I started building a steady rest for my south bend 9 inch lathe. I am trying to build it with the telescoping (or co-axial, for some people) arms instead of the "cheapie" flat fingers sliding in a slot. The arms will be quite a project me thinks. If there is interest, I will try to post the progress here. I hope to have a 4 inch capacity instead of 3 as the factory made them, so I had to alter some dimensions from the factory prints.
Today I started the telescoping assemblies for the steady rest. I am going to make all three of these before I machine the frame in case these are a bust and I have to make the "cheapie" arms that slide in a slot. I want to make sure they work and that I get the travel I want before I cut the hole. I am hoping for two inch travel, but will cut the hole for the maximum travel I end up with. I lengthened the knob and sleeve .250" more than the SB prints called for. I will also lengthen the brass fingers as it is much easier to cut excess off than try to add back on. The screws aren't threaded yet because I am waiting for the 3/8-16 left hand tap and die from Victor Machinery. They were only $12 for both. I threaded the knob , but not the sleeve yet. I used a tap on the knob and the threads are really nice. I want the threads on the sleeve cut to fit the knob so I will do them on the lathe. I want a tight fit ,but smooth turning. Tomorrow I will make the other two knobs and start on the brass fingers. Then thread the sleeves.
Mark
![knob and screws for steady rest 2.jpg knob and screws for steady rest 2.jpg](https://www.hobby-machinist.com/data/attachments/40/40818-d9541d886b017be9d6af306a238e3319.jpg)
![knob and screws for steady rest 3.jpg knob and screws for steady rest 3.jpg](https://www.hobby-machinist.com/data/attachments/40/40819-af0070a0fda2a396ff2b1806d4c2b09f.jpg)
![knob and screws for steady rest.jpg knob and screws for steady rest.jpg](https://www.hobby-machinist.com/data/attachments/40/40820-efe3d8583fa512819547b73bddb0da8e.jpg)
![sleeve for steady rest.jpg sleeve for steady rest.jpg](https://www.hobby-machinist.com/data/attachments/40/40821-bdeab71c83d88bac5d353902b8b88a5e.jpg)
![sleeve for steady rest.jpg sleeve for steady rest.jpg](https://www.hobby-machinist.com/data/attachments/40/40821-bdeab71c83d88bac5d353902b8b88a5e.jpg)
Today I started the telescoping assemblies for the steady rest. I am going to make all three of these before I machine the frame in case these are a bust and I have to make the "cheapie" arms that slide in a slot. I want to make sure they work and that I get the travel I want before I cut the hole. I am hoping for two inch travel, but will cut the hole for the maximum travel I end up with. I lengthened the knob and sleeve .250" more than the SB prints called for. I will also lengthen the brass fingers as it is much easier to cut excess off than try to add back on. The screws aren't threaded yet because I am waiting for the 3/8-16 left hand tap and die from Victor Machinery. They were only $12 for both. I threaded the knob , but not the sleeve yet. I used a tap on the knob and the threads are really nice. I want the threads on the sleeve cut to fit the knob so I will do them on the lathe. I want a tight fit ,but smooth turning. Tomorrow I will make the other two knobs and start on the brass fingers. Then thread the sleeves.
Mark
![knob and screws for steady rest 2.jpg knob and screws for steady rest 2.jpg](https://www.hobby-machinist.com/data/attachments/40/40818-d9541d886b017be9d6af306a238e3319.jpg)
![knob and screws for steady rest 3.jpg knob and screws for steady rest 3.jpg](https://www.hobby-machinist.com/data/attachments/40/40819-af0070a0fda2a396ff2b1806d4c2b09f.jpg)
![knob and screws for steady rest.jpg knob and screws for steady rest.jpg](https://www.hobby-machinist.com/data/attachments/40/40820-efe3d8583fa512819547b73bddb0da8e.jpg)
![sleeve for steady rest.jpg sleeve for steady rest.jpg](https://www.hobby-machinist.com/data/attachments/40/40821-bdeab71c83d88bac5d353902b8b88a5e.jpg)
![knob and screws for steady rest 2.jpg knob and screws for steady rest 2.jpg](https://www.hobby-machinist.com/data/attachments/40/40818-d9541d886b017be9d6af306a238e3319.jpg)
![knob and screws for steady rest 3.jpg knob and screws for steady rest 3.jpg](https://www.hobby-machinist.com/data/attachments/40/40819-af0070a0fda2a396ff2b1806d4c2b09f.jpg)
![knob and screws for steady rest.jpg knob and screws for steady rest.jpg](https://www.hobby-machinist.com/data/attachments/40/40820-efe3d8583fa512819547b73bddb0da8e.jpg)
![sleeve for steady rest.jpg sleeve for steady rest.jpg](https://www.hobby-machinist.com/data/attachments/40/40821-bdeab71c83d88bac5d353902b8b88a5e.jpg)