Steady Rest

[Vincent Vogel]

I'm going to build a steady rest for my new lathe, looking for suggestions. I'm going to build a metal steady rest similar to the Jeff Nicol or Robust style, I've studied the threads on building one. I would make the base plate from 1/2" thick steel and looking to use one of the rolled duct rings from mcmaster carr. The duct ring is 3/16" thick, is this heavy enough or should I buy a piece of 1/4" thick angle and have it rolled? Also, I would like to duplicate the Robust style arms, how thick of steel should I use for that.
Thanks in advance.

 

[Brent@TurnRobust]

Hi Vincent, Brent from Robust here. A 3/16 thick duct ring from McMaster Carr should be fine. We use 3/16" rolled angle iron for our rings and 5/16" steel for our arms. Your 1/2" base is more than enough. Good luck with your build !

 

[john lucas]

Be aware that you have to pick this thing up to install it on the lathe. I have one a retired Dr. Built out of 1/2" steel. It weighs 87lbs. It's all I can do to put it on the lathe.

 

[Vincent Vogel]

Hi Vincent, Brent from Robust here. A 3/16 thick duct ring from McMaster Carr should be fine. We use 3/16" rolled angle iron for our rings and 5/16" steel for our arms. Your 1/2" base is more than enough. Good luck with your build !

Thank you for the information Brent. I will post a picture when done probably will take several weeks to gather everything and build it.

 

[Vincent Vogel]

Be aware that you have to pick this thing up to install it on the lathe. I have one a retired Dr. Built out of 1/2" steel. It weighs 87lbs. It's all I can do to put it on the lathe.

Thanks John, I saw a picture of yours when I did a search on this site for steadyrests. I'm not planning on building one as heavy as yours but I will probably put some sort of lift assist device in the ceiling.

 

[Karl Loeblein]

Consider building one like Carter’s steady rest unless you’re trying to make a really big vase or hollow form. Much lighter to lift up.

 

[Pat Wisniewski]

Vincent,
I have a whole box of Rollerblade wheels, axles, etcetera if you need some. (😬 - now I better go find it 🤣)

 

[Vincent Vogel]

Vincent,
I have a whole box of Rollerblade wheels, axles, etcetera if you need some. (😬 - now I better go find it 🤣)

Thanks for the offer Pat, but I already ordered wheels and an arm from Robust. I'm building one similar to the Robust and I'm going to put a pulley in the ceiling above the lathe to lift things like steady, tailstock, and heavy wood blanks.

 

[William Rogers]

I built the Nichols steady rest for my 18-36 laguna lathe. You are right on using 1/2” steel for the base. The plan I had called for 1/4” and I ended up doubling it. The other thing was I had a resonance at a speed. It may have been the Laguna lathe. I welded some gussets around it and that fixed it. When I got my Robust I just raised the base up to use with the Robust. Also as John pointed out, metal steady rest are heavy. I don’t think mine is 87 pounds, but I have a hoist over the lathe to pick it up. I ended up buying the flange ring from a company in Illinois cheaper than MC.

 

[Vincent Vogel]

I built the Nichols steady rest for my 18-36 laguna lathe. You are right on using 1/2” steel for the base. The plan I had called for 1/4” and I ended up doubling it. The other thing was I had a resonance at a speed. It may have been the Laguna lathe. I welded some gussets around it and that fixed it. When I got my Robust I just raised the base up to use with the Robust. Also as John pointed out, metal steady rest are heavy. I don’t think mine is 87 pounds, but I have a hoist over the lathe to pick it up. I ended up buying the flange ring from a company in Illinois cheaper than MC.

Thanks William, I saw one of your posts when I was researching this project and that's one reason for the 1/2" plate, the other reason is that's what I had laying in the shop. I got the ring and hardware from MC. I'll post a picture and weigh it when done. It's still probably going to be a couple weeks out because a friend is going to cut the slots in the arm steel with his milling machine. I've only used two home built wood ones so far and just decided to build a metal one this time.

 

[Darryn Achall]

Thanks for the offer Pat, but I already ordered wheels and an arm from Robust. I'm building one similar to the Robust and I'm going to put a pulley in the ceiling above the lathe to lift things like steady, tailstock, and heavy wood blanks.

I put a Unistrut rail with slide above the lathe. Convenient to pick up heavy blanks from the floor and then slide over onto the lathe. This setup will handle about 350lbs. With additional bracing it would handle much more.

 

[Vincent Vogel]

View attachment 66298 I put a Unistrut rail with slide above the lathe. Convenient to pick up heavy blanks from the floor and then slide over onto the lathe. This setup will handle about 350lbs. With additional bracing it would handle much more.

I like your setup Darryn, what size unistrut did you use and what about wheels to make your chainblock travel. Thats plenty strong for what I want.

 

[Darryn Achall]

I like your setup Darryn, what size unistrut did you use and what about wheels to make your chainblock travel. Thats plenty strong for what I want.

Standard 1 5/8" square unistrut. The unistrut wheel trolley is a six-wheel rated at 690#. I already had a 2 ton chain hoist so it is overkill. I found a chart somewhere that stated what weight unistrut will bear without a big deflection, depending on how far apart the bracing is placed. For my application the unistrut will deflect noticeably at about 400# so I decided my limit is 350#.

 

[Kevin Jenness]

Be careful about what you are attaching the rail to. I have some barn door track attached with Timberlock screws to my 2nd floor joists and can pick up my Oneway with it and a chain hoist, but beware tying into trusses unless you have an engineer look at the structure. I recently got hold of a wheeled 100kg material lift which I find more handy than the overhead setup.

 

[Darryn Achall]

Be careful about what you are attaching the rail to. I have some barn door track attached with Timberlock screws to my 2nd floor joists and can pick up my Oneway with it and a chain hoist, but beware tying into trusses unless you have an engineer look at the structure. I recently got hold of a wheeled 100kg material lift which I find more handy than the overhead setup.

Yes, my setup sits on the top plate for the walls, not attached to any trusses. I have looked at using an engine hoist or something similar. I don't have any spare floor space in my very small shop.

 

[Richard Coers]

McMaster Carr sells rolled angle iron rings too. https://www.mcmaster.com/products/angle-rings/