long tool rest for woodlathe

[Drillit]

Hello All,
I am looking for some advice and information on extended tool rests for large bowl work.
I am thinkiing of a 500mm rest with a 1" post welded about 100mm from the lathe end. I
think that I will have to have one made up? So thickness of steel plate is relevant as is
angle cut for the tool to slide. I dont know about the long spindle rest and only using one tool rest
for the big bowls. Thanks, Drillit.

[Alby123]

Hi what I have done in the past was to use 12mm thick flat bar 75mm wide. That will give you enough thickness to grind/cut the angle on one edge, then when the post are welded on ensure that they are positioned accurately 90deg to the tool rest edge.
Cheers Alby

[RETIRED]

The problem is going to be eliminating vibration.

If I read it properly you will have approx. 400mm hanging off a 1" post. Anything over 200mm is asking for trouble.

It is not only the leverage the rest has on the post but also the banjo.

You just about have to start the design at the banjo and strengthen that and work your way up to the tool rest with a larger pin etc.

Even then eliminating vibration is hard work.

[Ross]

Is it possible to have a second banjo and post set up?

Ross

[Paul39]

Hello All,
I am looking for some advice and information on extended tool rests for large bowl work.
I am thinkiing of a 500mm rest with a 1" post welded about 100mm from the lathe end. I
think that I will have to have one made up? So thickness of steel plate is relevant as is
angle cut for the tool to slide. I dont know about the long spindle rest and only using one tool rest
for the big bowls. Thanks, Drillit.

Drillit,

Have a look here at some of the pretty stout banjos and tool rests:

https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&sugexp=les%3B&gs_rn=1&gs_ri=hp&tok=4IX6dCBuN3Poj3M_O0Qi-A&cp=7&gs_id=1dd&xhr=t&q=big+bowl&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&bvm=bv.41524429,d.dmg&biw=853&bih=484&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=fyIHUdWcMqm10AGZhYH4Cw#um=1&hl=en&tbo=d&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=big+bowl+on+lathe&oq=big+bowl+on+lathe&gs_l=img.12...26408.30242.0.32716.9.9.0.0.0.0.118.924.5j4.9.0...0.0...1c.1.YnFxOkKLrnA&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&bvm=bv.41524429,d.dmQ&fp=2a7c1e22dce10d4e&biw=853&bih=484&imgrc=Bvk1BzGoLXcuIM%3A%3BwxPaNsv0cIKjUM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.woodworkersresource.com%252Fimage%252FLatheLarge.JPG%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.woodworkersresource.com%252Fcontent%252Fdr_clay_crowder%252F%3B500%3B334

Here is a lathe in Philip Moulthrop's studio. Ed Moulthrop made 5 foot, 1.5 meter diameter pieces, possibly on this lathe:

http://chattahoocheewoodturners.com/images/stories/Articles/Moulthrop/Moulthrop-20120519-9760.jpg

http://chattahoocheewoodturners.com/images/stories/Articles/Moulthrop/Moulthrop-20120519-9778.jpg

Studio Photos: Philip Moulthrop Studio Tour - May 2012 (http://chattahoocheewoodturners.com/articles/105-moulthrop-tour)

I have an interest in big bowls and keep buying bigger laths, (up to 28 inch, 711mm swing at the moment) so do a lot of looking at what folks have built. I have never seen a photo of as long a tool rest for bowls as you want.

My 20 inch swing Woodfast has a normal give or take 250mm tool rest which I find perfectly satisfactory.

I agree with above. That is a lot of leverage. A broken off tool rest, banjo and all caught up in a turning bowl could get very messy.

Edit, here is a good stout banjo and tool rest, probably not as long as you want:

http://www.oneway.ca/lathes/images/big_outboard.jpg

Oneway tool rest $181.95, & banjo $313.95

More big lathes: http://www.statelinewoodturners.com/files/UpgradeYourLathe.pdf

[BobL]

I'm no big bowl turner but at that length wouldn't it be better/easier to just have the tool rest also supported on a floor stand or coming off the lathe base which is usually wider than the bed?

[Drillit]

Hello All,
Thank you for all your advice and info. If I understand you correctly Ian,
are you saying a heavier post at the welded joint say 2" then reduce
to 1" to fit the post hole? I was thinking about 8" (200)mm) from top of rest to bottom of post.
If I did that and reduced the overhang by repositionig the post at say 250 that would reduce the overhang to 350.
But as you say still a lot of weight at the outer end and capacity to vibrate. Maybe I then need to look at Alby's option of floor to rest support at the long end.
I will look at some further options. Alby if you have any photos/comments of your extended rest, I am sure we would all be grateful to see. Drillit.

[Drillit]

Paul 39,
Thanks for the information. I now have had time to look at all those references.
I think the outboard is adequate. It is as Ian says the vibration at the extremity
and the strength of the tool post and the banjo. I will revisit and take some further advice
when I have a firmer proposition. Drillit.





