Making a fixed steady

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

evening Gents.

Big old single phase motor on my bandsaw has seen better days, the insulation from the windings have broken down and really need replacing.
Queue the old 3/4 hp from my lathe.
Opened it up to give it some attention. Wiring is good and the bearings are ok once in cleaned them out and regreased them.

So what's my issue I hear you say.

The shaft has been badly chewed and was causing a nasty knock where the pulley was rocking.

Short of making custom pullers to remove the rear bearing (little clearance between the switch and bearing.
I'm going to have to mount between centres with the centrifugal switch in place.

Was planning to tape it all up to the shaft to stop it moving and run at a slower speed than usual.

So the question, stupid idea or not?

 

[roofman]

I have 3 half horse motors here..you can have one if you pay the post

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

I have 3 half horse motors here..you can have one if you pay the post

Thanks for the offer. This one runs fine other than the shaft and speed and size is perfect for the bandsaw.
Will take longer to set it up on the lathe than it will to skim the shaft. Know I have some dogs somewhere.

 

[roofman]

Thanks for the offer. This one runs fine other than the shaft and speed and size is perfect for the bandsaw.
Will take longer to set it up on the lathe than it will to skim the shaft. Know I have some dogs somewhere.

ok if you change your mind mate just PM me your address and i will fire one down to you...1425 RPM they are but i would have to measure shaft

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

ok if you change your mind mate just PM me your address and i will fire one down to you...1425 RPM they are but i would have to measure shaft

Speeds spot on actually. If I put a hole through my garage wall with the rotor il give you a shout lol.

At some point il chuck a 3 phase motor on it but can't justify the cost right now.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Hmm.
Started by butchering a fixed centre to fit a collet.

Easy enough. Will see use in the future so worth doing.

Next up. Just fits. The lathes at its limit.

Brought the tool in close and spun by hand. Great at least a mm out.
Center hole doesn't appear to be central.

I can hold the rear of the shaft in a collet (keep the dogs in place to ensure good drive) and support the front end in a fixed steady to sort the center. Easy.

If only I had a fixed steady...

I do however have a cross slide spare that's been modified by it's PO its for a model L but the v ways are identical.
Next issue. Someone did and excellent job of filling in the v and flat.

Can I get the fixings undone.

Nope. Il dig out my LH drills tomorrow and see if I can shift em.
Be a perfect base to build a fixed steady on.

It's been on my to do list for some time.

So it ended in tears for a different reason.
Story of my life.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Oh and my drive dogs have vanished.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Short of making custom pullers to remove the rear bearing (little clearance between the switch and bearing.
I'm going to have to mount between centres with the centrifugal switch in place.

If that's the bearing in pic #4, I have a Sykes Pickavant 'micro' puller which I think'd reach that. You're welcome to borrow it if you want? It's like this

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

If that's the bearing in pic #4, I have a Sykes Pickavant 'micro' puller which I think'd reach that. You're welcome to borrow it if you want? It's like this

Must put on of those on my to buy list.

After having in mounted on the lathe I'm not worried about the centrifugal switch so I can leave the bearings in place.

Thanks for the offer though.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Managed to get the fixings out by two methods.
1st being banging a torq bit into the allen head. All but 3 came out this way.
Next the dremel came out to cut some slots out and jobs a goodun.

Next I started chopping bits off.
The hump for the nut insert was fouling so lopped it off and cut the dovetails off.
Probably going to have to get more brutal to fit between the apron but my spare disks are on site and im down to a nub.

More tomorrow.

Do I make the rest from scratch or hunt down something to hack up.

Ive got fingers from a cheap steady that cracked during milling so not completely from scratch if I go that way.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Looking a bit agricultural atm but you get the idea.
Using whats to hand so 2 bits of 8mm plate. Will get the big angry grinder out tomorrow and lop off the bulk before popping it on the rotary table.

 

[ranchero]

did you know there is a collet to take a fixed center

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

did you know there is a collet to take a fixed center

I did. Unfortunately I don't have one, have all sizes inc duplicates and a square and hex collet. Plus 2 collet blocks but no center. Have plenty of fixed centres so it was a worthy sacrifice and will be reused in both lathes.

I need to build my steady for both lathes too. Need to be able to raise its center height by 1/2 inch for the model L

 

[ranchero]

duplicates
would you be interested in selling any. also i have a spare center collet

 

[brightspark]

I did. Unfortunately I don't have one, have all sizes inc duplicates and a square and hex collet. Plus 2 collet blocks but no center. Have plenty of fixed centres so it was a worthy sacrifice and will be reused in both lathes.

I need to build my steady for both lathes too. Need to be able to raise its center height by 1/2 inch for the model L

easy enough to make a raising block to match lathe bed

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

duplicates
would you be interested in selling any. also i have a spare center collet

Would rather keep hold of them as both my lathes utilise them. Fetch stupid money on eBay as they were only made for the smart and Browns.
When I get time il have a look and see what I actually have.
They occasionally come up on eBay complete but fetch between 100-200 quid.

There's a fixed and traveling steady for an m on there now but again ridiculously priced.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

easy enough to make a raising block to match lathe bed

Aye. Needs to be both 4 and 4-1/2 inch. My M is 4 inch center height and the L is 4-1/2 both using identical V ways.
Both tail stocks are identical but the base plates differ in height.

Have a plan for it and should be a matter of undoing two bolts and moving to the higher/lower holes. Playing it by ear for now. It's evolving as I go.

 

[pressbrake1]

My old pops did a proper ghetto hack emergency steady.
Made from wood with a flange mount bearing bolted to it.
Looked shocking worked good.

I did a similar version once with a lump of wood bored to size and a split with a pinch bolt to machine a spindle that was too big for my steady and I didn’t want to risk hard rollers

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

My old pops did a proper ghetto hack emergency steady.
Made from wood with a flange mount bearing bolted to it.
Looked shocking worked good.

I did a similar version once with a lump of wood bored to size and a split with a pinch bolt to machine a spindle that was too big for my steady and I didn’t want to risk hard rollers

Did consider a plywood bodge especially as there's already a bearing on the shaft. Been wanting to build a steady for a while. Il be hinging this one too. Once it's finished shouldn't look too out of place.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Starting to look more like a steady.

Next up il v out the plates and weld um up before cutting then milling the slots out.
Was going to hinge it but for the sake of ease and speed il leave it solid.