Follower Rest on a 9x20 Bench Lathe: Setup and Turning Guide
By Products for bench top machinists | LittleMachineShop.com | Published: 2026-11-02
Category: How-to Guides
Learn how to set up and adjust a follower rest on your 9x20 bench lathe for turning long shafts. Step-by-step guidance, common mistakes, and when to choose a steady rest instead.
Quick answer
Mount the follower rest on the carriage just behind the cutting tool, adjust its jaws to lightly contact the workpiece, and move it with the tool along the shaft. Use a follower rest for long, slender shafts that would otherwise deflect; use a steady rest for shorter work that needs support at a fixed point.
When a follower rest beats a steady rest
A follower rest travels with the carriage, so it supports the work directly opposite the cutting tool and prevents deflection as the tool moves. That makes it the better choice for turning long shafts where the unsupported length changes continuously. A steady rest stays in one spot, so it suits shorter work or operations like drilling and threading where the tool doesn't travel far.
If your workpiece is short enough that a steady rest can be placed near the cut, you may not need a follower rest at all. But for shafts that extend well beyond the chuck, the follower rest keeps the work rigid right where the cutting forces act.
Fitting the follower rest to your lathe
The follower rest must match your lathe's carriage mounting pattern and swing. The HiTorque 9x20 and SIEG SC50 are common 9x20 variants, but carriage details can differ between machines. Check the compatibility information for your specific lathe before ordering, and confirm the maximum work diameter the rest can support—for the LittleMachineShop follower rest, that's 2.2 inches.
Step-by-step follower rest setup and use
- Mount the rest on the carriage: Bolt the follower rest to the carriage using the supplied hardware, positioning it just behind the cutting tool holder. Make sure the jaws are clear of the chuck and the cross slide can move freely. Check that the rest does not interfere with the carriage travel or the tailstock before proceeding.
- Set the jaw contact: With the workpiece mounted and the lathe off, bring each jaw into light contact with the work surface. Adjust until you feel a slight drag when rotating the chuck by hand—too tight will score the work and overload the motor; too loose will let the shaft deflect. Use a piece of paper as a feeler gauge between jaw and work for consistent light contact.
- Lubricate the contact points: Apply a drop of way oil or cutting fluid to the jaw tips where they meet the workpiece. Reapply as needed during the cut, especially when turning long shafts on a lathe. Dry jaws can gall the workpiece and cause vibration; keep them lubricated.
- Take a test cut and adjust: Start with a light cut and observe the finish and any chatter. If the finish is poor or vibration appears, stop the lathe and readjust the jaws—often a quarter turn tighter or looser makes the difference. Listen for a steady hum; intermittent squealing usually means the jaws are too loose or too tight.
- Turn the full length: Engage the carriage feed and let the follower rest travel with the tool along the shaft. Keep a consistent feed rate and watch that the jaws stay in contact with the work throughout the pass. If the shaft diameter changes along the length, you'll need to readjust the jaws mid-cut or use a different support method.
Product facts
- Follower Rest, 9x20 Bench Lathe: Fits HiTorque 9x20 and SIEG SC50 bench lathes and supports work up to 2.2 inches in diameter. This gives you a concrete size limit and machine fit to check before you buy, so you can avoid a rest that won't mount or handle your shaft diameter.
Follower Rest, 9x20 Bench Lathe
