Thread: cast iron or steel tool rests

I had the same problem with cast iron gear with my lathe. My brother made me some awesome stainless steel chucks at work for my lathe and it has never been better.

I have just mad up a couple of straight rests using bar for my MSL-3815.

They work great.
I have some bar left over, the next challange is bowl rests.

Thought of fabricating the "s" types but I am a bit unsure of the dimensions/ raduis of bends to give to the workshop who will bend the 7/8" bar.


Any contructive suggestions ??

Thnaks

Rob

In my humble Safety inclined opinion......

Stick with the Cast Iron for it performed the exact way it was intended. When you had a great miscalulation, it assumed the responsibility and gave of itself in order to protect you. Had not the rest sacraficed itself, who knows what damage a broken tool or broken operater may have experienced. There must always be a weak link between the machine and the operator. A steel rest made to take the blow would have passed off that sudden inpact and through the physics of leverage the tool would have multiplied the force and handed it to you, the operator. Is your flesh ready to accept that challenge?

Having said that.....

I too like Steel toolrests that can be made to conform to the work shape, can be made smaller to reach inside the delicate pieces, but these should be reserved for the finishing cuts where "Catches" and "Snags" are not as likely to occur.

Get youself a new Cast iron Rest for roughing and large bowls as well as spindle turning. Also get some steel rod (I use a long 3/4" bolt from the Hardware store & 1/2" steel rod) and have a local shop (or friend if you don't have a welder) attach a cross bar. Make several of different shapes and sizes for the cost of one from the WWing store.

But use the cast iron rest for your own protection during the roughing stages. Well worth the investment.

Originally Posted by hingston

Thought of fabricating the "s" types but I am a bit unsure of the dimensions/ raduis of bends to give to the workshop who will bend the 7/8" bar.


Any contructive suggestions ??

Personally, I like a 1" straight to each side of the riser, with a 90° arc of 2" radius on one end and a 45° arc of 4" radius on the other. But that's for the size of things (and way) that I turn.

Hi Hingston,

The sky's the limit with curved rests.

I've got a collection made to the design of a prof. turner. If you have a fax pm me your number and I'll trace some shapes out for you. Are you interested in C's as well as S's?

Hingston,
it pretty much as Ern has said, There are no right or wrong shapes its what you need or fancy.
I have a couple of S bend type of different radii, C shaped etc. Its what ever you can imagine and the need for a different shape.
Like Ern I have also several shapes etc that I can fax/email etc to you if you like.
Do a search of the forum as there are a few pics already available.

hughie