I'd like to have a steady for my 13" tool room O type southbend lathe. Before I go ahead and spend a few months making my own are there any options I can buy at a reasonable price that would be compatible?
That would be a heck of a project, modifying a steady rest from another like type lathe might be easier. Steady Rests – Lost Creek Machine, Inc. Amazon.com : lathe steady rest
Haha. Maybe so maybe so. I do have all the parts to make it. But I have other projects to work on first. And having a mill would be pretty useful to ensure accurate cuts and whatnot. If I bought one like those in the link what measurements are important? Height to center lining up I'm guessing?
Height, working diameter and that it fits properly in your ways would be my guess. I'd consdered doing much the same for some other components for my lathe, but I'm not sure it's worth the effort for a partly clapped out 118 year old lathe. At some point I should probably just come off the money and buy something newer, but if I can just kick that can a few more years down the road long enough it becomes someone else's problem.
Yeah mines a young 1937 model with unhardened ways. I don't think making one would be that much work could probably bang out out in a week or two after work depending on the design. Here's a few I found and think would be easy to make.
Whatever design you choose, be sure to pick one that hinges open and closed. There are lots of times that you will want that functionality. Denis
Unless you need the steady rest very soon, I'd look at replacing that old girl. I have one for my lathe, I think I've only seen it twice. Never used it. I would like to have the traveling rest, but I'd have to cobble something from grizzly together. On the plus side, their junk is cheap.
I have one for my EE. In my shop it has been used a few times a year for the 20 years I've owned the lathe. There are some operations you simply can not do without it. It is, in my opinion, an essential lathe accessory. I fully understand your desire to get set up with one. The EE steady is very well designed making it very convenient and pleasant to use. It is well worth studying steadies before designing your own. In general dead tips for the fingers as opposed to rollers are better IMHO. There is not universal agreement on that point and good reasons for each type. I just think most of the time dead tips are better and most of them are so set up. Denis
