Steady Rest on the Cheap

Great design Jeff! I might have to try that one. Thanks.

-- Carl Rast, Pelion, SC

I need one of those. Nice work

-- ~ Inspiring those who inspire me ~

A very nice set up Jeff!

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

I made one very similar to yours but used skate board wheels. Works fantastic.

-- Jerry--A man can never have enough tools or clamps

Last year I made one for my ShopSmith much like I have seen I used Rollerblade wheels and have had great luck with it. I have had fun hope you will it opens up greater options.

-- David '65

I think I’ll switch from the casters before all is said and done. I like the idea of the skateboarding wheels for the sole reason they are wider and make more contact than rollerblades. I suppose you could also just purchase some large bearings and use them as is. I did a google search for ideas on construction as this wasn’t an original. Most had Cabinetmaster or David’s wheels on them.

-- Jeff, South Carolina

Looks a lot heaftier than the one I designed. Looks like it would work a lot better too. Although mine did work ok. I think I’ll make my next one more like yours, looks more stable.

-- Mike. mwurm13@yahoo.com

I believe rollerblade wheels would be a better choice, because of their rounded surface.

They would have less contact to adjust to uneven surfaces, like say a tapered turning.

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

Nice job, Jeff! A steady is on my short list of projects. About the harbor fright lathe tools- as long as they are High Speed Steel, they should work. You might have to change the bevel angle.

-- I'm a lumberjock and I'm ok, I sleep all night and I work all day!

That will doer well done

-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon

I’ll buy into that Dick. Makes sense. Take the peppermill in the shots of the rest. There really isn’t a surface that a wide (skateboard) wheel would make full contact. A rounded roller blade wheel could be positioned between the beads to make very solid contact.

Hairy, I love HF, work about a half mile from them. I admit, I didn’t give all of them a chance. I specifically took the time on the largest gouge, skew, and scraper. The handles weigh next to nothing. Maybe turning some new ones would make it feel better. My main comparison was that I used the same Worksharp 3000 system for the HF and Benjami’s Best. I felt I did the process as close to the same as possible. The results had a wide margin. The angle could be a factor. I sharpened to the angle set.

-- Jeff, South Carolina

Amendment I’m going to have to retract my blast of the HF turning set somewhat. Yes, they are in terrible form off the shelf. I followed the same sharpening methods that work with my better chisels. I played with the angles/bevels a bit and found a vast improvement on several. The largest gouge knocks off material in a hurry. The skews hold their own as well. Haven’t had much luck with the scrapers, but I haven’t played with them much. They weigh very little which makes them feel flimsy. I think I’m going to turn a handle and give it a real test. I would now say, it was worth the $10-$15 bucks paid. Calculate in some serious sharpening time and a denser handle, and I think it is a good buy if you don’t mind the effort. It met my goal in quickly getting some experience with some different types of chisels. I now know what I use and what I don’t.

-- Jeff, South Carolina