tool rest question

Re: tool rest question

robo hippy

Robust lathe tools. I am sure Brent will have one with a post that short, or you can make it shorter yourself.

robo hippy

Re: tool rest question

john Lucas

My favorite rests are made by Robust and Bestwoodtools. Either one should fit your needs.

Re: tool rest question

Lyle Jamieson

If you do any hollowing, take a look at my tool rest with the threaded post. This was designed for hollowing to get the fine adjustments in tool height when you clean up in the bottom and fight with the nub. It is 9 inches long and versatile for most turning, where the 12 inch gets in its own way. The threaded post is nice because you keep the height setting you want when you move the tool rest around in bowls etc.

Re: tool rest question

Gbalock

I agree on the Robust tool rests. I would avoid rests that are completely round. They put tool fulcrum farther away from the work than a rest like the Robust rest does. This is particlrly important if you are using small cross section tools.

Re: tool rest question

don stephan

You may find quite a range of top edges to support the tool, some closer to the work and some further away (round top). If you are comfortable with your 12" you might look for the same brand or very similar style first.

Not really

John C Lucas

I used to think so but it depends on how close you get the too rest to the piece. If you put the tool on the rest you have to be on the unground part of the tool, not on the bevel. If you look at the actual fulcrum point. You will see that the tool is supported the same distance away. Granted you can get the Robust rest closer but actually have to back it off so the bevel of the tool.isnt on it. The easiest to visualize is the parting tool. It's pretty obvios you don't want the ground portion or what we call the bevel to be on the tool rest.

Like i said i thought the round tool rests were a problem also until i actually owned one and really looked at how you use them

Re: Not really

John C Lucas

I should clarify. Im comparing a 3/4" round bar to my Robust. When turning a deep cove on a spindle ideally the Robust would be closer but your peobably talking about 1/4" or less when you actually measure from the point where the solid part of the tool sits on the rest. When using the spindle gouge or bowl gouge that poi t would be almost identical. When using the skew or tueni g a cove.in theory the Robust would be closer bjt the difference is really small. I use my Bestwoodtools toolrest alternatively with my custom made Robust and the only difference is how mh hand raps around them to steady the spindle. Cant feel.any difference in chatter.

Pros and ckns of round bar tool rests

John C Lucas

First the pros. You can rotate them around. My favorite is a 9" round that has an off center tool post. Great fkr bowls. I can rotate it one way so the long end stocks inside the bowl deeper or i can flip it around to use the short side when that works best. My curved rest is similar. I can use the same rest inside or outside a bowl by simply rotating it. I have one that has the tool post off center. Again you can rotate it eather way. This can halp you get the banjo out of the way for certain cuts or projects.

Cons. The tool rest that omes with many lathes are designed to stick out far enough that the front edge is in the same location as the banjo. So when turning a platter you can ha e this edge very close to the wood. On 3/4" round bars on my Powermatic you need the rest almost an inch away. Not so much of a problem on my midi lathe because the banjo is thinner. I have a Robust thin or mini tool rest with a 1" tool post that is my favorite rest because i can reach my fingers around it to support thin turnings. However i cant put it close to platters.for the same reason. The full size Robust rests stick forward faf enough this isnt much of a problem.

I like to use a pull cut with the handle very low. Thks can be a problem on my factory rests because tilted angle is not great enough. On round bar rests as you lower the handle your moving the fulcrum point to the side of the bar away from the wood which means the supporting point is further away. This is where the Robust design really excels.

The way i cut most of the time tool chatter isnt a problem very often. When your turning way out on the end of the tool rest the big Robust is stronger tban the 1" round bars bjt i find proper tool.control and taking the time go move the rest closer to the wood eliminates this most of the time.

There are probably other things but im away from my lathe and taking turns sitting in the hospital with my dad so my brain probably isnt all there and typing on my phone is soooo much fun. Still Woodcentral and other forums are keeping me sane. Other wise I'd have to read news about Hillary and Trump and even the drugs my Dad.is on wouldnt help .

Re: Not really

Lyle Jamieson

The round rest is not good for me, two of the four cuts I do have the handle down.

Re: Not really

John C Lucas

I guess i turned so long on either poorly made factory rests or homemade round bar rests that they are just no big deal to use . For spindles and boxes i really don't miss the Robust style rest. Same is trje with hollowing. Where i like the Robust is bowls and platters. Especially roughing them.

Re: tool rest question

Joe Meirhaeghe

You may also want to check out Advanced Lathe Tools tool rest if your looking for a Heavy duty tool rest with a hardened rod top. This is what I've been using for about the last 8 yrs or so.

Re: tool rest question

John K Jordan

Rick,

Do you know anyone with a welder and metal-working tools? A tool rest is pretty easy to make. I have one made from a 1" rod, a short piece of 2x3 angle iron turned with the long side vertical, and a piece of 1/4" steel rod welded to the top edge of the angle iron for the tool to slide on. This can be put very close to the work if desired. You can make one any length.

I made one for one of my smaller lathes by simply welding a horizontal round rod to the top of a vertical rod.

I also have a very nice short tool rest made with a thick piece of steel (maybe 1/2" thick) angled towards the work and beveled to make the top edge nearly horizontal. It is one of my favorite short rests.

You can also take a long tool rest and cut the ends off to make it shorter. This is a 30 second job with a plasma cutter (one of my favorite tools!)

JKJ

Re: tool rest question

Justin Stephen

When I turned on my Delta midi, I bought a Robust toolrest based on the advice of others and it immediately became my favorite rest and I used it almost exclusively until I upgraded by lathe. The rest that came with my 3520B is very similar in basic design to the Robust rests and I have found that I am quite content with it and have never felt the need to upgrade. I suppose that it will eventually get dinged up enough that I replace it and, when I do, it will probably be with a Robust.

Re: tool rest question

Julian

Making your own tool rest is a much cheaper option. I find that a 6" tool rest is a very useful accessory.