I used a steady rest for the first time on the Logan. I've watched folks do this a few times, and since I was just knocking rust off, I figured it was time to try it out.
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| Genuine Logan Accessory |
I'll include a link to how to set these up. Or maybe a couple links.
Here is Mr. Pete - This is the gospel according to St. Lyle
Here is Joe Pie up in Austin Texas - This is the high precision, professional way
Here is Quinn at Blondie Hacks - This is the hobby machinist view
If you look close, you'll see some black tarry goop on the tubing. That is something that Mr. Pete mentioned some years back. When I was first starting, I'd watch Mr. Pete and if he said it was good, it was ordered. I've had this stuff for a while now, and it works as advertised. I shudda bathed in this stuff this year.
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| Machinist's Brylcreem |
Extra Credit Question: What was Brylcreem's tag line?
My runout at the rest was about .010" Not good enough for precision work, but okay for a red Scotch Brite® 7447B scrub. That stuff knocked the rust of easily. I used a doubled strip about an inch wide, backed by a file.
I did some smaller shafting previously, and there was this wafting fog of rust dust moving around while I worked. I wiped the ways after I was done, somewhat OCD about this Logan. Mr. Garcia did a great job of maintaining it from 1946 until he passed in the early 90's. I got it after it sat for 10 years. So, I don't want to offend his attention to detail by being a dip.
Hmmmmm.... how to protect the ways?
I took a paper sack, like civilized people used in the pre-enlightened age. You remember that time right? Back when trash could actually decompose over time? Or you needed to start a fire in the fireplace or wood stove? Or you needed to protect a borrowed book? I used some old hard drive magnets to hold it down, then hit it with a light spray of oil (WD40 works) to latch onto the dust.
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| Multiple historical artifacts pictured above |
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| Not borrowed, but I still want to keep it protected!! |
It worked well, and I still wiped and lubed the snot out of the ways. Oh, about the book. I'm a "nuts and bolts" guy. I like to know how things work, like, how EVERYTHING works. I can't help it.
This is an old school steady. It has rubbers not rollers. That may need to be rectified/retrofitted at some point in the future. But this worked well for me on this job.
Thanks for stopping by the shop.
