steady rest turning question

rhartley · Post by **rhartley** » Tue May 25, 2010 5:09 pm

Yep, I'm new with the shopsmith & turning. I've made several spindles and small bowls and recently tried taller items like a goblet & vase. I'm getting a lot of chatter & deflection with any item that's more than 8 inches tall and was wondering if there is a steady rest out there that can accommodate a 4 inch or greater diameter? I have a plan in mind but I'm sure someone has pioneered this already. (I've had the items mounted to a glue block & faceplate, but plan on getting a chuck.)

ryanbp01 · Post by **ryanbp01** » Tue May 25, 2010 5:55 pm

What speed are you turning at? If I am turning a larger object I use the Speed Reducer.

BPR

rhartley · Post by **rhartley** » Tue May 25, 2010 7:40 pm

I don't have a speed reducer so turn at the lowest setting. the wood I'm turning is dry black oak & manzanita.

jdramsey · Post by **jdramsey** » Tue May 25, 2010 8:32 pm

Here are a couple of photos of a steady rest that is used at Cerritos College. these were built by one of the instuctors, Jim Diskell. I took the photos with the intention of copying and adapting to the SS. Unfortunely, between work and health issues, I haven't had time to draw up any plans yet. So if photos will have to do for the moment.

paulmcohen · Post by **paulmcohen** » Wed May 26, 2010 2:11 pm

I have the Shopsmith one I use for small turnings but have always wanted to build one shown by jdramsey. The biggest is for me is I have no metal working ability and don't know where to get the silver colored parts shown in all the pictures. Below are a few designs I have been looking at.

http://lumberjocks.com/topics/6441

This one is all wood
http://lumberjocks.com/projects/22306

Nicest one I have seen but also requires working steel.
http://lumberjocks.com/projects/30534

rhartley · Post by **rhartley** » Wed May 26, 2010 7:29 pm

I like these wooden designs. I was thinking about building something similar to the steady rest sold by Penn State Industries http://www.pennstateind.com/store/LSR3.html & mounting it to a second tool rest in the carriage but these designs look like they would give more support.
Has anyone mounted the wooden steady rest via clamping to the way tubes? It almost seems that the carriage would get in the way. I'm guessing that the wooden ones could be clamped to the carriage.

jdramsey · Post by **jdramsey** » Thu May 27, 2010 5:54 pm

paulmcohen wrote:I have the Shopsmith one I use for small turnings but have always wanted to build one shown by jdramsey. The biggest is for me is I have no metal working ability and don't know where to get the silver colored parts shown in all the pictures. Below are a few designs I have been looking at.

The silver colored parts that you refer to are part of a t-track system that you can pick up at Rocker or Woodcraft. I caught my instructor at The Woodworking show picking up some of the tracks because it was a better price. I don't think you would need anything more than a hack saw to cut the aluminum track and a file to smooth the edges. The rest of it can be found in any hardware store. The wheels are from a child's roller skate.