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Adapting a large steady rest to my lathe.
- Thread starter ErichKeane
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The mobile site deleted my post while uploading pictures so I'll summarize the day! I got about 4 hours in the shop, so I made some serious progress! First, I put some roundovers on the 'base' piece that I cut out. Then, I worked on the clamp part. I ended up needing to shorten it by a bunch, which took out the contact 'pads', so I ended up just flattening the whole thing. Clamping it was awkward, so I was glad when that was done.
Then, when I was happy with that, I moved on to the actual steady rest. I used a height gauge to measure the spot I needed to set it at, and put together the clamping mechanism. Humerously, I used my only piece of cast iron to hold it down
It was particularly nerve wracking, but it never seemed to move. I used a 5/8 then a 1/2" mill (a 4" one I had in my drawer for some reason) to cut the piece off. I figured the extra big block of cast iron would be nice for the scrap bin!
I was able to face it successfully and tried it out! My placing of the material to find the center is obviously inexact, but I'm only off by about 50 thou. If I come to the same conclusion tomorrow, I'll take a little more off the base before starting my progress in bolting them together. I'm thinking a few 3/8-16 (or 1/4-20!) since it is 1/2" material in the webbing to hold it together. I might find someone to braze it locally if I am not super happy with that setup.
It was definitely a nerve wracking experience!
Yeah! Its pretty darn close. I think I am short about 50 thou, though finding the 'center' of the steady rest is an adventure. I think I decided one of the flat pads on the side is the 'center' spot the last time, so I'll use that to index on the lathe before cutting anythinig else. Either way, being off less than 1/10th of an inch makes me pretty happy!
Then, when I was happy with that, I moved on to the actual steady rest. I used a height gauge to measure the spot I needed to set it at, and put together the clamping mechanism. Humerously, I used my only piece of cast iron to hold it down
It was particularly nerve wracking, but it never seemed to move. I used a 5/8 then a 1/2" mill (a 4" one I had in my drawer for some reason) to cut the piece off. I figured the extra big block of cast iron would be nice for the scrap bin!I was able to face it successfully and tried it out! My placing of the material to find the center is obviously inexact, but I'm only off by about 50 thou. If I come to the same conclusion tomorrow, I'll take a little more off the base before starting my progress in bolting them together. I'm thinking a few 3/8-16 (or 1/4-20!) since it is 1/2" material in the webbing to hold it together. I might find someone to braze it locally if I am not super happy with that setup.
Nice work!
Slicing through the bottom of that rest would have given me serious pause for thought
It was definitely a nerve wracking experience!
Yeah! Its pretty darn close. I think I am short about 50 thou, though finding the 'center' of the steady rest is an adventure. I think I decided one of the flat pads on the side is the 'center' spot the last time, so I'll use that to index on the lathe before cutting anythinig else. Either way, being off less than 1/10th of an inch makes me pretty happy!
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Fin.
Attached the base with 6 1/4-20 cap head bolts, ended up blowing through the side of the casting on one side 2x, but still have 3/8" minimum on each.
I'll likely run it this way for a bit before seeing if I want to have it brazed locally!
In other news, I noticed I stripped the threads at the end of my drawbar to the mill (still works, but not sure by how much!), So my next project is held up for a bit until I can put together a replacement
Attached the base with 6 1/4-20 cap head bolts, ended up blowing through the side of the casting on one side 2x, but still have 3/8" minimum on each.
I'll likely run it this way for a bit before seeing if I want to have it brazed locally!
In other news, I noticed I stripped the threads at the end of my drawbar to the mill (still works, but not sure by how much!), So my next project is held up for a bit until I can put together a replacement
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Thanks! Nice part about your southbend is that the steady rest is pretty easy to get on eBay. My lathe hasn't had one available for sale in like 15 years :/ it was this or buy a whole lathe on eBay just for the accessories!