Thread: Hercus 9inch travelling steady castings

Swarfmaker1, you may have seen my previous thread regarding myself looking for a travelling steady for my Qualos lathe. No luck so far on that front.

I might be interested in adapting a steady from the 9" Hercus for my Qualos.

Can you supply the dimensions of the Hercus travelling steady?
* The length of the base
* The width of the base
* The centre height of the steady (Height above the base).

Also is the base machined or can I get a green/unmmachined casting?
Thanks

The Hercus travelling steady is an odd shape casting. Almost line an 'S' shape that bolts onto the side of the carriage. If you can supply a picture of the Qualos and basic dimensions I possibly get one made for you or if you can make your own pattern and send to me I can take it to the foundry for you and have it cast. That's probably the best option.

Cheers,
Peter.

Originally Posted by Metmachmad

Swarfmaker1, you may have seen my previous thread regarding myself looking for a travelling steady for my Qualos lathe. No luck so far on that front.

I might be interested in adapting a steady from the 9" Hercus for my Qualos.

Can you supply the dimensions of the Hercus travelling steady?
* The length of the base
* The width of the base
* The centre height of the steady (Height above the base).

Also is the base machined or can I get a green/unmmachined casting?
Thanks

So this steadys are not like the 260 Hercus which I believe have the long flat style of base?

Sorry I forgot earlier to add a couple of images that I've found on ebay at another time. So this isn't my Qualos machine. The travelling steady is obvious in both images and gives a good view on the type of steady that I'm looking for.

The Hercus 260 steady looks very similar to the quolos steady , flat base type. Distance between mounting hole centres is approx 6 5/8" , centre height 4 1/2" (unmachined) . Base thickness is 5/8" x 1 3/16" x 7 1/2" long.

Originally Posted by Metmachmad

Sorry I forgot earlier to add a couple of images that I've found on ebay at another time. So this isn't my Qualos machine. The travelling steady is obvious in both images and gives a good view on the type of steady that I'm looking for.

Swarfmaker1,
From measuring the travelling steadys mounting points on my Qualos it appears the base is about 9.5" - 10'' long, about 1.25" wide. and 7.75" between the fixing bolts centres. Height from the bottom of the base to centre height is 4".

It's not a good fit by any means but you could cut off the base of my casting and screw a new steel one to it with the correct dimensions, You'd bring the centre height down to match your lathe in the process. It would work but not as pretty as a full casting.

Peter.

Originally Posted by Metmachmad

Swarfmaker1,
From measuring the travelling steadys mounting points on my Qualos it appears the base is about 9.5" - 10'' long, about 1.25" wide. and 7.75" between the fixing bolts centres. Height from the bottom of the base to centre height is 4".

G’day all. Thanks all for the feed back on the correct positioning of gears to have me cut threads. Did the job very well.

Swarfmaker just triggered a thought about the steady that came with my recently acquired A Model. The steady appears to be positioned on the top of the saddle. There is an impression left there of a fitting which may allow the fixing of the traveling steady. I don’t have that fitting but I don’t believe that the two very small screw holes on the top of the saddle will do the job - so if there’s anyone there that may enlighten me how the steady fixes in place ??
Pictures below.

As an aside - Just finished resurrecting my old compressor, vintage 1954 called a “Ben Patent”. Had to get a new Motor, the old one was three phase, used the old pulley which had a 1 inch shaft, new one has a 3/4 shaft, so had to turn a bush and then key it. The Hercus did the job. The compressor runs a lot faster, the old motor ran at half the speed so it tends to vibrate a bit across the floor !! A little anxious wondering if the diaphragm that I replaced would do the cut of and cut in job but it works great. Set the cut of for 100psi and cut in at 75 psi, enough for the odd job I need but may have to downsize the motor pulley a bit later. Nice to have a bit of air for the workshop.
Cheers

Downunderoz, Those screw holes look non standard. Probably put there by one if the previous owners.

Cheers,
Peter.

The travelling steady fixes to the Tailstock side of the carriage,there should allready be 2 taped holes for it.

Thanks Pipeclay ans Swarfmaker1.
I'll check out the other side of the carriage. Should have figured out that one with the offset on the steady.
Cheers