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Robust tool rest

M

Michael Beswick

Joined
Jan 28, 2022
Messages
150
Likes
115
Location
Ware, Hertfordshire, UK
I’ve been looking for an additional rest. I came across Robust now available in UK.

I understand the benefits (marketing) of the hardened steel “circular “ top bar and the concave shape to allow one to run a finger along the rest for added accuracy.

I’m a hobby turner and am well aware that “kit” in itself won’t improve my skill!

Have people found these to be useful? At about 3 x price…..!
 
I definitely prefer a hardened steel tool rest to mild steel or cast iron. Hardened steel resists nicks and dings resulting from "moments of poor tool control". But whether that justifies the "imported" price is a personal decision.
 
I upgraded my cast iron test one of Robust’s rests. It made a huge difference, as it all but eliminates stalling on nicks in the rest. I think it’s one instance where you turning may actually improve, because you will be able to make smoother cuts.
 
I have the original cast iron, I tune them up fairly regularly, so no nicks, and after all that filing, still have plenty of rest left. (bought lathe 20+ yrs ago)
Years ago I bought into the 3/4 inch bar tool rests. It's a 3/4" bar, screwed to a 1" tool post. Not my favorites. Bought a few of the Robusts after using them during a week long class. I like them better than the cast iron, I feel there is less friction, the tool just seems to slide/move easier. I like the Robust better than the 3/4" bar because I can get the "fulcrum" closer to the turning and they are more rigid. If you go that route, I think you will appreciate the difference. I bet it will be one piece of kit that will not end up on the back shelf covered with dust...
 
The hardened drill rod is the best option, and to me, that is mostly because your tools slide so easily over it. If I am turning a wood that has a lot of sticky sap, like madrone, I do wax the top. Never liked the round bar rests. Your fulcrum changes as you raise or lower the handle. Didn't like that at all. I do have some of the D Way box rests and love them. The top bar is 1/2 inch diameter, and I don't really notice fulcrum changing, but I don't raise or lower the handle at all when turning boxes. They are case hardened as opposed to welding the hardened drill rod onto the bar stock.

robo hippy
 
There are multiple styles of Robust tool rests.
You are describing the “comfort” rest. I have the 4” one and love it.
Use it for turning the bottoms off bowls and hollow forms the design let’s the rest get in close to the tail center.
Also use it for spheres and small spindles.

One limitation for the comfort rest is on cuts with the handle low like pull cuts the lower edge of the rest interferes and raises the tool off the rest itself.
I’ve done a few demos where this was the only rest available. I could turn the rest around so the finger rest faced the work then the tool handle could be low but it makes the cut awkward by having the rest too far off the wood.
The height won’t let it inside a small bowl. I hollow these with the rest perpendicular to rim so not an issue for me.

For hollowing bowls I love the Robust J rest.
 
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I mostly prefer Steve Sinner's tool rests over the Robust ones (I have both). They are similar in that they both have the hardened rod on top, but Steve's stay out of the way when I lower the gouge handle.

But to answer your main question: the standard rests that came with my lathes are buried in a drawer somewhere. And they'll stay there as long as I have either Robust or Sinner (or Robo's) as an option.
 
I'm probably in the minority in this one but I prefer my cast iron rests. After about 20 years of turning I no longer get any divots in my cast iron rests and I have files if I do. I do have Robo's curved rest with the steel rod and I really do like them but again in general, cast iron.
 
Like others the hardened top rod (Robust or Sinner) are best. Yes the lower part of the Robust comfort does get in the way of shear scraping - usually raising the tool rest removes the issue.

With more experience now and few catches I could live with some cast iron or mild steel rests, though most do not have an optimal top design, moving the fulcrum point away from the wood when the handle is dropped. I also dislike 3/4 or 1” bar rests, though I can do ok with them. They also get dinged.
 
My first cast iron tool rest, which was on a very early 3520A, broke at the neck. I have used others pretty much since then, and after using the Robust, won't go back. I do prefer a straight angled steel plate/bar with the drill rod on it to the curved Robust ones. That curve gets in the way some times.

robo hippy
 
Thanks for all your thoughts. So far polishing the top of the rest is still strangely therapeutic-part of maintaining the equipment! The smaller rest is a round bar type whereas the supplied one has the “groove “ ( but cast finish) that I can run my finger along. Round bar is shorter - the groove makes using the longer one easier to use.

Robust claims certainly seem to be validated. Nice to have rather than a definitive need but I have a birthday coming up!
 
