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Thread: shop built steady rest

  1. #1
    Boolit Buddy Hdskip's Avatar
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    shop built steady rest

    I recently purchased a new to me lathe, it came well equipped except for one item. It lacked a steady rest. The prospects for finding one for this lathe were bleak so fabricating one was the best option. A google search for ideas resulted in this idea which I shamelessly copied.
    The appeal of the spider which will allow unblemished barrels and work pieces was a major attraction. A brief search of the scrap bin allowed me to build this at zero cost in real money. initial test cuts have proven to be more than satisfactory.

    Click image for larger version. 

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  2. #2
    Boolit Master

    sparky45's Avatar
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    Nicely done. I am a novice Lathe user and enjoy making little items for the Lathe and am at present making a couple of Die holders for a pair of different sized Dies ( 1" and 1.25"). I just have a hard time finding round bar stock for my projects.

  3. #3
    Boolit Buddy Hdskip's Avatar
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    I make the rounds at several machine shops and offer to buy scraps and drops . some times they just give them to me. not sure where you're located but that's the main place I find material for my projects

  4. #4
    Boolit Grand Master



    M-Tecs's Avatar
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    What type of bearings are in the bearing block?
    2nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. - "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."

    "Before you argue with someone, ask yourself, is that person even mentally mature enough to grasp the concept of different perspectives? Because if not, there’s absolutely no point."
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  5. #5
    Boolit Grand Master jmorris's Avatar
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    Looks like a 2 bolt flange style pillow block.

  6. #6
    Boolit Buddy Hdskip's Avatar
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    it is just that' a flange bearing salvaged out of the scrap bin where I'm teaching. Bearings are still smooth. not sure but think it is a roller bearing. the bearing is stationary and doesn't pivot

  7. #7
    Banned
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    The scrap yard near me has a "recycled material" sale area with steel (don't know what kind) bar stock and scraps up to 3" and aluminum up to 5".

  8. #8
    DOR RED BEAR's Avatar
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    As a retired machinist i would love to have a small lathe and mill possibly a small grinder. Well i am trying to keep hope alive.

  9. #9
    Boolit Grand Master jmorris's Avatar
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    As a machinist I couldn’t imagine life without one at all. There are ways around problems but even a couple hundred dollar Sears (Atlas) lathe has proven to be worth the money at fixing problems at our farm.

    Not like being at the shop but just having the ability is a game changer vs nothing at all.

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check