I used to play guitar, for about 22 years, until I got arthritis in my fingers, and about 18 years ago I had to stop. About 3 or 4 years ago, the idea occurred to me I might be able to play the pedal steel guitar. Unfortunately, the cost is way beyond my means. So, being a machinist, I decided to build one. I purchased Gluck's plans, sort of helpful, a little. I spent untold hours looking at pictures, trying to see into the mechanism of the thing, how it works. Up to this day I have only seen pictures of pedal steel guitars, I've never touched one or been around one. I looked at all the possibilities, and finally decided on my design. Basically, I wanted my guitar to be able to play full chords, I'm not so interested in playing country music. So, I wanted to be able to play major, minor, 7th, minor 7th, and major 7th chords. My final design does not play M7 chords, but does everything else I wanted it to. It has a mellow sound, not bright or 'hot', due to the kind of pickup I used, and it's placement farther away from the bridge.
Anyway, here are some pictures. I am about ready to tear it all apart again, and finish the wood, buff the aluminum. So it looks rough and unfinished. The fingerboard is just sitting on the top, as I plan to make a wood fretted fingerboard, or a brass fingerboard with frets (I think brass against the silver aluminum will look nice.)
The unique design of rockers for the pedals, and one tuning rod per finger, that both will push or pull (lower or raise)
In the following pic, you can see the small bearings I used, at each joint. In the changer fingers, I also used the same bearings.
I can raise or lower the notes. I have tuned the guitar to open E, from high to low: E - G# - E - B - G# - E. Pedal 1 lowers G# strings to G for a minor chord. Pedal 2 raises G string to A. Pedal 3 raises B to C#. Pressing pedals 2 and 3 gives me a IV chord, so I have the 'I - IV' chord progression. Pedal 2 alone gives me a 4th note in the chord. Pedal 4 lowers middle E to D for a 7th chord.
I've got hours of playing on it since last week when I finished it. It seems to hold it's tuning well. Getting the string stops right is a trick, and tuning two G# strings together to lower or raise exactly perfect is a trick to, but is doing well. My problem is getting the bar on the strings exactly right for the chords.
I was never a professional musician. Basically, I used to play guitar in small Christian group meetings. That's why I wanted to be able to strum or pick. I can't get those finger pick things to stay on my fingers, so, I just use a regular guitar pick, or strum with my fingers.
I have a Youtube channel, elektrolumens (I manufacture and sell flashlights for a living, hence the name elektrolumens), and I'll post a video of me playing my guitar some time soon. I just play simple songs, not professional at all by any means, and the songs I'll record will be Christian songs. Maybe I'll do some standards everyone knows, like 'Amazing Grace' and 'Just As I Am', something like that.
I wonder how many former guitar players there are, who, like me, had to stop because of arthritis, carpel tunnel, or something like that?
W. Johnson
I think that you did a GREAT job building that guitar! Especially considering that you've never been around steel guitars before. It's very impressive. I've been playing steel for about 15 years and I also do steel guitar repair work. I'm a mechanic (to a degree)and I love to tinker with things. On one steel that I have, I Redesigned the three foot petals, relocated three of the knee levers, and added a flag to one knee lever. This alone took many hours so I can only imagine at the time that you have invested in making your guitar. I am not a machinist and only have simple hand tools to work with, but I've always wanted to build a steel guitar. Since you're a machinist, and I like to tinker,if we were neighbors, I'd worry you to death! 
A person with your equiptment and skills could be very valuable to me! 
Again, I think the guitar looks great and I applaud you for your effort. 
I would have liked to hear it, but the YouTube video's volume is so low it makes virtually no sound on my monitor. 
