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Tool Rest Question

You could call Brent at Robust lathes, and ask him. I think I saw one there once. I have seen others that were with cast metal, and short posts for 12 inch lathes. You might need longer posts.

robo hippy
 
Hello Robert,

It the old days when I was making Shaker chairs I made one up using hard maple for the rest and 1" dowels for the posts. I think it was about 24" long and worked great. I believe for spindle turning it is a good way to reach your goal.

I used it for several years with just minor sanding to keep it in good shape. Spindle turning with sharp tools puts very little stress on the tool rest in my humble opinion. The best part is that it was made up from some scraps I had on hand.

Best wishes,

Dave
 
Whatever you decide, DO NOT simply make a 24" tool rest and put it in a single banjo with the ends unsupported. This will most certainly cost flex or vibration which will prevent you from making good smooth cuts and will encourage and increase your chances of getting a catch out the further you get from the tool post.
 
In spindle work the tool rest takes very little pressure and you can make one from wood.

I had to make four table legs. I made a rest from a 1x3 with a 1/4 round cut on the top.
Glued and screwed to a Wood post for the banjo and I clamped the other end to the tailstock.
I was going to screw on an angle iron for a stiffener but I didn't need it.

The problem with wood is that it gets dented up from tool edges. As long as you do the same item the dents are where you need then.

A bowl or hollow form rest get a lot of pressure. Spindle tools cut from the top an not much pressure on the rest at all.
I had read about. Wooden rests in some old book

Apparently wooden rests were quite common. I've seen Japanese use them.
Al
 
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I stand corrected. As you might guess, I don't do much in the way of spindle work. Or anything under 8 inches in diameter for that matter.
 
Thomas,
I think you were about right with a center post tool rest.
Even for spindles I would not want a center post rest 24" long.
The wood rest was supported on each end. The maximum flex would be in the center.
And the table legs were 4x4 by some forgotten length around 28 or 33 inches

Also if the spindles are large diameter like logs, columns, or 6x6 stock I'd want a steel rest with two supports

What you really want is a pattern makers lathe with a motor drive on the banjo
The you can turn a 15 foot lamp post with a 14" rest.
Turn one motor and walk along and turn 15 feet.

Al
 
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hockenbery said:
...The problem with wood is that it gets dented up from tool edges. As long as you do the same item the dents are where you need then.

A bowl or hollow form rest get a lot of pressure. Spindle tools cut from the top an not much pressure on the rest at all.
I had read about. Wooden rests in some old book

Apparently wooden rests were quite common. I've seen Japanese use them.
Al
Click to expand...

Frank Pain, in The Practical Wood Turner, 1956, mentions using a long wooden rest for turning spindles. He said the dents were useful for production runs of identical items, and when the production run was complete they would use a spokeshave to true up the rest before the next production job.
 
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