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How to Use a Follow Rest

Guide · Updated October 28, 2026

A follow rest bolts to the lathe carriage and rides along with the tool, pushing back against the cutting force right where it happens. It is the tool for long, slender shafts and threading full-length rods that would otherwise bow away from the cutter.

Check the diameter

Mic the shaft at both ends and the middle to catch taper. Verify the mic against gage blocks first. The free Gage Block Calculator builds the stack.

Step by step

Choose the rest: Use a follow rest when the cut has to run the length of a slender part; use a steady rest when you need to work on the end of a long part.
Mount it: Bolt the follow rest to the saddle so the jaws sit just behind the tool, on the side of the cut that is already turned.
Support the work: Hold the work between centers, or in the chuck with the tailstock, so both ends are supported.
Turn a starting diameter: Turn a short length to finished size at the tailstock end so the jaws have a true surface to ride on.
Set the jaws: Bring the back jaw and the top jaw in until they just touch the turned diameter, then back off a hair and lock them.
Lubricate: Oil the jaw tips or use bronze or roller jaws so they do not gall or mark the work.
Make the pass: Feed the full length at the same depth; recheck jaw contact if the work heats up and grows.

Worked example

Turning a 3/8 in × 12 in rod down to 0.350 in. Between centers it chatters past 3 in from the chuck. Turn 1/2 in of length at the tailstock end to 0.350 in, set the follow rest jaws on that diameter right behind the tool, and feed toward the headstock at 0.003 in/rev. Mic at three points: 0.3502, 0.3501 and 0.3502 in, so the rod is straight within 0.0001 in instead of barrelling 0.003 in in the middle.

Follow rest vs steady rest

A steady rest bolts to the bed and stays put, supporting one spot on the part. A follow rest moves with the carriage, so support is always next to the tool. Many long jobs use both: the steady for the end work and the follow rest for the full-length cut.

Fixing problems

Chatter usually means the jaws are loose or set on an untrue surface. Taper or a spiral pattern means the jaws are too tight or the work grew from heat. Galling means the jaws need oil or a softer tip material.

Tips

Pair it: using a steady rest.
Long threads: cutting threads on a lathe.
Speeds: turning speeds and feeds.

FAQ

When do I need a follow rest?

When a part is longer than about 10–12 times its diameter and you must cut along its length.

Does the follow rest go before or after the tool?

Usually just behind the tool, riding on the freshly turned diameter.

Can I use a follow rest for threading?

Yes; it is the standard way to thread long, thin rods without them springing away.

What jaw material is best?

Bronze or brass tips, or rollers, to avoid marking the work.

Why is my part tapered with a follow rest?

The jaws are too tight, the part grew from heat, or the starting diameter was off.

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