Home made tool rests

[Tiger]

Dear all,

I would like to make a couple of tool rests for my lathe. A small one and a large one. The one that came with the lathe is about a foot long, but I can't get in to do small work and with long spindle stuff I have to keep moving it along. As I don't have any 1 inch rod around, I was wondering if wood could replace the rod. I haven't heard of a wooden tool rest but it would be easy to make. If that is too frail, where would go to get some 1 inch rod from? Thanks for any responses.

[Toggy]

Tiger,

I have made a couple of smaller tool rests. 1 for the mc900 and another for the Jet mini. (after I tried to square up the slight kink in the cast one & broke it. Must fit a new shaft to the original one day)

The mc900 one was a 1" shaft, so I just used the shank off a 1" high tensile bolt I had lying around (too damned hard) with a a tapered 6" X 1.5" X 3/8" mild steel rest.

The one for the Jet was from 5/8" rod for both shaft & rest.

A half decent hardware shop will have 1" bolts & some flat mild steel>

Ken

[Tiger]

Thanks, Ken

Good idea, do you consider Bunnies a half decent hardware store as I can't remember seeing 1 inch bolts there.

Tiger

[RETIRED]

Tiger. The reason that most rests are 12" long is that you get vibration in the rest the further you get from the mounting pin.

If you have to do long work buy a new banjo and make a tool rest with 2 pins. You can go out to about 32" with fairly heavy rest made from rectangular bar about 30mm X 12mm not 1" rod.

Hope this helps.

[smidsy]

Tiger,
I looked in to doing this a while back.
My neighbour works for a steel supplier and he said the 1 inch / 25mm bar is only approximate size and would need to be machined if you need it exactly 25mm, so for an accurate size you would need to get some 25mm bolts from a specialist fastener supplier.

Carbatec sell replacement tool rests for the MC900 fairly cheap so maybe it would be an option to get one and cut it down.
Cheers
Paul

[Dean]

I had a shorter tool rest made (150mm) for turning pens on my MC900. They weren't readily available at the time but Vermec in Brisbane made me one up (ala Vicmarc quality) for $40 and it fits perfectly. Can get in nice and close now for the pen turning and for other smaller turning tasks.

[smidsy]

Carbatec at the moment have the 150mm tool rests for the MC900 on special for $19, for the agro of making one you might as well buy a couple and cut them to suit.

What I could really use is an S shaped tool rest, but the only one's I've seen is the Woodfast at around $120.
Anyone know what you'd pay for some rectangular bar?
Cheers
Paul

[Dean]

Well there ya go... $19, can't go wrong!

Smidsy... check this system out
http://www.onlinetoolreviews.com/reviews/sorbymodulartoolrest.htm

Sold by Mik in Adelaide - www.mik.com.au
A basic stem (which you use for all toolrest types in the system) and one curved toolrest is about $84 from Mik... You can buy the other attachable components as well once you have the stem. See the review above for more detailed explanation. (note that quoted prices int he review are in US dollars)

[rsser]

John Garcia makes custom rests - Anvil Products and Services, Crib Point, ph 5983 6063. S, C, T or whatever you want. Get Woodworking in Williamstown will also take orders for John inc. for sets of three in varying shapes and sizes that will save you a bit.

Also Vicmarc made up a straight 100mm rest for my 175 with the same profile as their standard jobs. Can't remember the $$ but wasn't unreasonable.

John also builds lathe stands to order.

[woodhog]

Wood would be ok for a foot powered lathe.
I personally don't want any broken or missing fingers if a homemade tool breaks.
If choosing wood, find wood that isn't so hard that it will snap like a hardened metal hand tap. And not so soft that it flexes like a bow for archery.
Thick metal absorbs vibrations.
Wood will resonate & transfer the vibrations to the cutting tools making them vibrate & chatter leaving a rougher surface.
Due to the high RPM of moterized modern lathes I highly suggest using solid metal. Hollow water pipe may eventually crack or bend easily. The pipe wall is thinnest where the threads are cut.
The cheapest & very strong metal for 1" tool posts is non threaded weight lifting barbell or dumbell typically found at garage sales & thrift stores for $ 2 - $6
Now all you need is a friend to weld 2 metal triangles to join the top & bottom post rod.
It will be the toughest tool post you have ever used.
All of your friends will be jealous asking where you got it.
Good luck.

[Skew ChiDAMN!!]

I've made and used wooden rests... and I much prefer steel ones. Wood dings too easily, making smooth cuts rather iffy and they've a nasty tendency to snap at the post. DAMHIKT. :-

Still, I won't hesitate to make another wooden one if I have the need and a shortage of time, especially for "one off" jobs. They work best & last longer when supported at both ends, either with a second banjo or the banjo in the middle and wooden blocks glued to each end that rest on the lathe bed and for even longer rests, I'd also place similar support blocks every 6" or so to minimise vibration.

[Sawdust Maker]

Vermec do a curvy one
here (http://vermec.tripod.com/PDFs/toolrests.pdf) is their whole specs and prices