Thread: New tool rest for penmaking

Neat idea mate.

Just wondering how comfortable it is to work with.

Very neat idea, well done

Some questions:

What size bar, ie width and thickness?

Does what looks like an Allen screw get in the way? Wouldn't it have been better to place that on the back?

How deep is the slot in the post that takes the bar?

What angle does the bar sit to the post?

Sorry for all these questions, but I would like to unashamedly copy your brilliant idea

A uninteresting grain pattern there
What type of refill does it take

Nice idea but I'm not metal worker It does look like the front support or mount, fixing point could get in the way so I keen to here how it feels because you could have a tool rest with interchangeable heads

Great to see initiative in making your own tool rest. Amos

Pretty neat

For every problem ,there are many solutions , that is a neat one hehe, nice bit of machining as well , only real hiccup I can see is no lip to hook your finger under for some times needed stability. I assume you have counter sunk the allen head screw and tapped the flat plate for locking ,not that there are great forces involved in pen turning hehe, Cheers ~ John

OI! Didn't I just recently ask where to get something like this from?

Does that mean yhou made it for me!! I'll send you my postal details.

Russell.

Andrew, I admire your handiwork. I too need a fully flat surface for my methods and made mine accordingly at 45 degrees welded underneath and can lay the gouges etc flat all the way across.

Neat idea to have various sizes for different tasks.. I have dedicated my lathe for pens only so horses for courses.

Well made peter.

Andrew I love the simplicity and the overall scheme of things, well done. I can see you getting orders for these if you put your hand up.

As this is the prototype I can see a few modifications maybe soon

Once again well done we will see you on the inventors soon

Originally Posted by Big Shed

Some questions:

What size bar, ie width and thickness?
Does what looks like an Allen screw get in the way? Wouldn't it have been better to place that on the back?
How deep is the slot in the post that takes the bar?
What angle does the bar sit to the post?

Bar is 5.8mm thick, 32mm wide.

So far the Allen screw is not a problem - I grab the upright post, lay my left forefinger along the back of the bar and use my thumb as a pivot/stop.

The post is threaded, and the bar just has a clearance hole (as does the part making the front of the slot). This means I can lose the front bit of the post if that seems a worthwhile mod, and I only have to tap one hole (in the post). If I put the Allen screw from the back, I'd have to thread each bar, or else the front bit of the post.

Err, too deep And the angle, not enough. (37-ish. I did start with one of the positions on my Nobex square, but then thought it might look better at bit less, so I didn't measure it)
As it is, the banjo has to slide back on the bed to get close to a pen blank, and the locking handle on the front hits the edge of the bed. I can use the handle in the 'up' position - no real biggie, but any MkII will have a shallower slot, and the bar will be tilted back a bit more.

Cheers,
Andrew

Originally Posted by arose62

I can use the handle in the 'up' position - no real biggie, but any MkII will have a shallower slot, and the bar will be tilted back a bit more.

Cheers,
Andrew

I really think you need a second opinion so you can tell exactly where it needs improvement. I suppose I could offer to check it out for you. I'll just have to supply you with my post sizes so Mk II fits properly

Have you ground over the top of the bar at all? It looks a little sharp. A rolled edge would work smoother wouldn't it?

Russell.

Thanks Andrew, out of interest I just measured the angle on my MC900 toolrest with the Wixey digital gauge.

It is 21.5deg from horizontal and is 16mm wide with another 5.5mm wide horizontal ledge.

For pen turning I am using a toolrest made from 25mm bar, both the upright post and the rest welded on top. I find that an all round toorest does not give me the support I'd like, so might try to make your system if you don't me plagiarising your design.

When you say the bar sits too deep, what is your reason for saying that?

"if you don't me pagiarising your design."
Go for it!

"When you say the bar sits too deep, what is you reason for saying that?"
You've got an MC900 - go slide the banjo back (away from you across the bed) as far as it goes. Now, try to lock it down.
On my lathe, the handle clashes with the front of the bed, so you have to use it sticking up.

If I had made the slot shallower, and/or angled the bar a bit more, the top of the bar would be farther from the centre of the upright post, so the banjo would not have to be at the limit of its rearward movement.

Like I said - not a huge deal, and probably an excuse for a MkII

Cheers,
Andrew

Try setting the banjo at an angle to the bed, so that the handle operates in air. Massage the fixing nut below the banjo, to set the locked position of the handle horizontal. BTDT.

Cheers,
Joe