steady rest

[Chasper]

I'm looking for a steady rest that can handle a 1/8 inch diameter spindle. Most that I can find
that are made for wood lathes will not support anything that thin. I've seen several that are made for metal lathes. Would they fit a wood lathe bed?

Don't tell me I could make it myself, but if you could make one and sell it to me I would like to hear from you.

 

[Terredax]

I couldn't find a minimum diameter for the Woodriver steady rest, but it looks like it could possibly go down to 1/8". The limitation appears to be the slots. If they are too short, and won't allow the bearings to reach the 1/8" spindle, those pieces would be pretty easy to make new ones, that are longer, so they could all make contact at the center. If you would need those to be made, contact me, and I'll see what I can do.

 

[dogcatcher]

Google "string steady rest for wood lathe". It will give you a method that will work.

 

[Chasper]

Google "string steady rest for wood lathe". It will give you a method that will work.

I guess I'll make a string stesdy rest. Do they actually work?

 

[BRobbins629]

Google "string steady rest for wood lathe". It will give you a method that will work.

I guess I'll make a string stesdy rest. Do they actually work?

Amazingly well.

 

[dogcatcher]

Google "string steady rest for wood lathe". It will give you a method that will work.

I guess I'll make a string stesdy rest. Do they actually work?

Yes.

 

[Charlie_W]

Google "string steady rest for wood lathe". It will give you a method that will work.

I guess I'll make a string stesdy rest. Do they actually work?

Escoulen used the string rests for his Tremblers. Some of these are over two feet long/tall and are as small as 1.5mm. He demonstrated one at the AAW Symposium in Atlanta several years ago.

The pic of the string steady is one I found online. Make the center of the strings crossing the same as your spindle axis.
The Trembler pic is from Escoulen's school site and said this was students work. Note one is sitting while the other is hanging.