a center steady for this project and wonder if anyone can direct me to a drawing to aid me in design.

Thanks - Doug

Reply to
DA
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Hello DA.

I've got some pictures of a steady rest that I built. Though I don't have plans for it, it's pretty simple to build. If you'd like more detailed/higher quality pictures, let me know and I'll email them to you.

Pictures of the tool may be viewed using the links below:

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Cost: About $25 versus $250 for the commercially made type. >;o)Total Time invested: About 5 hours (including time-to-think/plan, notincluding glue-drying time...). If I ever get around to it, I'll create some detailed plans and explanations. Definitely won't be for the next couple/three weeks since I'm currently extremely busy... Hope this is of *some* help...

-- Ali T. Borahan AliSails - Fine Wood Artistry & Custom Woodcrafts Web URL:

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Reply to
Ali T. Borahan

Hello Doug,

I made one like the one in Ali's pictures and it worked fairly well. Then I made another similar to the one here

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think that the second is vastly superior. I modified it to use thematerials on hand. It is made from pine 2 X 4's, 3/4 inch all thread rod,and used inline skate wheels. It can be made in a fraction of the time ofthe other design and holds the work piece rock solid. Ron Robinson East Texas

Reply to
Ron Robinson

Reply to
Denis Marier

Hi.

You could also have a look at my homemade steady rest. Check it out at

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Øyvind Riise, Norway

Reply to
?yvind Riise

Your steady rest turned out better than my last project! Nice job.

Tim

Reply to
The Guy

In discussing steady rests as with lathes and most other things in this world, it is well to define terms. I mean that the design and purpose of a 'steady rest' varies widely, and one size doesn't fit all. Some are so massive you can't lift them up onto the bed, and are really circumferential holding devices for large heavy open ended objects or blanks too long for the lathe bed to accomodate the tailstock. Others are used to prevent vibration of a whippy blank. Remember that a trophy lathe, no matter how heavy, stout of heart and expensive, can't prevent a slender piece from vibrating. These kinds of 'steady rests' also vary from fixed supports in a frame, string, or a piece of smooth hardwood wedged in the ways. Your fingers can be used as a travelling steady simlar to the steady fixed to a cross slide apron on an engine lathe. Whew! guess I jumped the track re Doug's question. I started out only to mention Leo L's good suggestion to adjust the rollers on rotating arms instead of adjusting slotted carriers. Speaking of which, I guess I got _carried away. ;) Arch

Fortiter,

Reply to
Arch

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