Home made steady
- liveaboard
- Posts: 1982
- Joined: Sun Dec 08, 2013 1:40 pm
- Location: southern Portugal
- Contact:
Home made steady
Ok, it's not pretty...
I have a job that just really needs a steady rest, so after 10 years of doing without, I finally put in a few hours and made one.
There are NO parts of any kind for my lathe; it's an orphan.
I haven't used it yet.
I have a job that just really needs a steady rest, so after 10 years of doing without, I finally put in a few hours and made one.
There are NO parts of any kind for my lathe; it's an orphan.
I haven't used it yet.
Re: Home made steady
Looks good... Next job, chop the top half off, weld a hinge on the back joint and a bolt/nut on the front joint to reattach it. Now you can remove/swap work without moving the steady rest on the lathe or repositioning the rollers.
- SteveHGraham
- Posts: 7788
- Joined: Sat Jan 17, 2009 7:55 pm
- Location: Florida
Re: Home made steady
Nice, indeed, but I highly recommend the alteration suggested by choprboy. Makes the steady a lot more versatile.
H
H
Wise people talk because they have something to say. Fools talk because they have to say something.
- liveaboard
- Posts: 1982
- Joined: Sun Dec 08, 2013 1:40 pm
- Location: southern Portugal
- Contact:
Re: Home made steady
Thanks guys;
I know the factory made ones have the opening, but for now I'll keep it as it is.
I don't want to compromise the rigidity. The factory ones I've seen are made from much thicker section.
My material choice was carefully considered after scrutinizing my scrap pile...
I know the factory made ones have the opening, but for now I'll keep it as it is.
I don't want to compromise the rigidity. The factory ones I've seen are made from much thicker section.
My material choice was carefully considered after scrutinizing my scrap pile...
Re: Home made steady
Looks nice! I was going to buy one for my 13" Clausing Colchester, but at $2400 its not going to happen. I may build one now.
Jim B
Jim B
- liveaboard
- Posts: 1982
- Joined: Sun Dec 08, 2013 1:40 pm
- Location: southern Portugal
- Contact:
Re: Home made steady
First use today; it's finicky to get it adjusted right, and when the work heats up it gets too tight. But it works ok, I'm boring to fit bearings.
I have to make a wrench to get at the nuts, and it would be handy to have flats cut into the ends of the threaded rods so they can be held / adjusted while tightening the nuts.
Those are 18mm [about 3/4"] rods.
Googling the lathe today, I found a set of pictures from Czech republic of the same model but in pristine condition. And there is no image of a steady rest. Maybe they shipped without them.
And the one in Czech rep. has inch denominated dials; that surprises me. Inches in Europe??
I have to make a wrench to get at the nuts, and it would be handy to have flats cut into the ends of the threaded rods so they can be held / adjusted while tightening the nuts.
Those are 18mm [about 3/4"] rods.
Googling the lathe today, I found a set of pictures from Czech republic of the same model but in pristine condition. And there is no image of a steady rest. Maybe they shipped without them.
And the one in Czech rep. has inch denominated dials; that surprises me. Inches in Europe??
Re: Home made steady
Yeah, stuff like that makes makes one wonder. I was wondering how your wrench went but figured you already did it or modified the steady in some ways. I had thought about modifying a 12pt box end wrench by grinding out the end to let it pass around the threads. It looked like the channel taper would keep it from spreading.
Your steady looks solid enough and I'm impressed with it. Still, the threaded arms could use a key slot and the housing, inset keys.
Your steady looks solid enough and I'm impressed with it. Still, the threaded arms could use a key slot and the housing, inset keys.
- liveaboard
- Posts: 1982
- Joined: Sun Dec 08, 2013 1:40 pm
- Location: southern Portugal
- Contact:
Re: Home made steady
Very true, but I have no machine to make keyslots.
Also, I rarely need the steady; so time spent with the finicky adjustments has to be weighed against time spent working on the tool. If I spend 10 hours improving it, will it save me 10 hours?
Also, I rarely need the steady; so time spent with the finicky adjustments has to be weighed against time spent working on the tool. If I spend 10 hours improving it, will it save me 10 hours?