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What’s on your lathe?

Odie, you sure have some beautiful pieces of wood! I generally don't turn that kind of stuff though. I think you have shared where you get it from, but can't remember.

robo hippy
 
IMG_0084.jpegThis 13 1/2” ambrosia maple platter (shallow bowl?) was originally about 15” in diameter. I turned it five years ago and was never very happy with the form. This morning I decided to put it back on the lathe and see what I could do with it. Turned it down and made a simpler, more graceful curve both inside and out. I’m very happy with the decision to go back and do it over.
 
Kevin,

I don't know what brand of steady rest it is. I got it with the Stubby 750 when I bought it from our past president of the CCW turning club. I was told that he had it made to fit the Stubby. Here is a photo of the label attached to the steady rest. Maybe you or others can decipher this photo.

IMG_8665.jpeg
 
I got this from AI

I found several manufacturers that make wood lathe steady rests in the USA, but none of them use the exact phrase "The Art of W" as a brand name. The visual search of the label itself led to historical documents and art, which suggests the label may be part of an older or very niche item not widely available online.
It's likely that:
"The Art of W" refers to the art of woodturning itself, and the steady rest was custom-made by a specific craftsperson, possibly as a one-off item, which is a common practice among woodturners.
The manufacturer is a very small or local business, which is why they do not appear in general search results.
Steady rests are used to support long or hollow workpieces on a lathe, preventing vibration and ensuring accuracy during the turning process. They are a valuable accessory for any serious woodturner.
It also says Made in the USA

I'll try putting it through a filter. See if I can get anything clearer.
 
Dave,
Since you have taken up the search, went out to the garage and cleaned off the label to see if I could "enhance" the visual clues. Partial email and maybe a few more letters. I will follow you down the rabbit hole and do a couple of searches myself. As a last resort I will contact George who is in the hospital at this time getting a new pacemaker and see what he remembers about the manufacture of the steady rest. However, that is sort of cheating.

IMG_8667.jpeg
 
Here's what I found.

The item in the image is indeed likely a Clark steady rest or a similar product, and the label contains identification and patent information for the product or system it is part of.
Identifying the Item and Text
The visible text on the label is consistent with the product details found for Clark Woodturning Tools:
The text "Apt. of" might refer to "A Patent of" or something similar in the cursive script above the phrase.
The email appears to be "win33@hon[...]" and is related to the product's creator or seller.
The most legible portion confirms: "Made in USA. Patent Pending". This aligns with search results indicating that Clark steady rests and hollowing systems are made in the USA and have associated patents.
Product Details
Clark steady rests are known for:
Being heavy-duty, made from angle iron or thick steel, and designed for durability.
Their adjustability and compatibility with a wide range of lathe brands (e.g., Delta, Jet, Grizzly, Robust).
Effectively supporting workpieces during turning and deep hollowing, which minimizes vibration and chatter, especially for long or large projects.
The visual style of the label's handwriting is common on small-batch or custom woodworking tools from individual sellers.

Hope it helps

David Morris
 
Pat Wisniewski said:
Pete,
How are you adhering the tiles? Do you think the seasonal movement of the wood might present issues?
Click to expand...

I'm still trying to work out the best methods. The groove is never perfect and usually has a half tile width space at the end, so I try to spread that out and space all the tiles slightly. Hopefully that gives a little breathing room. I used CA on these for the initial set, then painted on a UV cure epoxy over the whole piece, making sure it got down into the cracks between. I wiped off the tops of the tiles pretty thoroughly before hitting it with the light. I did another one with a 2 part epoxy, but it's hard not to make a mess doing it that way.
 
Darryl Fective said:
I'm still trying to work out the best methods. The groove is never perfect and usually has a half tile width space at the end, so I try to spread that out and space all the tiles slightly. Hopefully that gives a little breathing room. I used CA on these for the initial set, then painted on a UV cure epoxy over the whole piece, making sure it got down into the cracks between. I wiped off the tops of the tiles pretty thoroughly before hitting it with the light. I did another one with a 2 part epoxy, but it's hard not to make a mess doing it that way.
Click to expand...
Would a flexible adhesive like E6000 work for you? Of course, if you need to fill the cracks you will have to use another material (i.e., modeling paste, spackle, etc.) which is easier to remove/clean from the tiles.
 
Jay Peterson said:
Dave,
Since you have taken up the search, went out to the garage and cleaned off the label to see if I could "enhance" the visual clues. Partial email and maybe a few more letters. I will follow you down the rabbit hole and do a couple of searches myself. As a last resort I will contact George who is in the hospital at this time getting a new pacemaker and see what he remembers about the manufacture of the steady rest. However, that is sort of cheating.

View attachment 82906
Click to expand...
Chat GPT took a shot

1766071222279.png
 
Dan Wiggin said:
My second attempt at using my new Lyle Jamieson hollowing rig. A piece of Bottle Brush that I cut out the rot and filled with Epoxy resin. I’m just happy it’s still in one piece! Very happy with the Jamieson rig. Very smooth and stable
Click to expand...
Very smooth interior and smart to use a wider opening so you can “learn” how the tools work with the new rig.
 
Decided to finish turn a 12” maple platter today instead of working on the HF. I wanted to see what the grain looked like on the platter and decided to do a bead instead of my standard platter rim. The bottom is about as fancy as I’ll ever get😁.
Had to turn the lights at the lathe off for the second picture, the walnut oil made it too reflective.

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1766184023518.jpeg

1766183982318.jpeg
 
David Wyke said:
Decided to finish turn a 12” maple platter today instead of working on the HF. I wanted to see what the grain looked like on the platter and decided to do a bead instead of my standard platter rim. The bottom is about as fancy as I’ll ever get😁.
Had to turn the lights at the lathe off for the second picture, the walnut oil made it too reflective.

View attachment 83007

View attachment 83006

View attachment 83005
Click to expand...
I love the rim beads and the bottom rings!
 
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