Bill Blasic said:
I'm probably in the minority in this one but I prefer my cast iron rests. After about 20 years of turning I no longer get any divots in my cast iron rests and I have files if I do. I do have Robo's curved rest with the steel rod and I really do like them but again in general, cast iron.
Click to expand...
When I sold my 3520 I kept the Powermatic cast rest and gave away the Robust. The 15” cast has very little vibration throughout its length. Tap your bowl gouge on the end of the rest while touching you finger on the opposite end. There is different vibration. The cast almost none. will it affect the cut, maybe when I turn a bowl over twenty inch yes. The Robust lathe is one of the best ever made. Six years old, abused, and not a problem.
 
I have a Laguna 15/24 and it came with there 12" version ( which looks alot like the Robust).
I grew to like it and the hardened steel rod at the top can't hurt.
I quickly realized I needed smaller rests for different type of turnings. So I have purchased a 4" and 6" Robust tool rest with the 1 inch bar to match my lathe and I love them all.
I like the cast iron also, my first lathe (Rockwell 14/11) has a cast iron tool rest and I like it also for that machine.
 
Some people love turning bowls with the straight rests. I don't. For inside rests, I prefer the S or J shaped since they fit inside a bowl better than a straight rest. Less moving the banjo around and 'adjusting' the tool rest. The 1/4 round type inside rests I found very bothersome to position, or reposition.... I didn't like the Oneway rest because when you were out on the very end of it, it would bounce.

robo hippy
 
robo hippy said:
Some people love turning bowls with the straight rests. I don't. For inside rests, I prefer the S or J shaped since they fit inside a bowl better than a straight rest. Less moving the banjo around and 'adjusting' the tool rest. The 1/4 round type inside rests I found very bothersome to position, or reposition.... I didn't like the Oneway rest because when you were out on the very end of it, it would bounce.

robo hippy
Click to expand...
Any word on the availability of your J shaped tool rests?
 
Michael Beswick said:
I’ve been looking for an additional rest. I came across Robust now available in UK.

I understand the benefits (marketing) of the hardened steel “circular “ top bar and the concave shape to allow one to run a finger along the rest for added accuracy.

I’m a hobby turner and am well aware that “kit” in itself won’t improve my skill!

Have people found these to be useful? At about 3 x price…..!
Click to expand...
Best that I have found. There are two shapes offered by Robust here in the States. They are the Comfort and Low Profile. Choice depends upon your turning style
 
I've probably got 20 tool rests that I've accumulated over the years, and only use 5-6 of them regularly. None of the cast iron rests are used anymore.....they just don't work as well as the straight Robust rests that replaced them. Tools do slide a little easier on the hardened steel rods. (Noted here, is I also polish the bottoms and corners of all my turning tools, which also makes them slide easier.....no matter what kind of rest is being used. I'm using a 3M metal polishing wheel for this purpose.)

The Robust interior and J rests I used for quite a long time, plus the Oneway interior rests, have been replaced by two sizes of Robo Hippy's "Robo Rests", which are much better by design, in my opinion. The hardened steel rods are welded, and not epoxied.....and the slant of the base is more appropriate. One of Robo's interior rests are shown here with a Black Cottonwood burl bowl in progress. Click on the photo, and then click it again to see a close up of Robo's rest...
IMG_1039 (2).JPG
I've got a couple of the Oneway steel exterior tool rests that I use frequently. One of them has the right side cut off for convenience. Even though they are rounded tops, I don't see the disadvantage others have mentioned about that top profile. Shear cuts, both with gouges and scrapers, should be very light and delicate cuts anyway, and that top profile doesn't make any difference with that kind of cut. . I tried to replace the Oneway rests by purchasing a couple of the Robust rests awhile back.....but, ended up keeping the Oneway rests. The Oneway rests suit my kind of turning better. Here is a stock photo of the Oneway exterior rest. The one with the right side cut off, is used much more:
1666811108254.png

-----odie-----
 
@odie please post the p/n of the 3m metal polishing wheel.

I have a set of Robo’s curved rests, they are nice. Better than the Robust interior rest due to the curve inflections Robo designed in. I also use straight Robust comfort rests, and yes the bottom of the “curve” gets in the way when shear scraping - raising the rest allows the tool angle to be more horizontal, while maintaining an acute angle to the wood.
 
Doug Freeman said:
@odie please post the p/n of the 3m metal polishing wheel.
Click to expand...

Doug.......I'm not sure I have the current part number, because I have a supply of partially used wheels that are old, most are missing the label......(from the days when I worked in a machine shop.)

They are actually called "deburring wheels", and mine are similar to this one at MSC:


I have my 3m deburring wheel mounted on a homemade upright stand with an old Packard motor....see photo:

-----odie-----

IMG_0065.JPG
 
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I have not seen the Robust rests. They are S shaped rather than the straight J, and they are angled. Other than that, I don't know.

robo hippy
 
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