Drillit,

Have a look here at some of the pretty stout banjos and tool rests:

https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&sugexp=les%3B&gs_rn=1&gs_ri=hp&tok=4IX6dCBuN3Poj3M_O0Qi-A&cp=7&gs_id=1dd&xhr=t&q=big+bowl&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&bvm=bv.41524429,d.dmg&biw=853&bih=484&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=fyIHUdWcMqm10AGZhYH4Cw#um=1&hl=en&tbo=d&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=big+bowl+on+lathe&oq=big+bowl+on+lathe&gs_l=img.12...26408.30242.0.32716.9.9.0.0.0.0.118.924.5j4.9.0...0.0...1c.1.YnFxOkKLrnA&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&bvm=bv.41524429,d.dmQ&fp=2a7c1e22dce10d4e&biw=853&bih=484&imgrc=Bvk1BzGoLXcuIM%3A%3BwxPaNsv0cIKjUM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.woodworkersresource.com%252Fimage%252FLatheLarge.JPG%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.woodworkersresource.com%252Fcontent%252Fdr_clay_crowder%252F%3B500%3B334

Here is a lathe in Philip Moulthrop's studio. Ed Moulthrop made 5 foot, 1.5 meter diameter pieces, possibly on this lathe:

http://chattahoocheewoodturners.com/images/stories/Articles/Moulthrop/Moulthrop-20120519-9760.jpg

http://chattahoocheewoodturners.com/images/stories/Articles/Moulthrop/Moulthrop-20120519-9778.jpg

Studio Photos: Philip Moulthrop Studio Tour - May 2012 (http://chattahoocheewoodturners.com/articles/105-moulthrop-tour)

I have an interest in big bowls and keep buying bigger laths, (up to 28 inch, 711mm swing at the moment) so do a lot of looking at what folks have built. I have never seen a photo of as long a tool rest for bowls as you want.

My 20 inch swing Woodfast has a normal give or take 250mm tool rest which I find perfectly satisfactory.

I agree with above. That is a lot of leverage. A broken off tool rest, banjo and all caught up in a turning bowl could get very messy.

Edit, here is a good stout banjo and tool rest, probably not as long as you want:

http://www.oneway.ca/lathes/images/big_outboard.jpg

Oneway tool rest $181.95, & banjo $313.95

More big lathes: http://www.statelinewoodturners.com/files/UpgradeYourLathe.pdf

[Tim the Timber Turner]

I use a Oneway camlock on my VL300.

Simply the best camlock because the locking cam is always located between the bedways.

This is driven by a square bar that runs the length of the camlock.

The Oneway design eliminates the flex in the round bar used in other designs.

2 downsides for me.

1: I had to rebore the post hole from 1" to 30mm.

2: They are bloody heavy, just about need 2 hands to reposition.

Cheers

Tim:)

[Drillit]

Hello All,
Again thanks for your advice. I have also consulted good friend John Ewart
and I have decided to go with the 15" (375) rest with the long tool post (1").
I have remeasured the "slide" on the banjo of the outboard which will give me
about an extra 75 mm, so that will have to do, given that I am otherwise limited to 800mm
diameter for the swing. I am looking to make other arrangements for the round coffee table job at 900mm as a
one off (monteray pine). Ian - John confirms your position about vibration at the extremity. Drillit.

[Paul39]

Hello All,
I am looking to make other arrangements for the round coffee table job at 900mm as a
one off (monteray pine). Ian - John confirms your position about vibration at the extremity. Drillit.

AHH!, now that long a tool rest makes perfect sense.

For a one off, you could make a tool rest like a saw horse with a stout piece of hard timber across the top. Make it long enough to clear the coffee table on the sides, with a shelf down low to put on some weight.

Bevel the timber on the side toward you. You could put a piece of steel angle on the top so that the tools would slide easier. Below is a sketch. The lower side view version would not have to be so long because there are no legs going toward the lathe.

I would make it the height of the spindle center. Move it back a bit to let your scraper angle down for final scraping in the trailing position.

[Tim the Timber Turner]

One tip that I've used when hanging a toolrest way out, is to cut a 3 x 2 and prop it under the toolrest and down to the floor.

This helps take the bounce/vibration out of the overhanging toolrest and camlock.

This works better if your lathe is bolted down to the floor.

Cheers

Tim:)

[Drillit]

Paul39,
Many thanks for your advice. Much appreciated and sensible.
Drillit.













AHH!, now that long a tool rest makes perfect sense.

For a one off, you could make a tool rest like a saw horse with a stout piece of hard timber across the top. Make it long enough to clear the coffee table on the sides, with a shelf down low to put on some weight.

Bevel the timber on the side toward you. You could put a piece of steel angle on the top so that the tools would slide easier. Below is a sketch. The lower side view version would not have to be so long because there are no legs going toward the lathe.

I would make it the height of the spindle center. Move it back a bit to let your scraper angle down for final scraping in the trailing position.

[robo hippy]

For a bowl rest, it depends on how deep you want to go. The curved bar tool rest from Oneway works okay, but when you are out on the tip, it bounces a bit. Rest is about 1/2 inch wide by 1 1/4 inch high. If you make a custom one, eliminating vibration is a problem. Sure, having a larger post is part of it, 1 inch compared to 1 1/2 inch or so can make a difference. Probably most important is how much support under the bar is huge. With the Oneway, if they welded the support finger from their coring system under the main bar, the vibration would be eliminated. With the under support, you need to angle it away from the inside of the bowl say in the same angle as a 20 inch diameter bowl rim would make. This allows you to keep it closer to the wood rather than having to dangle way out there. Another point is the support finger needs to be welded to the post, say 3 inch minimum for being able to reach out more than 12 inches off the banjo. This can be a problem if your banjo is really high, as in close to center height. So, a bunch of 'it depends' on solutions. My favorite is the Robust inside bowl rest. Biggest problem with it is that it is bent/cut on a 12 inch diameter bowl shape. A bit tighter than I prefer. I will see if I can get a link up here for it. I had to back track a bit.

Robust Comfort Tool Rests, Low Profile Tool Rests and Mini Rests, all with hardened steel bar (http://www.turnrobust.com/Robust_Tool_Rests.html)

robo hippy

[Drillit]

Thanks robo hippy. I am familiar with the comfort robust site - but I will give more thought to the angled tool rest. Drillit.