wood turning steady rest alternative

peterm · Post by **peterm** » Mon Jun 27, 2011 4:11 pm

Busy Bee Tools sell a nice steady rest that fits one of their wood lathes for $26.99 (on sale) locally. Here is one adapted to fit on the Shopsmith:
[ATTACH]13486[/ATTACH]
It was originally green so I sprayed it grey.
[ATTACH]13487[/ATTACH]
Looks like it will work fine.
[ATTACH]13488[/ATTACH]
Grizzly's H5569 at $40 appears to be the same item.

holsgo · Post by **holsgo** » Mon Jun 27, 2011 5:40 pm

Peter, you seem to always be thinking along my same lines. Or maybe it's the other way around.

robinson46176 · Post by **robinson46176** » Mon Jun 27, 2011 6:04 pm

Now that looks useful...
And a very reasonable cost.

.

paulmcohen · Post by **paulmcohen** » Mon Jun 27, 2011 7:34 pm

Does anyone have plans or a template for the adapter? I have many uses and really like the one shown here.

peterm · Post by **peterm** » Mon Jun 27, 2011 8:17 pm

Paul
Here is a sketch of the "adapter" done using Excel as a drafting tool, Snagit to grab the image and Paint Shop Pro to resize the image...........good fun if you like computers as much as I do.
[ATTACH]13491[/ATTACH]

pennview · Post by **pennview** » Mon Jun 27, 2011 8:35 pm

I picked up one of those steady rests off of Ebay and it looks identical to your's and the one sold by Grizzly. I took a look on Ebay a few minutes ago, but I didn't see it being offered. As I recall, the price was similar to paid at Busy Bee. I used an angle grinder to trim the base of mine a bit so that it could be used on a 12" Craftsman metal lathe. I'll be using your plans to make a base for use on the Shopsmith as well. Thanks, Peter.

peterm · Post by **peterm** » Tue Jun 28, 2011 5:52 am

Thank you all for the comments. As you can see, most threads I start are about adding gadgets to the SS or modifications. I enjoy the tool and tool making more than actually doing woodwork with it.

My next project is an inflatable narrow drum sander that uses an innertube off a lawn tractor and takes 3x21 sanding belts!

michaeltoc · Post by **michaeltoc** » Tue Jun 28, 2011 9:38 am

Looks great, but shouldn't it be mounted the other way? I would think that you want a bearing on the back side opposite the cutting tool, not on the front side.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Tue Jun 28, 2011 12:49 pm

With support from three directions, it does not matter. When only two, then they need to be opposing any cutting force.

It could be said that having two of three absorb the cutting force is preferable to just 1 of three.

The cutting force can result in a vertical deflection which the 3 bearing support will absorb more reliably in all directions than the two bearing support.

The three bearing support requires more futzing to setup.

peterm · Post by **peterm** » Tue Jun 28, 2011 3:41 pm

I will fess up and note that the orientation was chosen to show the lock knob side instead of the back just for the photo, with no thought about the "correct" mounting. Thank you to JPG for the explanation (and defence

).