Dave Mount
02-01-2021, 4:55 PM
A while back after an evening fighting a bowl that really wanted to flex and chatter, I posted here asking for opinions about the Oneway Bowl Steady. I ended up ordering it and thought I'd provide some comments.
I got it for $110 on a deal packaged with the clamp block (usually a separate purchase). The thing is built like a tank -- the base plate is like 1/2" thick steel. But it's refined at the same time -- easy to adjust, runs quietly and true. Initially you set it up by adjusting the position of the wheel assembly on the vertical post to something close to centerline of the lathe. To put it on a bowl, you just loosen the nut that secures the "scissors" the wheels are mounted on and adjust the arms so both wheels are touching the bowl, then retighten the nut. The base clamps to the ways with a hex head bolt. The wheels are soft enough to not mar the outside of the bowl.
The only thing about it that is less than perfect (IMHO) is that the adjustments are all by hex head nut (or allen screw for some less used adjustments), so it means I have to add two more wrenches to the pile of adjustment tools near the lathe. Would be nice if those mechanisms clamped by something you could turn with your hand.
As far a supporting a bowl, it does a great job. The bowl shown in the picture was the one that was giving me such trouble that I set it aside last fall. Last night I remounted it and finished it with the assistance of the bowl steady. It is thin walled (3/16") which was part of the reason it was flexing so.
One thing I was kind of dreading was mounting and unmounting the steady rest to the ways -- it's heavy, and to attach it you have to reach underneath the ways to hold the clamp block in place while putting the bolt in. I was pleasantly surprised to find that I could leave it on the lathe for the most part, by swinging it around 180 degrees and pushing it against the headstock (second pic). In this position the base protrudes out in front of the ways, it looks obtrusive in the picture, but I've not found it bothersome. On my lathe the swingover cage guard keeps me from pushing it farther back when it's in the stored position; on a lathe without that it could be pushed back so it didn't stick out much if at all in front of the ways.
I don't expect to use the steady rest routinely, as most bowls I turn don't chatter enough to warrant it. But in the few weeks I've had it, it's been great to have for cantankerous bowls. I'm glad to be able to retire the leather glove I used to use to protect my hand when I supported bowls that way.
This is the only stead rest I've actually used, though I have seen a couple of the cheaper import offerings. From what I've seen, if you need a steady rest for bowls, it's hard for me to imagine being disappointed in this one (wrench adjustment issue aside). I think it's a pretty stout and well made piece of equipment for $110 USD.
As always, my opinions, yours may vary. No affiliation with Oneway or any resellers.
Dave
451027451028
I got it for $110 on a deal packaged with the clamp block (usually a separate purchase). The thing is built like a tank -- the base plate is like 1/2" thick steel. But it's refined at the same time -- easy to adjust, runs quietly and true. Initially you set it up by adjusting the position of the wheel assembly on the vertical post to something close to centerline of the lathe. To put it on a bowl, you just loosen the nut that secures the "scissors" the wheels are mounted on and adjust the arms so both wheels are touching the bowl, then retighten the nut. The base clamps to the ways with a hex head bolt. The wheels are soft enough to not mar the outside of the bowl.
The only thing about it that is less than perfect (IMHO) is that the adjustments are all by hex head nut (or allen screw for some less used adjustments), so it means I have to add two more wrenches to the pile of adjustment tools near the lathe. Would be nice if those mechanisms clamped by something you could turn with your hand.
As far a supporting a bowl, it does a great job. The bowl shown in the picture was the one that was giving me such trouble that I set it aside last fall. Last night I remounted it and finished it with the assistance of the bowl steady. It is thin walled (3/16") which was part of the reason it was flexing so.
One thing I was kind of dreading was mounting and unmounting the steady rest to the ways -- it's heavy, and to attach it you have to reach underneath the ways to hold the clamp block in place while putting the bolt in. I was pleasantly surprised to find that I could leave it on the lathe for the most part, by swinging it around 180 degrees and pushing it against the headstock (second pic). In this position the base protrudes out in front of the ways, it looks obtrusive in the picture, but I've not found it bothersome. On my lathe the swingover cage guard keeps me from pushing it farther back when it's in the stored position; on a lathe without that it could be pushed back so it didn't stick out much if at all in front of the ways.
I don't expect to use the steady rest routinely, as most bowls I turn don't chatter enough to warrant it. But in the few weeks I've had it, it's been great to have for cantankerous bowls. I'm glad to be able to retire the leather glove I used to use to protect my hand when I supported bowls that way.
This is the only stead rest I've actually used, though I have seen a couple of the cheaper import offerings. From what I've seen, if you need a steady rest for bowls, it's hard for me to imagine being disappointed in this one (wrench adjustment issue aside). I think it's a pretty stout and well made piece of equipment for $110 USD.
As always, my opinions, yours may vary. No affiliation with Oneway or any resellers.
Dave
451027451028