Steady for Harrison

[shipto]

I find myself in need of a steady for my lathe and looking around was 1) not able to find anything suitable 2)  shocked at the prices. So whats a Madmodder to do?
I am making one, I started by making something to sit on the bed from some channel (pic1) this bit is complete. did not have phone in shed so actual pictures will come later.
Next bit is the make the guide ring? and so far I have bored out the holes for the guides themselves.
Will post more as I go along.

[BillTodd]

The steady doesn't have to be accurate but does need rigidity. Don't be 'greedy: and make it too big   .  If you need to support the centre of a long bar,  consider how you get it on and off .

[shipto]

I did think about making it split but decided against that so it will be a case of feeding the bar through as best as I can. I must admit rigidity is one of my concerns which I hopefully will be able to cope with once I have welded this hexagon up, Maybe with the use of some extra round plates front and back.

[philf]

The hex doesn't look thick enough to properly support the pins. I'd probably go for twice the diameter. You could always weld bushes or screw them in.

[shipto]

I think if its needed this would solve any issues in that area.

[shipto]

As for the pins this is my first thoughts.
The end of the highlighted shaft will be threaded to secure them in place which will be set by a number of spacers I can put either side dependent on the stock I am turning. The keyway will allow me to fully tighten it without it turning.
Inside will be a sprung brass bar with a screw to set it against the stock.

[philf]

As for the pins this is my first thoughts.
The end of the highlighted shaft will be threaded to secure them in place which will be set by a number of spacers I can put either side dependent on the stock I am turning. The keyway will allow me to fully tighten it without it turning.
Inside will be a sprung brass bar with a screw to set it against the stock.

I assume that the spring is just there to stop the insert falling out?

How much adjustment will you have before needing to swap spacers?

[shipto]

As for the pins this is my first thoughts.
The end of the highlighted shaft will be threaded to secure them in place which will be set by a number of spacers I can put either side dependent on the stock I am turning. The keyway will allow me to fully tighten it without it turning.
Inside will be a sprung brass bar with a screw to set it against the stock.

I assume that the spring is just there to stop the insert falling out?

How much adjustment will you have before needing to swap spacers?

The spring will hold the pins back so the stock can be fed through without them getting in the way and I am thinking of somewhere in the region of 20-25mm before I have to swap the spacers to get the next 20-25mm. quickly mocked up the pin with freecad still need to go through the details in my head yet however.

[shipto]

Finally some real pictures, I have done the guide thing bit and I am sure that rigidity will not be an issue on this at least.

[philf]

Looking good!

[vtsteam]

That does look nice! 

[shipto]

Progress so far: I have made the brass holders and all thats left to do on them is to bore the end once I have the brass which I forgot to pick up on friday  then work out how I make the adjusters. I am thinking that the end caps might do double duty but not decided yet.

[shipto]

Spacers are made and with them in the way shown it will take about 65mm bar. I may need to make some half size spacers but need to get hold of more tube for that as I just about had enough for these.

[shipto]

Decided against making the end nuts do double duty and have knocked up 3 7/8UNEF grub screws instead. pic makes them look much worse than they are but I really should have faced them after parting them off but its not like I'm going to give them anyone else.

[shipto]

Bit more progress, made some knurled nuts which I had intended to add some slots for a C spanner but I really hope they are not needed because that knurling has come out really well.

[shipto]

The brass is fitted and allows around 28mm of movement although that might increase because I forgot to flatten the bottoms. I will get that done and clean them up for blackening over this long weekend.
Sorry for the dark picture will try for a better one.

[philf]

Excellent Shipto

[shipto]

Blackened although a touch patchy I think my chemicals might need replacing and reassembled.

[shipto]

Put it in place just to get a picture, phone wasn't straight but you get the idea.

[philf]

Blackened although a touch patchy I think my chemicals might need replacing and reassembled.

I found that I only really need the blacking solution. A good scrub with Scotchbrite under the tap with a drop of washing up liquid seems to work fine for me. I just spray with WD40 afterwards. My kit must be 20 years old!

[shipto]

Blackened although a touch patchy I think my chemicals might need replacing and reassembled.

I found that I only really need the blacking solution. A good scrub with Scotchbrite under the tap with a drop of washing up liquid seems to work fine for me. I just spray with WD40 afterwards. My kit must be 20 years old!

20 years wow do you filter it?

[philf]

Blackened although a touch patchy I think my chemicals might need replacing and reassembled.

I found that I only really need the blacking solution. A good scrub with Scotchbrite under the tap with a drop of washing up liquid seems to work fine for me. I just spray with WD40 afterwards. My kit must be 20 years old!

20 years wow do you filter it?

I might have done at some time. I hadn't used it for years and was amazed it still worked when I tried it a couple of years ago.

[shipto]

Got it to a place where I can make some cuts with it, I need to get some paint for it and work out a better clamping method to hold it in place but other than that I am calling it a success.

[shipto]

Apart from a better nut which with everything else I need to do is unlikely to get done thats it finished. 

[philf]

Brill!