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?
CNC Expert
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.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?
Richard
CNC Guru
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
Pete
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
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
CNC Guru
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
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
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.