Mini Lathe rear steady rest question

M

mikes94cobra

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I am looking at purchasing a mini lathe such as the harbor freight or a grizzly (7x10 or 7x12) and am trying to figure out how much i am going to have in it once it is all said and done so that i can do tips and clean shafts (mostly my own but may do others as well). Options i see:

Making/buying a pre-made steady rest for the rear (does anyone make these?)
Would a live center work for the rear to hold the shaft?
Or should i just use a steady rest with bearings and collets?
What would a rear chuck accomplish? Would that eliminate the need for a steady rest on one of these mini lathes?

I am open to suggestions as far as the lathe and the rear steady rest/live center/rear chuck.

My last option would be to purchase the basic unit from Midamerica. I have owned a Hightower mid size lathe before and it worked great. I am trying to get into this for about $500 or so this time instead of $1500. All your help and knowledge is greatly appreciated.
 
'Search' posts by 'chuckpilegis'.
He's done a mini with an outboard rear support that will give you an idea of what's required.
I've used a mini at tourneys and find it to be an ideal lathe for the money.
A shaft is about all that you'll fit thru the spindle but that's all you want, right ?
 
Yes. I am not planning on working on anything but shafts and tips. I know I can add on later, like bed extension and I could do more.

I have searched for everything and have some ideas but just want everyone's expertise. What would a rear chuck do for me as far as holding a shaft steady to put a tip on? I would think the 2 chucks would be too close together and a steady rest would still be needed. Instead of a bearing steady rest, would a live center work to insert into the shaft at the joint work? Which would be better?
 
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mikes94cobra said:
Yes. I am not planning on working on anything but shafts and tips. I know I can add on later, like bed extension and I could do more.

I have searched for everything and have some ideas but just want everyone's expertise. What would a rear chuck do for me as far as holding a shaft steady to put a tip on? I would think the 2 chucks would be too close together and a steady rest would still be needed. Instead of a bearing steady rest, would a live center work to insert into the shaft at the joint work? Which would be better?
Click to expand...

Yes on the center - a revolving center will work fine. and I agree that a rear chuck
would be too close unless you extend the distances, plus, 4x the money-time-effort
to install.

Dale
 
mikes94cobra said:
Yes. I am not planning on working on anything but shafts and tips. I know I can add on later, like bed extension and I could do more.

I have searched for everything and have some ideas but just want everyone's expertise. What would a rear chuck do for me as far as holding a shaft steady to put a tip on? I would think the 2 chucks would be too close together and a steady rest would still be needed. Instead of a bearing steady rest, would a live center work to insert into the shaft at the joint work? Which would be better?
Click to expand...

When I awake in the middle of the night, my mood is considered suspect so bare with me.
You ask for everyone's expertise and you have many ideas of your own.
When do you apply some personal initiative ? When do you start thinking and acting for yourself ?
I'd sugest you develop that trait while you're still young. I'm just being honest with you.
There will come a time when no one is around to hold your hand; like, from now on.
Some can't handle the truth. Those that can are more likely to succeed. Oh no, is this a nightmare ?
Yes, but you'll get over it. WAKE UP.
 
Kim Bye said:
Check this link: http://benchtopmachineshop.blogspot.no/2014_04_01_archive.html

Buy some steel tubing, thread it M27x1.5 and attach a spider or rear 3 or 4 jaw chuck.
That would be the slickest setup.
Click to expand...


That is a great site there Kim.
Thanks

As to the OP,
so amy like to complicate things when sometimes something quite simple will suffice. Your steady could be as simple as a bean bag and micro fibre cloth, or as complicated as a self aligning bearing with varying tapered bushes to match the array of shafts being re tipped or repaired.
Neil
 
Go back to sleep KJ. I sure hope you never ask for help with anything. I h a vehicle never done anything like this before. My ideas are from doing research online and trying to find answers. It's all good though. There are plenty of other people on this site that are willing to help a beginner out. Like I said, I have had a mid size lathe before but it was ready to go out of the box. Never "built" one to do what I wanted it to do. Have a great day!!!

