Here’s a homemade steady rest system I’ve created for woodturning. I built it using the wheels and mounts from a pair of old in-line skates. I fashioned the articulated joints for each of the three rests from hardwood and bolts. They mount to my Excelsior mini lathe’s bed using 150-lb breakaway Magswitch magnets I purchased from Rockler.
Once the rests are positioned and the magnets are turned on, tightening the bolts on the rests holds the wheels in place against a bowl or spindle. The system works great, and it can easily be retrofitted to any lathe.
– Al Fletcher
Mahtomedi, Minnesota
