Using up every last bit of scrap

[Astronowanabe]

Just curious but wouldn't delrin make decent supports for a steady rest? As a replacement for the brass/bronze fingers? Thanks, Frank

I don't think they would take the heat and friction for very long

[Jaakko Fagerlund]

Just curious but wouldn't delrin make decent supports for a steady rest? As a replacement for the brass/bronze fingers? Thanks, Frank

Friction will soon melt them down and anything not-ground will eat them up pretty soon and badly.

But for some sensitive/delicate/light work and with a lubricant they might work.

[The Artful Bodger]

Just curious but wouldn't delrin make decent supports for a steady rest? As a replacement for the brass/bronze fingers? Thanks, Frank

I have a travelling steady that was supplied with my c1907 Drummond lathe which had wooden inserts instead of fingers.

[Lew Hartswick]

I have a travelling steady that was supplied with my c1907 Drummond lathe which had wooden inserts instead of fingers.

Wooden? I hope that were either Ebony or Lignum Vitae. :-)
...Lew...

[The Artful Bodger]

Wooden? I hope that were either Ebony or Lignum Vitae. :-)
...Lew...

I think it was a block of whatever was available. Presumably one was expected to mount a block in the holder (two blocks actually) and drill a hole through to match the diameter of the work. No doubt it worked quite well.

[Clevelander]

You just haven't found a small enough project yet.

A few random comments here: While I like McMaster Carr for information and service their prices on many things (like plastics) is just painful. I do much better on a lot of things on ebay.

Frank: The material is WAY to soft for the application you suggested. If the pressure didn't kill it the heat would.

[gwilson]

I use collets to get the most out of material,especially material like ivory. With a slight undercut on a stepped out collet that I have turned a specific diameter in to hold a particular project,I can grip and turn ivory using only 1/32" of material. The step I turn has a dovetail effect on grabbing the ivory.