Page 1 of 1
Steady 5.5" or 6"
Posted: Tue 14 Apr , 2015 22:12 pm
by bikerwookie
So I have had a fixed steady that came with my second hand 280vs 15 years ago. After trying to use it today it is too low. It measures 5.5" to bed flats. My 280vs seems to measure 6". All the time I thought this was a 5.5" lathe!
So the question is was a 6" lathe and steady produced or are my verniers/way of measuring out by 1/2"?
Do any other 6" steadies fit?
Re: Steady 5.5" or 6"
Posted: Wed 15 Apr , 2015 8:14 am
by rpwilson
bikerwookie wrote:So I have had a fixed steady that came with my second hand 280vs 15 years ago. After trying to use it today it is too low. It measures 5.5" to bed flats. My 280vs seems to measure 6". All the time I thought this was a 5.5" lathe!
So the question is was a 6" lathe and steady produced or are my verniers/way of measuring out by 1/2"?
Do any other 6" steadies fit?
No, the 280 is a 5 1/2" lathe. Its 6" to the bed flats, but 5 1/2" approx to the top of the vees. My 280 steady measures 6" from base to centre line. What you have got there is probably a steady off one of the 5" lathes, I think the bed vees were the same, so it will fit, just be 1/2" too low.
Richard
Re: Steady 5.5" or 6"
Posted: Wed 15 Apr , 2015 22:31 pm
by TDIPower
Can you post a pic, I have a steady for my boxford which is to high, ill get in the garage and do some pics with a rule ASAP. we may be able to do a swap.
Pete
Re: Steady 5.5" or 6"
Posted: Thu 16 Apr , 2015 22:26 pm
by bikerwookie
Thanks Richard that clears up the measurements,
Pete it is the same as this one in good condition. Away from the lathe at the moment so can't take a picture of the actual one.
Do you have a picture of yours and a measurement from bed flat to centre please
Re: Steady 5.5" or 6"
Posted: Mon 20 Apr , 2015 22:42 pm
by TDIPower
Ill get in the garage tomorrow and sort the pics.
Pete
Re: Steady 5.5" or 6"
Posted: Wed 22 Apr , 2015 22:33 pm
by TDIPower
well I had a mooch,
from the bed flats to the centre line of the chuck my boxford is 5" and my steady looks to centre at 4.5" so I was in error, mine is to low not to high.
I only had my digital callipers to hand and with every pic I took I couldn't see the display.
I will get in with a rule and do some more tomorrow. I may not be measuring correctly.
If your 5" would fit I may be interested if you wanted to part with it.
Pete
Re: Steady 5.5" or 6"
Posted: Thu 14 May , 2015 10:52 am
by bikerwookie
As I was unable to find the correct height fixed steady I made a 1/2" spacer to go over the bed and vee to bring it up to the correct height.