Everyone else that responded....it is much appreciated. I think I have enough to make my decision. I may be back with future questions. Thanks again!!!
 
I sell a 2 foot dovetail with steady rest for $150 that you can mount behind your lathe.
 
Why i won't teach

Harris Cue Comp. (Robert Harris) made a statement in a previous thread :
"This thread should be retitled teach the newby".

I think I know what he's saying and I agree with him. We're not here to teach anyone how to become a CM.
We're here to address the questions that only a CM can answer. Even then we can only answer in general terms.
Let me ask you this. You want to be a CM or C-Tec right ? What do you bring to the table ?
What is your personal contribution to the craft, the trade ?
If you have to ask how to install a tip, you bring a curious warm body and that's about it.
I won't tell you how to install a tip, what lathe to buy or where the on/off switch is.
You made the decision that this is what you want to do, now figure out how to do it. We did.
Because you've found a forum that has a section titled 'Ask the Cuemaker' doesn't give you a free pass to the
career of your dreams. You earn it or you don't play. It starts by showing some initiative and making decisions for yourself.
If that's too difficult then you're at the wrong table. You need to move to one way, way at the other end of the building.
Now get all huffy and start ranting because that just makes my day. Some here will hold your hand but it ain't me.
Why do I carry the attitude that I do ? Because I'm tired of being insulted by know-nothings that think I owe them something.
I don't. I owe you nothing newbie. "Well I hope you never have to ask for any help". I don't ask, I answer.

Because they can almost afford a lathe, they think that they now have access to the secret club and someone will show them how.
Think again.
There are way too many in this business now and it's only getting worse. They think they've got a shot at income and
they have little to no knowledge of what's really involved. They're called 'hacks'. I won't encourage more hackery.
There can be a modest level of prestige in being a CM but only after an exhaustive level of integrity is established.
I've got 26 yrs in this ring-game and still working on running out. No one taught me how to play. I did that myself.
This isn't about me personally but my efforts to keep and promote this craft as an honorable trade; as it's intended to be.
Goodnight newbie.
 
You can get a nice steady rest on Amazon for 50. This is my setup for doing minor shaft work.
 

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Kim Bye said:
Check this link: http://benchtopmachineshop.blogspot.no/2014_04_01_archive.html
Click to expand...

I own that blog, so thank you for the recommendation! I was wondering why I was suddenly getting a lot (for me :wink:) traffic from azbilliards. If everything goes well I'll have a new write up available in the next month or two about upgrading the mini lathe to a 4" spindle along with angular contact bearings. The new bearings should help increase the rigidity of the machine considerably.

I don't have a lot of room and the work I do is rather small, so the mini lathe has worked out very well for me. Once properly adjusted, they can do quite accurate work. The problem being, NOTHING is adjusted when you pull it out of its box. I'd highly recommend budgeting for a QCTP when you buy the lathe.
 
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zoltan said:
I own that blog, so thank you for the recommendation! I was wondering why I was suddenly getting a lot (for me :wink:) traffic from azbilliards. If everything goes well I'll have a new write up available in the next month or two about upgrading the mini lathe to a 4" spindle along with angular contact bearings. The new bearings should help increase the rigidity of the machine considerably.

I don't have a lot of room and the work I do is rather small, so the mini lathe has worked out very well for me. Once properly adjusted, they can do quite accurate work. The problem being, NOTHING is adjusted when you pull it out of its box. I'd highly recommend budgeting for a QCTP when you buy the lathe.
Click to expand...

How cool :smile:
I googled mini lathe and rear chuck and your blog stood out from the other search options.
Keep up the good work buddy :thumbup:
 
I made mine using 80/20 stuff, and a block of HDPE with a bearing set into it. It is adjustable, uses a collet for shafts, and without the collet I can fit a full house cue. Wasn't the cheapest to build, but works really good and is very stable even with wobbly house cues.
Dave

lathe resized.jpg
 
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