AWGB Woodturning Forum
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: skelly369 on May 03, 2021, 09:10:08 AM
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Hi I have a lathe with a round bed bar, are there steady rests available for this set up? Thanks
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My immediate response is that all lathes should have a banjo or another means of holding a tool rest. Not much good otherwise.
I think you will find the make & model will be useful and a photograph if possible. It will help members provide you with a more informed answer.
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From memory there are several wood lathes out there that have a single round bed bar. From the early Myford ML8 to the later NuTool models. What lathe do you have?
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My immediate response is that all lathes should have a banjo or another means of holding a tool rest. Not much good otherwise.
I think you will find the make & model will be useful and a photograph if possible. It will help members provide you with a more informed answer.
hi yes i have a tool rest attachment (banjo) is that what the steady rest attaches too?
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From memory there are several wood lathes out there that have a single round bed bar. From the early Myford ML8 to the later NuTool models. What lathe do you have?
Hi, it is a draper wtl90
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From memory there are several wood lathes out there that have a single round bed bar. From the early Myford ML8 to the later NuTool models. What lathe do you have?
No, sorry it is a wtl30
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My immediate response is that all lathes should have a banjo or another means of holding a tool rest. Not much good otherwise.
I think you will find the make & model will be useful and a photograph if possible. It will help members provide you with a more informed answer.
Here is a picture of one from the manual i found online
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hi yes i have a tool rest attachment (banjo) is that what the steady rest attaches too?
No, not sure why that was mentioned. ::) Steady rests normally bolt to the lathe bed as in the picture below.
For your lathe though you will need to use a fitting that clamps round the bed bar and makes use of the register on the underside to stop it rotating.
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hi yes i have a tool rest attachment (banjo) is that what the steady rest attaches too?
No, not sure why that was mentioned. ::) Steady rests normally bolt to the lathe bed as in the picture below.
For your lathe though you will need to use a fitting that clamps round the bed bar and makes use of the register on the underside to stop it rotating.
yeah, i just thought of a way to make one using the tool rest holder and some skateboard wheels, was pretty chuffed with the invention then figured out i couldnt use any tools without the rest haha, okay i will search for an attachment, thank you
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I think you will likely have to make one or adapt something else. Start by measuring the diameter of the tube then do a Google.
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Are you sure you need a steady rest? Vibration problems are often due to poor technique (DAMHIKT!) or sharpening not being optimal. What is it that you want to do?
Duncan
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My thoughts are that is a small lathe, extremely unlikely to turn anything that needs a steady rest, so high probability that like many of us you want to make one, will use it twice and decide it is a fiddle too far, and put it on a shelf as a workshop ornament, like I have!
Those factors considered you have a wood lathe, probably have a method of sawing timber too... take off the banjo measure it and draw round it then copy that design in timber to make a timber clamp base for your steady rest, it will be strong enough to use, and plenty strong enough to gather dust after :-) most important thing is you made it!
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My thoughts are that is a small lathe, extremely unlikely to turn anything that needs a steady rest.
The manual says the capacity of the lathe is 12” diameter and 37” length. How long and thin do you think something needs to be to benefit from using a steady rest?
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The manual says the capacity of the lathe is 12” diameter and 37” length. How long and thin do you think something needs to be to benefit from using a steady rest?
Size is not everything.... the motor is not massive, the lathe weight isn't either, so I am guessing it will not be turning Athens support columns, nor the amphora for wine for the workers!
For lightweight "long and thin" I prefer a magnet base much less fuss to move about and adequate for the task of stabilising a light weight piece.
As I said they are a great project to make, and an all timber one with bar clamp design copied from the existing banjo will be a good option, but many "normal" turners find that except for specialist use the steady is more hassle than it is worth a good set of jaws and a tail stock leaves the work area free.
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You mentioned the size. ;) You’re assuming that anything that requires a steady rest must be large and heavy which isn’t the case. I’m sure there are many turning projects that lathe is capable of that would benefit from a using a steady.
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I had this type of lathe many years ago. It was bolted down to a work surface very securely which then allowed me to make a steady which was also able to be screwed to the work surface. It does not need to be fixed to the lathe as long as everything lines up that is all that matters. Skelly depending on what you wish to use it for you may well just get away with a forked stick. (seriously)