Best Steady Rest for Hollowing; Robust and Clark - Opinions?

[Edward Kerslake]

I've been turning increasingly large forms that have been pushing the limits of the Oneway steady rest that I've used for, over a decade (2 wheels on one side)

I've looked at all the DIY (not interested in making one) and purchased options from Carter, Steve Sinner, Robust and Keith Clark (The Spin Doctor)

I've narrowed it down to
(1) Robust (After 20 years with a PM 3520, I now own a Robust Lathe and it is...superb!)
(2) Clarke. (The Clark system has been around many years and it has been improved over the years)


Would any owners of these two have any feedback?

I am NOT asking for recommendations to DIY, I have my own reasons but am not interested in doing it.
For both systems, please let me know/ us know when you bought it as the systems have improved over the generations. For example; - The Clark product has been on market for decades AND has changed a lot and so some early (off-putting) complaints are no longer valid (e.g. newer systems are much lighter for lifting on to lathe, with a switch to aluminum wheel supports instead of steel)


Pros/Cons

Robust
- Excellent company, great customer service, excellent reputation and they make good stuff.
- Few owners (or at least very little feedback on this forum, Sawmillcreek or others)
- Adding additional wheels becomes quite costly
- Not as heavy as Clark / not as rigid?
Clark
- I found it hard to work out what came with the system (there are helpful YouTube videos by others)
- Website quite hard to navigate to help decide what's needed and what's an option

- new versions use angle steel (continuous 'L" shaped ring for additional rigidity
- MUCH beefier construction (made with 1/4" but can do 3/8" thick steel)
- Has a wrap-around base with support points below the ring ( to contact the lathe bed support / sides to add rigidity)
- Less expensive to have more wheels than standard.


Thanks in advance
Ed

 

[Daniel Henry]

I've been turning increasingly large forms that have been pushing the limits of the Oneway steady rest that I've used for, over a decade (2 wheels on one side)

I've looked at all the DIY (not interested in making one) and purchased options from Carter, Steve Sinner, Robust and Keith Clark (The Spin Doctor)

I've narrowed it down to
(1) Robust (After 20 years with a PM 3520, I now own a Robust Lathe and it is...superb!)
(2) Clarke. (The Clark system has been around many years and it has been improved over the years)


Would any owners of these two have any feedback?

I am NOT asking for recommendations to DIY, I have my own reasons but am not interested in doing it.
For both systems, please let me know/ us know when you bought it as the systems have improved over the generations. For example; - The Clark product has been on market for decades AND has changed a lot and so some early (off-putting) complaints are no longer valid (e.g. newer systems are much lighter for lifting on to lathe, with a switch to aluminum wheel supports instead of steel)


Pros/Cons

Robust
- Excellent company, great customer service, excellent reputation and they make good stuff.
- Few owners (or at least very little feedback on this forum, Sawmillcreek or others)
- Adding additional wheels becomes quite costly
- Not as heavy as Clark / not as rigid?
Clark
- I found it hard to work out what came with the system (there are helpful YouTube videos by others)
- Website quite hard to navigate to help decide what's needed and what's an option

- new versions use angle steel (continuous 'L" shaped ring for additional rigidity
- MUCH beefier construction (made with 1/4" but can do 3/8" thick steel)
- Has a wrap-around base with support points below the ring ( to contact the lathe bed support / sides to add rigidity)
- Less expensive to have more wheels than standard.


Thanks in advance
Ed

Ed, your dilemma is exactly what I went through earlier this year. And I decided the two best options for me were
Robust or Clark. For me Robust won out because the arms could be relocated around the ring and I liked the mounting bracket. My lathe is a PM 3520C.
PS: I have personally found Brent@Robust to be very supportive of this forum.

 

[Michael Nicholson]

I turn mostly large, deep hollow forms. Most of my turnings start with a large heavy burl with voids and bark inclusions. I choose Keith Clark’s steady rest. It’s so well made and stable even with heavy, out of balance turnings. Another advantage with Clark’s steady rests is that there all custom made. I discussed my needs with Keith before he fabricated my steady rest. The steady rest Keith built for me is ~24” diameter designed to fit my 4224 Powermatic. And it also works on my 3520 Powermatic. It has 7 arms made of 1” diameter solid aluminum tubes. The body is a 3x2x1/4” rolled angle. And it only weighs 31 pounds without the arms and 43 pounds with the arms. Rock solid. I think it’s the best steady rest for large, heavy, out of balance turnings.

 

[John Tisdale]

I've only used the Clark. Heaviest piece I had on it was a bit over 700-lbs - typical is always over 100. Mine is the earlier 8-wheel in steel - takes a bit of lifting - the 43 pound with arms sounds really good.
Keith is a great guy to work with - you'll be hugging yourself for going with his steady rest.

 

[bob elliott]

I've been turning increasingly large forms that have been pushing the limits of the Oneway steady rest that I've used for, over a decade (2 wheels on one side)

Or you could buy a used Oneway Steady rest with 2 wheels for the other side.

 

[Edward Kerslake]

John (Tisdale).
Thank you! Those images are great and looks a beast of a piece. Because your PDF didn't make it obvious that it contained pictures, I have attached it here so that (future) readers can see what your PDF contains and open it to see the contents and high resolution images.

 

[Edward Kerslake]

Or you could buy a used Oneway Steady rest with 2 wheels for the other side.

Bob
The Oneway rests are limited on how far apart (vertically) the wheels can be positioned. A second rest on the other side would be ok for smaller pieces but for larger diameter pieces, the support is only on either side without any vertical damping

 

[Edward Kerslake]

The reduction in weight from the earlier systems is really helpful!
I contacted Clark Systems this morning and chatted with Keith - super nice guy, long-time turner and clearly smart.

They have invested heavily in CNC tooling and machines and so, even though these rests are made to order and customized for the user and the machine, shipping time is a couple of weeks.
He confimed that there's been quite an evolution of the design over the years including the one-piece ring and significant weight reduction. There were other points, but the big takeway I had was the wrap-around base.I managed to find some images on the web after Keith and I spoke. They are included here. This used to be an 'option' but the benefit is so great that Keith has made it standard.

The purpose of the base was not obvious but after talking to Keith, it's clearly a BIG positive for this system. The rings terminate on those drop-down side plates and so the lateral force on the rings is transfered to the side plates and it doesn't (solely) rely on the clamping point on the top of the bed to reduce the deflection - kind of neat. Again, the exact design depends on the lathe (Oneway has a solid support, the Robust Lathe body is different)

 

[Randy Anderson]

I have a Clark steady rest and I tell folks I think I could spin a small car in the thing. It's solid and works great. I bought it for my 16" Jet and recently upgraded to a 24" Laguna. Keith fabricated a custom riser for it so I could keep the investment in the steady rest and use it on my new lathe. If you look on his web site you'll see pictures of it from my shop and I think he has them for sale on his site. He answers his phone, calls you back and will modify to what you need and make sure it works as you need it to.