For years, the eighth graders in my woodworking class have wanted to turn baseball bats. I’ve always put them off because the small diameter of the bat’s handle invariably results in whipping and chattering, especially at the hands of an inexperienced turner. I licked the problem by making the steady rest shown here out of skateboard wheels, threaded rod and a couple of scraps of hardwood. The urethane plastic skateboard wheels can be bought for less than $15 a pair.

To use the steady rest, turn a cylinder, then tighten the steady rest in place with both wheels riding ahead of the handle. Turn the bat to shape, except the area right near the steady rest. My students spokeshave this area off, then sand and finish their bats.

Paul Damato, Morristown, N.J.

Fine Woodworking Magazine, October 1987 No. 66

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