Tool rest for Shopfox

[Matthew Robertson]

For Christmas my in-laws got me a shopfox mini lathe with an 8" swing. Today was the first time I have got to use it and try it out. Overall I was surprised by it. However, I have hit a major snag. When I first turned it on and was testing the wood mount the blank slipped and hit the tool rest. Snapped it off clean. Later I was using the small tool rest and has a small tear out that caused a chatter and snapped that tool rest as well.

Currently I am looking online for a replacement but have not found any. WHen I measure it looks like the post is 3/8. I would rather not buy a replacement from shopfox because these were very light weight. Any suggestion on where to look for a rest with that small a post? Would you just buy one with a larger post and grind it down?

Thanks for all your help!!

 

[Wildman]

Could you measure your tool rest post again, most aftermarket tool rest come with 5/8"post. Do not know of any vendor selling rest with 3/8" post except maybe Grizzly or Harbor Freight.

Might be able to have tool rest welded back together locally for about same price or less than a new one.

 

[monophoto]

Contact Rick Herrell.

I had a Shop Fox 1704 - the tool rest snapped as a result of a catch. Rick made a replacement for me that was almost too pretty to use. But i did use it extensively, and I presume that the person who bought the lathe from me is still using it.

I believe that the post diameter is 1/2" - but measure carefully before ordering your replacement.

 

[stonepecker]

+1 for contacting Rick.

His work is perfect. The rests I got made it even easier to turn anything.
You give him the right measurments and you won't be sorry.

 

[sbell111]

Double check the size of your post. In a earlier thread, it was reported to be 15/32.

 

[JohnGreco]

I had the same thing happen to me on my ShopFox. Now it's a dedicated buffer

 

[monophoto]

Double check the size of your post. In a earlier thread, it was reported to be 15/32.

Really good point - - -

my experience was several years ago, so the details are hazy. But I do recall that the post on my Shop Fox 1704 was about 1/2" - but not exactly. I think I used a digital caliper to measure the post, and sent Rick a decimal measurement.