Best steadyrest for aluminum tubing?

H

HandyNotHandsome

Plastic

Joined

Jul 30, 2018

• Aug 3, 2019

• #1

I need to machine some internal snap ring grooves into the ends of some aluminum tubing (6061). Tubing will be 1.5" - 2" in diameter, 60-80 mil wall thickness, 12"-20" long. I have an old lathe, and an old steel-fingered steadyrest that goes with it. I'm guessing steel fingers won't work well for this, so what is the best alternative for this application? Ball bearing rollers?

 

I

iwananew10K

Diamond

Joined

Sep 12, 2010

Location

moscow,ohio

• Aug 3, 2019

• #2

fingers are probably cast iron.

make a slip on sleeve to protect the tubing if you can't live with marking it.

 

johnoder

Diamond

Joined

Jul 16, 2004

Location

Houston, TX USA

• Aug 3, 2019

• #3

Leather belt around tube, clamp ends in steady's joint and lightly compress belt with fingers - and oil

 

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Andy St

Stainless

Joined

Oct 9, 2005

Location

Pittsburgh, PA

• Aug 3, 2019

• #4

I have used John's trick but that tends to polish the tubing in that spot. If that is OK then go with that. I would normally use a cats head type of set up. Make it as big as the steady will take so you can use it for future jobs. Brass or plastic tipped screws are best to use for the "whiskers".

Andy

 

thermite

Diamond

Joined

Sep 21, 2011

Location

Sterling, Virginia, USA, Terra, Sol, Sagittarius

• Aug 4, 2019

• #5

HandyNotHandsome said:

I need to machine some internal snap ring grooves into the ends of some aluminum tubing (6061). Tubing will be 1.5" - 2" in diameter, 60-80 mil wall thickness, 12"-20" long. I have an old lathe, and an old steel-fingered steadyrest that goes with it. I'm guessing steel fingers won't work well for this, so what is the best alternative for this application? Ball bearing rollers?

Click to expand...

No direct contact AT ALL.

Make a protective bushing. Run on the OD of that.

Done decently, it also serves double-duty as to resisting distortion out-of-round.

 

I

Illinoyance

Stainless

Joined

Aug 24, 2015

• Aug 4, 2019

• #6

and maybe a drop or 2 of super glue to keep the bushing from spinning on the tube.

 

thermite

Diamond

Joined

Sep 21, 2011

Location

Sterling, Virginia, USA, Terra, Sol, Sagittarius

• Aug 4, 2019

• #7

Illinoyance said:

and maybe a drop or 2 of super glue to keep the bushing from spinning on the tube.

Click to expand...

Tight for space, that or shellac. given heat and/or solvent removes either.

Gonna use it more than one part, more space, less f-f- time, yah saw-splits both edges, puts the two worm-gear hose clamps 180 degrees apart. Or makes a proper closer. Ignorant pipe threads can do that, tapered as they are.

One is not that limited on the OD of a steady bushing, small diameter the OP has, this case. Take as much space as it needs to do it well.

 

M

mc3608

Aluminum

Joined

Feb 14, 2018

• Aug 16, 2019

• #8

Like #3 above but I use a strip of sanding belt .Put the woven side next to part oil good .Set jaws with a center in tailstock.

 

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L Vanice

Diamond

Joined

Feb 8, 2006

Location

Fort Wayne, IN

• Aug 16, 2019

• #9

I use steel shim stock with the thickness appropriate to the tube diameter (thinner for small tube). Make the length match the tube circumference, but leave a gap of a few thousandths. Hold the shim in place with a worm hose clamp. One clamp will usually work, but very thin shim may need a clamp on each side of the steady fingers. Oil the shim.

Steel shim has the advantages of being hard and of uniform thickness, assuring concentricity.

Larry