Results 1 to 15 of 15
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Springwood
    Posts
    168

    Default Hercus 9inch travelling steady castings

    Hercus Owners
    I have a pattern for the 9" travelling steady and will get some cast soon. Send me a PM if you want to be added to the list.
    There'll be two cast iron fingers and the main steady body.
    The body doesn't need much machining, four tapped holes ,two slots for the fingers and two slots for the fixing bolts. Price around $40 plus postage.

    Hercus 260 travelling steady casting also available.

    Cheers,
    Peter.

  2. #2
    Metmachmad is offline Turning useful pieces of steel into scrap metal.
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Riverina, NSW, Australia
    Age
    68
    Posts
    138

    Default

    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

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Springwood
    Posts
    168

    Default

    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.

    Quote Originally Posted by Metmachmad View Post
    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

  4. #4
    Metmachmad is offline Turning useful pieces of steel into scrap metal.
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Riverina, NSW, Australia
    Age
    68
    Posts
    138

    Default

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

  5. #5
    Metmachmad is offline Turning useful pieces of steel into scrap metal.
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Riverina, NSW, Australia
    Age
    68
    Posts
    138

    Default

    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.
    Last edited by Metmachmad; 31st Jan 2011 at 07:38 AM. Reason: Rectify mistake

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Springwood
    Posts
    168

    Default

    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.

    Quote Originally Posted by Metmachmad View Post
    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.

  7. #7
    Metmachmad is offline Turning useful pieces of steel into scrap metal.
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Riverina, NSW, Australia
    Age
    68
    Posts
    138

    Default

    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".

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Springwood
    Posts
    168

    Default

    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.


    Quote Originally Posted by Metmachmad View Post
    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".

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Point Clare, Central Coast NSW
    Posts
    12

    Default

    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

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Springwood
    Posts
    168

    Default

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

    Cheers,
    Peter.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    sydney ( st marys )
    Age
    64
    Posts
    4,887

    Default

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

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Point Clare, Central Coast NSW
    Posts
    12

    Default

    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

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Oct 2018
    Location
    Erskine Park
    Age
    66
    Posts
    1

    Post Hercus 9inch travelling steady castings

    Hi Peter,
    I recently purchased a 9" A model lathe & in search of a fixed & travelling steady. They don't appear to be commonly available on the usual selling sites such as EB & GT. Did your proposal ever proceed & if so do you still have any on offer.
    Regards Wayne

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Nov 2018
    Location
    Tasmania
    Posts
    97

    Default

    Do you have any photos of the travelling steadies?
    I'd be interested in getting one

  15. #15
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Murray Bridge S Aust.
    Age
    71
    Posts
    5,942

    Default

    Swarfmaker hasn't been on here for nearly 2 years.
    You'll find a picture of the travelling and fixed steady on here with prices.
    https://australianmetalworkinghobbyi...er_name=steady

    Call Mal 0438466008 or email search requests to [email protected].

    HTH
    Kryn
    To grow old is mandatory, growing up is optional.

Similar Threads

  1. Travelling steady for a B model Qualos
    By Metmachmad in forum METALWORK GENERAL
    Replies: 34
    Last Post: 2nd Sep 2011, 11:49 PM
  2. travelling steady
    By azzrock in forum THE HERCUS AREA
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 30th Dec 2010, 11:23 AM
  3. N.S.W. Hercus Vertical Milling Attachment Castings etc
    By Swarfmaker1 in forum METALWORK - Machinery, Equipment, MARKET
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 7th Dec 2010, 10:13 AM
  4. wanted... 9inch Guard
    By yogie in forum METALWORK GENERAL
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 15th Dec 2007, 11:45 PM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •