General Category > General Discussion
Steady rest help
Duncan A:
Are you sure you need a steady rest? Vibration problems are often due to poor technique (DAMHIKT!) or sharpening not being optimal. What is it that you want to do?
Duncan
Twisted Trees:
My thoughts are that is a small lathe, extremely unlikely to turn anything that needs a steady rest, so high probability that like many of us you want to make one, will use it twice and decide it is a fiddle too far, and put it on a shelf as a workshop ornament, like I have!
Those factors considered you have a wood lathe, probably have a method of sawing timber too... take off the banjo measure it and draw round it then copy that design in timber to make a timber clamp base for your steady rest, it will be strong enough to use, and plenty strong enough to gather dust after :-) most important thing is you made it!
Bill21:
--- Quote from: Twisted Trees on May 05, 2021, 02:49:02 PM ---My thoughts are that is a small lathe, extremely unlikely to turn anything that needs a steady rest.
--- End quote ---
The manual says the capacity of the lathe is 12” diameter and 37” length. How long and thin do you think something needs to be to benefit from using a steady rest?
Twisted Trees:
--- Quote from: Bill21 on May 05, 2021, 04:28:39 PM ---The manual says the capacity of the lathe is 12” diameter and 37” length. How long and thin do you think something needs to be to benefit from using a steady rest?
--- End quote ---
Size is not everything.... the motor is not massive, the lathe weight isn't either, so I am guessing it will not be turning Athens support columns, nor the amphora for wine for the workers!
For lightweight "long and thin" I prefer a magnet base much less fuss to move about and adequate for the task of stabilising a light weight piece.
As I said they are a great project to make, and an all timber one with bar clamp design copied from the existing banjo will be a good option, but many "normal" turners find that except for specialist use the steady is more hassle than it is worth a good set of jaws and a tail stock leaves the work area free.
Bill21:
You mentioned the size. ;) You’re assuming that anything that requires a steady rest must be large and heavy which isn’t the case. I’m sure there are many turning projects that lathe is capable of that would benefit from a using a steady.
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