Hi Dave, Please don't turn if you are taking any anti depressants or
mood elevating beverages for your incipient depression.


It may not matter with balusters, but with very thin long rods, goblets,
etc. driving the blank with a chuck instead of a spur seems to help
prevent bowing. probably by compressing longitudinal fibers.


You've gotten some much better tips, but since you have already bought
the Sorby steady rest you might like to make a 'turtle' to use with it.
Nothing more than a short piece of black iron pipe, say 2 in. length X 2
in. diam. Drill and thread 3 holes around the circumference for three
3/8 or so bolts to bear against the middle of the wood blank. Adjust the
bolts to center the blank in the pipe and lock the bolts with two nuts
each. Then let the Sorby rollers ride on the round pipe avoiding the
bolt heads. Turn an adjacent section of the blank to round, remove the
turtle and use the steady while completing the baluster. Hope my
description isn't too confusing.


Turn to Safety, Arch
Fortiter


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