Quote Originally Posted by Rich View Post
If you take it steady and slow then the out of balance forces won't be too serious. Anyway, it wouldn't be too difficult to mount a balance weight opposing the breech block, much as one might add a balance weight if turning a component fixed to the faceplate.
Slow and steady is fine for screwcutting, but what about turning down to size and crowning, etc,? Btw, slow and steady is all my treadle lathe does!

How would you calculate the weight needed to counterbalance? (it's a bit like a pound of flesh type calculation, surely?)

3 jaw chuck and shims or 4 jaw chuck (which I don't have) is easiest, surely?...it holds the breechblock securely so that the offset mass of breechblock makes very little difference.