When we are turning or threading parts on a lathe, especially longer, small diameter parts, chatter can become a serious problem. A little trick that I learned along the way is to take a piece of round stock, plastic or wooden dowel (the end of a broom handle works) and cut a vee in one end as shown in the picture below. As the cutting tool travels down the part and before it begins to chatter, take your dowel and gently press down on the part just enough to dampen the chatter. When the cutting tool approaches the end of the cut, you can remove the dowel. You will be like a human follow rest. This is quite simple and it works excellent!

                                      

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