Replies

1. 
   jackiechan | May 18, 2003 05:27am | #1

   Beans,

   The winning entry for the August 2000 Fine Woodworking (issue #143) - Methods of Work, was a shopmade steady rest.  It consisted of baltic birch plywood, some aluminum T-track, assorted knobs and hardware, and roller bearings used in Rollerblades.  It is a simple, effective, and easily fabricated design.

   Dan Kornfeld, Owner/President - Odyssey Wood Design, Inc.

2. 
   pate14 | May 19, 2003 08:58pm | #2

   Check out an old issue of FW. Carl Lynch had an article about a lathe he designed and constucted. I can't remember the issue but the lathe is the cover design. I am currently building the steady rest.

1. 
   LeeTree | May 21, 2003 06:24pm | #4

   Do you have the plans for the steady rest you are building? How do you think it compares to the steel ones available?

   - lee -

1. 
   pate14 | May 21, 2003 07:40pm | #5

   The plans can be found in Fine Woodworking #57 I think.

   I tried to insert a rough drawing with measurements with no success.

   Send me your email address and I will email you the drawing as an attachment.

3. 
   billyg83440 | May 20, 2003 07:09pm | #3

   Here's some picts of an idea.

   I saved these off the web years ago. No idea where I got it.

   Haven't built it, but looks like it'd work well.

   
1. 
   GeeSeaWhy | May 26, 2003 09:26am | #11

   Here's the original article on this steady rest:

   http://www.americanwoodworker.com/200012/workshop_tips/bhw_index.html

   and here's a slightly different approach:

   http://www.hdv.net/tips/Making a Steady Rest.htm

   HTH,

   Graeme

1. 
   billyg83440 | May 27, 2003 07:44pm | #12

   Thanks, that's where I got it, though I didn't save a link. The 2nd link didn't work.

   When I first got on the web I saved images of many tool, jig, finishing, ect. ideas I found that I may want to use someday.

   Seems funny I even posted on a lathe topic. As far as actual woodworking on a lathe. I did one or two really simple familiarization exercises in highschool shop. Have never really used one.

   Do have an older rockwell lathe, that's in fair shape sitting in my garage. It has no motor, and the tailstock needs some repair, but it can easily by put back into service. Just haven't seen any need to do so yet.

   When I actually try to make something on a lathe, I'll need lots of advice. Fortunately, the local college has lots of good books on WWing I can check out.

1. 
   GeeSeaWhy | May 28, 2003 09:08pm | #14

   "The 2nd link didn't work."

   Because there's spaces in it - I read over what I wrote, didn't think to read what got posted. Go to http://www.hdv.net/ and click on Tools & Tips.

   "When I actually try to make something on a lathe, I'll need lots of advice."

   And money. And time. Turning is the most addictive form of woodworking I know.

1. 
   billyg83440 | May 29, 2003 08:41pm | #17

   >>>"When I actually try to make something on a lathe, I'll need lots of advice."

   And money. And time. Turning is the most addictive form of woodworking I know.

   Oh no, you need time and money too. Where do you get those?

   If I had those, that lathe would have been up and running a year ago. I'd have a nice set of lathe chisels, and I'd have turned some stuff already.

   That's an interesting site. His homemade sanders look like good ideas too.

4. 
   SCFrankland | May 21, 2003 08:13pm | #6

   File is a little to big, I made it a little smaller for you.

   Scott C. Frankland

   
1. 
   pate14 | May 21, 2003 08:22pm | #7

   thanks

5. 
   LeeTree | May 21, 2003 11:32pm | #8

   Yep,

   I got it, thanks. What materials did you use, etc. How do you think it will compare with the metal steady rests?

   - lee -

1. 
   ron61 | May 22, 2003 12:25am | #9

   I just made this steady rest- finished it up last night

    Haven't turn anything with it yet ,but chucked up a spindle with the rest on it and run the lathe.Went through all the speeds and seems it will work fine.

   I made mine a little bigger. I like it -I thought about an open ring side but decided it would be stronger as is

   http://www.woodturningplus.com/steady_rest.htm

   Edited 5/21/2003 5:35:27 PM ET by I Like Beans

1. 
   LeeTree | May 22, 2003 01:27pm | #10

   Perfect, Thanks.

   - lee -

2. 
   pate14 | May 28, 2003 03:33pm | #13

   I worked on the steady rest this last weekend. I had to modify it to make it fit my lathe.

   The results are mixed. It worked but I am not satisfied with its performance. The other rest that I saw posted looks like a better idea.

   Perhaps the biggest hassle I found is that when I am turning a spindle 36 inches long I have three tool rest supports supporting a long and short tool rest. I plan to make a new tool rest the length of the spindles I am turning. That way I can slide the steady rest to the ideal position without having to navigate around the supports.

   It did help the whipping of the spindle and so I know it is worth the effort.

6. 
   mike4244 | May 28, 2003 11:28pm | #15

   I am not an expert turner, just a novice at this point. I made a steady rest , but found working with a gloved hand was better than the steady rest. The rest got in the way sometimes. A friend of mine who has been turning for 45 years showed me the technique. He is left handed like me, wears one glove on the right hand and steadies the spindle with this hand.His right gloved thumb rests on the top of the lathe tool and his fingers cradle the spindle, he appears to have good control with this method.

1. 
   ron61 | May 29, 2003 12:39am | #16

   I do that my self sometimes on shorter stuff. 

   The 2 post I was turning were 45in. long and I  needed a steady rest.

   The one that I posted a pic. of is the one that I made " It is really for turning like a vase " but I want something rock solid that would trap the spindle with no way of jumping out of the rest. 

   It works great and is very solid- the only thing I don't like about it is that you can not slide the rest past the steady rest - you have to unbolt the rest base to place on other side but that's not that bad when you think of the $100 the Oneway steady rest cost & my jig was just a few hours of my time and scrap &  3 wheels from old roller blades.