Back spindle steady for the Unimat 3.

When turning the end of a long length of rod, longer than the headstock spindle, some means of supporting the back end of the rod becomes desirable. This is to stop the rod running out of true, handy when turning journals at both ends of a roller for example, and to reduce any vibration from the unsupported end affecting the workpiece. As well as to stop the end hanging out of the back flapping around when using thin rod.

These steadies are simply turned from whatever material is to hand, in this case brass;

They are made a light press fit into the spindle. I drill them out to .1mm above the size of the rod that they are used with.

In place;

And in use;

Obviously when using bar this long in a Unimat 3 then the belt cover cannot be opened or shut, so I leave it open.

I used to use these a lot when I worked as a turner, not only for turning rollers as mentioned above, but for production work when several parts are turned and parted off from one piece of bar, which is why I use them on my Unimat.
Again, this is something that can be adapted to any lathe.

Paul.