Been unable to procure a factory steady for my 11" Sheldon, so I've been scanning Fleabay for one that might work with minimal modifications with no luck.
The Sheldon has a wider bed than any lathe in it's class that I've seen, even every larger 12" steady is still too small to span the 5-3/4" from vee to end of the flat.
Rather than buying a larger lathe steady and hacking it up (and no experience welding cast iron), it occurred to me that I could simply add a 1" base plate to an extra 9" SB steady I have that would bring it approx. to the correct center height.
In addition to creating the female V-way in the adapter base to ride the lathe bed, I'd need to mill the top surface of the plate with a male V-way in the correct location to center the steady on the adapter and keep it perfectly square to the bed.
Seems I'd need to oversize the plate thickness by the height of the "male" V-way and use a 60 degree end mill to cut each side to proper depth, then mill away the rest of the plate surface. I could then D&T the 9" steady permanently to the plate, and make a new bottom plate to ride under the bed.
Any issues with what I'm planning? Aluminum would make for much easier machining- but I'm guessing I Should use steel plate for this? What would be the best way to measure the height of the V on the lathe bed, and top flat so that I can machine for a perfect fit?
Appreciate any tips/advice, thanks in advance.
The Sheldon has a wider bed than any lathe in it's class that I've seen, even every larger 12" steady is still too small to span the 5-3/4" from vee to end of the flat.
Rather than buying a larger lathe steady and hacking it up (and no experience welding cast iron), it occurred to me that I could simply add a 1" base plate to an extra 9" SB steady I have that would bring it approx. to the correct center height.
In addition to creating the female V-way in the adapter base to ride the lathe bed, I'd need to mill the top surface of the plate with a male V-way in the correct location to center the steady on the adapter and keep it perfectly square to the bed.
Seems I'd need to oversize the plate thickness by the height of the "male" V-way and use a 60 degree end mill to cut each side to proper depth, then mill away the rest of the plate surface. I could then D&T the 9" steady permanently to the plate, and make a new bottom plate to ride under the bed.
Any issues with what I'm planning? Aluminum would make for much easier machining- but I'm guessing I Should use steel plate for this? What would be the best way to measure the height of the V on the lathe bed, and top flat so that I can machine for a perfect fit?
Appreciate any tips/advice, thanks in advance.