Setting up a barrel in a steady rest...

[Jackson~in~GA]

You guys who chamber in a steady rest or have done it in the past. What do you use to keep the jaws of the steady rest from scarring the barrel? I've been using ball bearings for rollers, thinking of changing to a spider type setup just curious what you guys use.

 

[david dumas]

jackson,
I use a piece of waterproof (wet/dry 320) paper turned backside to barrel well lubed with heavy oil, barrel spins inside of it with no scarring/marking on barrel,

the wind is my friend,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

DD

 

[JerrySharrett]

You guys who chamber in a steady rest or have done it in the past. What do you use to keep the jaws of the steady rest from scarring the barrel? I've been using ball bearings for rollers, thinking of changing to a spider type setup just curious what you guys use.

If you will make yourself a spider for the steadyrest it will solve two problems. The problem you mention plus it will give you the additionally ability of fine tuning the barrel bore dial in. The spider will be slower to set up but give you greater accuracy in dialing in the barrel especially if you have runout in the chamber neck area.

 

[slugger]

Does a spider for this have a section protruding beyond the set screws for bearing on the steady contact points or am I missing something?

 

[Rustystud]

Center Bearing is the way to go..

Center Bearing is the way to go with a spider inside.
Rustystud

 

[slugger]

Photo?

 

[tim in tx]

here you are sir. tim in tx