Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge
Tool Rest
Mark Rapkins
>After a particularly bad catch, I broke the cast iron tool rest on my Jet lathe.
Any recommendations for a replacement? The Lee Valley et al systems look a bit flimsy - just a bar with a threaded hole that screws to the vertical post. If a bad catch will break a lump of cast iron, I'm not optimistic that a threaded T bar will last.
Re: Tool Rest
e
>a couple of ideas:
jet knows their tool rests break, so call them and ask for a replacement.
next: i use and really like the tool rests from best tool, especially since they are interchangeable with other lathes
http://www.store.yahoo.com/bestwoodtools/tbarmodtools.html
Re: Tool Rest
Russ Fairfield
>Cast Iron is brittle and easilly broken with an impact because it doesn't bend. The replacements are a piece of steel rod that will bend before it breaks.
Manufacturers use Cast Iron because it is cheaper, can be cast in shapes other than a round rod, and for the most part they can get away without too many of them breaking.
Even though it looks like Cast Iron, some of the higher priced lathes use a Malleable Iron that is stronger, and can absorb greater impact loads than Cast Iron without breaking.
Re: Tool Rest
Bill Howatt
>I don't have the LV rest but there is a huge difference in the resistance to breaking between steel and cast-iron. Cast is very brittle and a sharp shock as you are aware can break it.
Bill
Re: Tool Rest
Mark Kauder, Phenix City, AL
>Mark,
I am a huge fan of Jet, but I always tell people that there are two kinds of Jet Users (especially with the Mini) - those that have broken tool rests and those that will.
I broke mine about 1 year into ownership. At the time, I bought the Woodcraft modular 6' tool rest, and still use it occasionally 3 years later. About 2 years ago, I bought the first of my Best Wood Tools modular rest. I now own4-5 of them, and love them. I highly recommend them.
Mark
Re: Tool Rest *LINK*
Sean Troy
>These are great tool rests in my opinion. Good luck, sean
http://www.woodturningtools.net
Re: Tool Rest
dick mcneill
>I use the Lee Valley steel tool rest system & am very satisfied. I originally used them on my Delta midi but bought some new posts when I got my Jet 1442. Now I can use my "S" bowl rest, 4", 6", 9" and flat box tool rests on both lathes. Incidently I encounter some tremendous catches from time to time.
Re: Tool Rest
GeeSeaWhy
>I use the LV system on my Nova DVR. The only thing I don't like is the bowl rest - only rarely can I position it well and the round bar prevents the tool support from getting real close to the wood. The Best Wood system looks to be a bit more versatile. I don't think you'll have any problem with breaking or bending rests with either of these systems.
Graeme