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Two and Three Point Steadies

davetryner@...
 

I've had a large 10" pulley in the workshop for some years and thought that it could be turned into a 3 point fixed steady by removing the central boss and taking 120' arc from the disc to form the top part of the 3 point steady. The bottom of the disc to be shaped to suit the bed slideway. Guides were made to slide in grooves in the disc 120' apart. I later added small bearings on each guide to limit the friction when in use. It works quite well for small jobs - probably not as good as the robust 3 point steady on the market - but ok for occasional use. It's at that point that I realised that by not using the top section and re-positioning the steady on the saddle I could use it as a 2 point moving steady. Some time required shaping the pulley to suit the curvature of the saddle casting but it seems to do the job and it's nice to use the old pulley for two purposes. The photos attached show the stages of manufacture.
Oh, and what happened to the boss removed from the centre of the pulley, you may ask? I used it for the housing of thread cutting dial - see photo
George Meinschein
 

Nice work!


Thanks, George Meinschein 150 Brittany Drive Freehold, NJ 07728 gmeinschein@... Cell#: 732-580-1736

Sent from Proton Mail mobile



-------- Original Message --------
On Jul 10, 2022, 4:02 AM, davetryner via groups.io < davetryner@...> wrote:

I've had a large 10" pulley in the workshop for some years and thought that it could be turned into a 3 point fixed steady by removing the central boss and taking 120' arc from the disc to form the top part of the 3 point steady. The bottom of the disc to be shaped to suit the bed slideway. Guides were made to slide in grooves in the disc 120' apart. I later added small bearings on each guide to limit the friction when in use. It works quite well for small jobs - probably not as good as the robust 3 point steady on the market - but ok for occasional use. It's at that point that I realised that by not using the top section and re-positioning the steady on the saddle I could use it as a 2 point moving steady. Some time required shaping the pulley to suit the curvature of the saddle casting but it seems to do the job and it's nice to use the old pulley for two purposes. The photos attached show the stages of manufacture.
Oh, and what happened to the boss removed from the centre of the pulley, you may ask? I used it for the housing of thread cutting dial - see photo
--
-George M.
Ray De Jong
 

Real world 'recycling', gotta save that metal. Very nice warkon bothe the steady rest and thread dial. I love it!


On Sunday, July 10, 2022, 04:48:22 AM PDT, George Meinschein via groups.io <gmeinschein@...> wrote:


Nice work!


Thanks, George Meinschein 150 Brittany Drive Freehold, NJ 07728 gmeinschein@... Cell#: 732-580-1736

Sent from Proton Mail mobile



-------- Original Message --------
On Jul 10, 2022, 4:02 AM, davetryner via groups.io < davetryner@...> wrote:

I've had a large 10" pulley in the workshop for some years and thought that it could be turned into a 3 point fixed steady by removing the central boss and taking 120' arc from the disc to form the top part of the 3 point steady. The bottom of the disc to be shaped to suit the bed slideway. Guides were made to slide in grooves in the disc 120' apart. I later added small bearings on each guide to limit the friction when in use. It works quite well for small jobs - probably not as good as the robust 3 point steady on the market - but ok for occasional use. It's at that point that I realised that by not using the top section and re-positioning the steady on the saddle I could use it as a 2 point moving steady. Some time required shaping the pulley to suit the curvature of the saddle casting but it seems to do the job and it's nice to use the old pulley for two purposes. The photos attached show the stages of manufacture.
Oh, and what happened to the boss removed from the centre of the pulley, you may ask? I used it for the housing of thread cutting dial - see photo
--
-George M.

tgerbic
 

That was a really great idea. Perhaps strengthening the attach point on the lathe would make it much heavier duty without other reinforcement.
myhilo
 

I am thinking of using maybe a 1 ton truck disk brake rotor to do something like this.
Has anyone seen this done before?  The rotors are cast iron and very strong.
TIMOTHY CRAVEN
 

That sounds like a good idea. I was at a Ford dealership about a month ago and saw two late model rotors in the trash. They just looked so useable for something that I asked if I could have them.. I’m thinking that they would make great repurpose as a steady.  Especially since I think the rotor has a stamped steel center and cast iron brake friction surface. Remove the stamped steel center and it’s almost good to go.  

  Anyway, great idea. 
mike allen
 

        Depending on the size of the car that the rotors came off they should make a good steady . I've been thinking about getting one from a small car to use for a base for a micrometer stand . Good

        luck with that project & keep us posted on the project . These are the kind of projects I really like then ones that are way , way out of the box !

        animal

On 7/20/2022 7:10 PM, TIMOTHY CRAVEN wrote:

That sounds like a good idea. I was at a Ford dealership about a month ago and saw two late model rotors in the trash. They just looked so useable for something that I asked if I could have them.. I’m thinking that they would make great repurpose as a steady.  Especially since I think the rotor has a stamped steel center and cast iron brake friction surface. Remove the stamped steel center and it’s almost good to go.  

  Anyway, great idea. 

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