Tool Rests

[wizer]

Right well I'm really missing turning and lovingly looking at pictures of my new lathe. Pining if you will.

Anyway. I've really got used to having 10 tool rests and the new one only has 2 (I think).

I wondered what to look for in a tool rest? The round bar ones that I had before seemed to be my faves.

What do you guys think?

 

[johnny.t.]

I've only got one!!! Its a foot long and causes great inconvienience sometimes. I keep meaning to buy some of those round bar ones but when I have spare cash to spend on turning, theres always something that seems a higher priority...

JT

 

[Scrums]

I like the Robert Sorby round bar system - only problem I find is that if you've got one of the longer bars in and you're giving it a bit of welly with the roughing gouge, it will unscrew itself.

But the 4" is great for up close and personal detail work.

Chris.

 

[stevebuk]

i echo what JT has said, mine is about a foot long and gets in the way sometimes, but is good when getting inside a bowl so cant complain.
i have never used anything else so i dont know which i would prefer really, but probably have a go with a short round one.

 

[dickm]

I've never tried the round ones, but always wondered if they might be a problem if you want to get minimal clearance between the rest and the tip of the tool. Presumably you can't get the pivot point for the tool closer than a bit more than the radius of the bar?

 

[Richard Findley]

10 tool rests :!: :!: :!: :!: and you need those because....... :?: :?: :?:

2 is really all you need. Your standard 12" and a shorter 6" for those smaller jobs.

I've used those round ones and the main reasons I don't like them have already been highlighted: They unscrew themselves :evil: :evil: :evil: and you can't get truely close to the work (although this isn't a massive problem once you realise it's there!) The only advantage to them (as far as I can tell) is that they are very hard and smooth meaning they are hard to dent and the tool slides over them well.

Curved rests are a bit of a gimick and I'm struggling to think of many more...... 10!!!???? Blimey :-s :wink: :lol:

Richard

 

[SVB]

I have 3:

1 x 300 mm
1 x 100 mm
1 x 'phil irons style' gate rest for hollowing.

How did you end up with 10 Tom? :roll:

Simon

 

[Blister]

Right well I'm really missing turning and lovingly looking at pictures of my new lathe. Pining if you will.

Anyway. I've really got used to having 10 tool rests and the new one only has 2 (I think).

I wondered what to look for in a tool rest? The round bar ones that I had before seemed to be my faves.

What do you guys think?

Tom :wink:


I have * Loads * of round bar Sorby rests , Depends how many EXTRAS you want with the BIG RED MACHINE :lol:

 

[tekno.mage]

I like the short Sorby round bar tool rests. I've got the 4", 6" and the box scraper platform and have never had any trouble with any of them unscrewing themselves in use. They are very hard and smooth and pick up fewer scratches and nicks in use than the 12" rest that came with my lathe. Of course another benefit is that if you change your lathe in future you only need to change the Sorby toolrest post to continue using your old Sorby rests.

tekno.mage

 

[wizer]

I didn't use all 10 rests but I probably rotated 5 or 6 regularly. They were differing lengths and thicknesses and shapes. I had one curved rest which I never got on with.

Blister: I didn't think you had more rests for the BRM. Surely they'll be part of the deal ??? :lol:

Not long now. Dad got back last night. I'm waiting before I break the news...

 

[DaveL]

I have * Loads * of round bar Sorby rests

Any with a 25mm stem? I am looking for a shorter rest for my perform, for use when turning short stuff between centres or on pen mandrels.

 

[wizer]

30mm I think Dave

 

[CHJ]

Guys, get the hacksaws and files out and make them to your exact needs.

 

[loftyhermes]

My Record DML24 had only a 10" rest so I made up two of my own both about 5" long.

 

[Finial]

It depends what you are making. One is really all you need but for spindles I like a short one about 4 inches, the standard one and a long one. I have others but all but the standard are home made - two bits of bar welded together. I have one long one made out of an oak table leg with two supports (the normal holder at one end and a prop to the lathe bed at the other). Works fine.

 

[Jonzjob]

I just have the Record 10" and 4" cast iron rests. Every now and again when needed I just true them up with a 60 grit belt in my belt sander and they are good, true and slippery for the tools I use. I can get as close as I need to even for my 1/16th" spindle gouge and that scares the sh!t out of me if it ain't close enough!

They allow me to put a bit of masking tape on the back if I need to cut up and mark with a pencil and cusion lots of viabration to boot.

 

[DaveL]

Guys, get the hacksaws and files out and make them to your exact needs.

But I need the bits to hack up Chas, I was hoping to get one ready to use. I still have the pillar drill that needs a bit of hacking, I have I think all of the bits to fit it together now.

 

[CHJ]

...
But I need the bits to hack up Chas, I was hoping to get one ready to use. ...

Metal stock and your hobby time are cheaper Dave (hammer)