Ted Reischl
03-10-2018, 2:52 PM
I have a Delta 1460 that was built in 1946, it can turn a 12 inch diameter piece. Unless that piece is long, then chatter becomes an issue.
Up until now I used a steady rest I made that would handle about 8 inches. My latest project is a segmented vase that is 10 inches in diameter and about 25 inches long. Of course my existing steady rest will not work, nor would any that are sold commercially work because they all connect on top of the ways. Soooo, I looked it all over and suddenly it dawned on me:
380963
Pretty simple concept, now I can turn the full diameter the lathe is capable of turning. I gave it a spin and it works just fine. It is built from SYP, I cannibalized the rollers and arms from the other steady rest I have. This one is a bit more effort to set up so I won't be using it for everything, just stuff that is bigger than 8 inches.
BTW, this vase has 34 rings with 16 segments each for a total of 544 pieces. I use Jerry Bennet's most excellent sled for doing the cutting of segments.
Up until now I used a steady rest I made that would handle about 8 inches. My latest project is a segmented vase that is 10 inches in diameter and about 25 inches long. Of course my existing steady rest will not work, nor would any that are sold commercially work because they all connect on top of the ways. Soooo, I looked it all over and suddenly it dawned on me:
380963
Pretty simple concept, now I can turn the full diameter the lathe is capable of turning. I gave it a spin and it works just fine. It is built from SYP, I cannibalized the rollers and arms from the other steady rest I have. This one is a bit more effort to set up so I won't be using it for everything, just stuff that is bigger than 8 inches.
BTW, this vase has 34 rings with 16 segments each for a total of 544 pieces. I use Jerry Bennet's most excellent sled for doing the cutting of segments.