Steady Rest Options

[Burt Alcantara]

Last few hollow forms were wobbling all over the place. I guess it's time for a steady rest. Clark has a nice one but at $350...arggggh.

Are there any affordable ready-made ones at reasonable prices...like, under $150 or so?

Thanks,
Burt

[Bernie Weishapl]

Burt there are plenty of plans and they are easy to make. I made two of them. One for the Rikon and one for the Nova. Took maybe 4 hrs after get stuff together. I used 3/4" birch plywood that I had around.

[john l graham]

Several I've seen use old roller blade wheels. I'm looking for some skates now!

[Bob Opsitos]

I've been working on one for most of today. Close to done. Should look something like this. Pretty easy and painless. Largest expense was the wheels. Like $34 for 8 wheels. Couldn't find them in any smaller quantities. Only needed 3. Using birch ply mostly.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v705/ropsitos/Tools/steady.jpg

Bob

[Raymond Overman]

Target has roller blades with wheels for $13.99 (I got mine on sale for $9) with 8 wheels. I'm building two four arm steady rests out of MDF with Hard maple arms. One for me, One for Papa.

[Dennis Peacock]

If you have a lathe that is 12" swing or smaller....PM me. I may have something you could be interested in. :D

[Burt Alcantara]

Anyone want to share plans or at least photos?

Thanks,
Burt

[Jim Underwood]

There are several plans over at Woodturning Online.

If you do a Google search others will turn up too.

[Bob Opsitos]

Ray, Target was one place I didn't check. After Wal-mart didn't have anything I resigned myself to getting them from Dick's sporting goods.


Anyone want to share plans or at least photos?

Burt if you've got any sort of 3d software I can spit the design out into a readable format and email it. If you don't have anything currently you could always download eDrawings. I designed this for a 14" swing delta lathe.

Let me know
thanks
Bob

[Keith Burns]

What I ended up with is two Oneway Bowl Steadies. Put one on each side for HF's. Leaves the top unobstructed if you use a laser. You can us only one if you are turning a bowl. You can use it on the back side of a platter as well. Well made and solid. Around $200

[Steve Schlumpf]

Burt - you can make one very easily out of T-track, scrap wood and roller blade wheels. I don't have any dimensions but a photo of the steady rest I built is located in my hollow form tutorial on the Articles & Tutorials forum. If it is something that you are interested in building your own version of - let me know and I will get the measurements/angles or you.

[Steve Campbell]

Hi Burt. Here are a couple pictures of the one I made for my "Little General" Hope they help you see how it's done.

Steve

[Burt Alcantara]

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions and encouragement. I'll give it a shot and see what comes out. I'm going to try to make it laser friendly.

Burt

[Mike Peace]

I just went to a Thrift store and bought a used set of rollet blades with 4 wheels on each shoe that appeared to be in pretty decent shape. Cost was $5 which netted me 8 wheels.

[Derrell Clark]

Burt, here is a picture of a steady rest I made out of Baltic Birch. It will handle pieces up to 14". It's very strong and works well.