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Tool rest

Posts

Tool rest

#1

Tool rest

John Lucas

>I need to build a new tool rest for my Powermatic. When I'm doing ornament finials I need to wrap my hand around the tool rest and push on the finial to keep the chatter under control. The powermatic tool rest keeps my tool close to the work but it's so thick I can't get my hand around it.

My Bestwood tool rest is thin enough to wrap my hand around but the tool hangs over the rest about 1/2" or more. Not bad on 3/8" tools but 1/4" tools will try to vibrate.

It's not unusable. I turned 12 finials today but it sure would be easier with the right tool rest.

I think I need something like the Oneway rest that comes with the 1224. It's angled so the tool rests very close to the work but is thin enough to get your hand around. Does that have a 1" tool post? Does anyone have a better idea?

Re: Tool rest

#2

Leo Van Der Loo

Re: Tool rest

Leo Van Der Loo

>John, I made one, all it takes is a 3 or 4" piece of 1" cold rolled steel and a piece of 1 1/2 or 2" X 1/4" flat bar, 6 or 7" long, set it on top and weld it on at aprox 50 degree angle and grind away whatever sticks out, I also cut and ground the bottem corners away, with this rest I am as close as 1/4" from the turning and if I would take the top front edge off some, I would be even closer, if you want I can post a pic.

Have fun and take care

Leo V

Re: Tool rest

#3

Re: Tool rest

MP Wall

>Leo

I have been thinking about doing the same thing and would like to see a pic of your rest if I could. Email to mpwall@pcbb.net if you would, thanks.

MP Wall

Re: Tool rest

#4

Re: Tool rest

Jerry Whitaker

>Leo, please post it on this site so we can all see it....I am interested in it too.

Re: Tool rest

#5

Leo Van Der Loo

Re: Tool rest

Leo Van Der Loo

>Tool rest frontal view


img

Re: Tool rest

#6

Leo Van Der Loo

Re: Tool rest

Leo Van Der Loo

>Side view


img

Re: Tool rest

#7

Re: Tool rest

Edward

>Thanks for the pics Leo. Did you do the welding yourself or did you get someone else to do it.

Edward

Re: Tool rest

#8

Leo Van Der Loo

Re: Tool rest

Leo Van Der Loo

>All home made, I do have a small Lincoln stick welder and am still able to do some welding even so eyesight isn't what it used to be and have to rest my arm also to be steady, used to be a very good welder, I,ve welded all kinds of material and sizes, the GM diesel locomotives where the biggest, and not much fun, did that only for a few monts while I was new in the country here, I was born and raised in Holland, served 2 years in the navy, saw some action in New Guinea in ,62 and came to Canada in ,67

Retired for a couple of years now and having fun.

Take care

Leo V

Re: Tool rest

#9

Re: Tool rest

John Lucas

>Leo

That's what I had in mind only I would make 2 changes. Since this will only be used for small work it doesn't have to stick out as far as the banjo so I would make it out of narrower stock, probably 1".

The other change is to grind to top turface straight down, perpendicular to the bed. this would support the tool right up to the workpiece. I would round it over slightly. If I use tool steel I'll probably try to harden to top surface.

The other thing I thought about was offsetting the tool post about an inch or so down the shaft. This would let to front edge of the horizontal bar clear the banjo just in case you wanted to use this for a bowl. I think what I have in mind would be to flimsy for bowls but I'm planning on using it for thin spindles.

Re: Tool rest

#10

Re: Tool rest

Phil Joines Krum, Texas

>John,

I made a rest like you describe. It's 5" long, used 1/4" x 3/4" because there was a piece of it in the drawer. Plenty stiff enough for small spindles. The bar is welded strait up with the top rear edge ground back at an angle.

Re: Tool rest

#11

Leo Van Der Loo

Re: Tool rest

Leo Van Der Loo

>John, yes for spindle turning that would be all right, if you have enough clearance above your banjo.

Have fun and take care

Leo V