To ensure adequate support when turning the bore a fixed steady would be needed but unfortunately the top of the cylinder casting has a projection which forms the flange for mounting the pivot for the beam describes a diameter of about 8 inches when rotating in the lathe. This is beyond the capacity of the fixed steady that was supplied with the machine. This simple fabricated fixed steady was made for this job mostly out of scrap material and will support just over 10 inches in diameter. In addition a large boring bar was also needed to reach inside this casting. The shoe pieces are temporarily secured to the steady with a single screw; the positions are not critical the three top shoes are at the apex of the junction of the steel tubes. The two lower shoes have to be positioned so that the jaw will clear the projecting part of the lathe saddle (photo 12 and drawing 3). The clearance is minimal at this point; the shoes are silver soldered to the frame. The jaws need some bearing material at the ends to bear against the work; as I had no stocks of bronze I had to rummage about in my scrap box again.
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