DIY Lathe steady:

[Scrums]

Anyone actually made one and can recommend a particular design?

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Scrums... if you seach with 'steady' as the keyword in woodturning-lathes you finds loads of info and links :wink:

 

[Scrums]

Thanks Graham - I've done many searches and found many designs.......what I was looking for was someone that had actually used one of these designs or used their own design and would recommend it.

I've even had a look at ebay, there's some reasonably cheap cast metal ones that are made for metalwork, but could I think be adapted to take rollers.

Chris

 

[Anonymous]

Sorry Chris... misread your post

A friend, some years ago, made one in the usual 'c' shape using skate wheels (I'd bought a pair at a car boot for just such a purpose but never found time to make one) that I had spare.

Can't remember precise details of the design (I do remember plywood being used) but it worked OK for him.

Might be worth you knocking one up in scrap mdf ... it would give you a chance to refine any design to suit your needs...

I quite like the two wheel design mentioned in the useful articles link thread... for me it's yet another tuit job :wink:

 

[joekid]

try typing ray lanham lathe steady,hes got a good home made job looks a cinch to make/or adapt the idea a bit ,have a good un scrums

 

[Scrums]

Thanks Joe - I've seen that one, in fact I think I've seen every conceivable type of steady available on the web.

That one looks pretty good though - I want it for turning stair spindles, 900 long. Anyone interested in the steady can get the details from here:

http://turnwood.net/projects/SteadyRest.pdf

Chris.