Workshop Wednesday: Homemade Steady Rest for Wood Lathe

Workshop Wednesday: Homemade Steady Rest for Wood Lathe

I’ve been meaning to make a steady rest for my wood lathe pretty much since I got the Laguna REVO 1836 but have only just now gotten around to it! I made a different style to start with but wasn’t happy with the ease of use or overall performance so I went back to this plan I found on Alan Stratton of ‪@AsWoodTurns‬ . He actually has three videos on this steady rest, as he’s made a few changes over the years so I’ll link the newest one here:
   • Woodturning - My DIY Steady Rest Is Still ...  

I used some 1-3/4” aluminum tubing I have had forever and some 1/2” Baltic birch plywood. I’ll link to the skate wheels I bought, and I would suggest buying the speed ring washers with the wheels, as they are super cheap. I used 5/16” hex bolts and nylock nuts for the axles, and I was able to find some 5/16” nylon washer/spacers at Menards in the specialty hardware drawers that work fine too. 3/8” carriage boots worked perfectly in the aluminum turning and I had a bunch of knobs and t-nuts and other t-track accessories I used as well. I bought the 1/4” mild steel sheet and other hardware bits from Menards and/or Lowes.