02-11-2015, 05:57 PM
I got a pretty good deal on a steady rest, so I figured I could adapt it to my Atlas lathe.
The ways on my lathe are about an inch and quarter wider than the lug/fitment part on the base of the steady. I figured I could drill and tap two holes on each side of the existing lug, and just add 1/8 inch thick steel to fill up the space.
As I was doing the measuring for this modification, I got to wondering if I needed to do this at all.
The rest sits on my ways, and I can bolt it down as it sits. I need to trim a little off so that my saddle will clear the base, but it looks like it would work as is.
Is there a reason that it has to fit tightly between the ways?
Will it move or anything from the pressure of turning? I can see the tool forcing it back on the ways, but couldn't I just glue some grippy stuff under the rest to protect my ways and add traction?
So what would be the trouble with just not filling up the extra space between the lug and my ways?
The ways on my lathe are about an inch and quarter wider than the lug/fitment part on the base of the steady. I figured I could drill and tap two holes on each side of the existing lug, and just add 1/8 inch thick steel to fill up the space.
As I was doing the measuring for this modification, I got to wondering if I needed to do this at all.
The rest sits on my ways, and I can bolt it down as it sits. I need to trim a little off so that my saddle will clear the base, but it looks like it would work as is.
Is there a reason that it has to fit tightly between the ways?
Will it move or anything from the pressure of turning? I can see the tool forcing it back on the ways, but couldn't I just glue some grippy stuff under the rest to protect my ways and add traction?
So what would be the trouble with just not filling up the extra space between the lug and my ways?