sgimbel
Member
Anybody ever made a tool rest out of wood? I just don't have $35 for the one I want. Looking to make 1 about 3" long for TBC.
tool rest
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PenMan1
Member
Never made one out of wood, but for $3.95 at HD you can get a 3 foot 3/4" aluminum Rod. Cut it to the length you want (with a 3 foot section, you can make several lengths), turn it to the diameter you want, drill a hole and tap the center of the rest. Then cut a post to the length you want and turn it till it fits in your holder and thread the top to fit the rest. Very easy to do with the lathe.
I know guys that have done this with a brass grounding rod,too. I've haven't done this, but brass also cuts easily on the lathe.
I know guys that have done this with a brass grounding rod,too. I've haven't done this, but brass also cuts easily on the lathe.
JerrySambrook
Member
That is what some of the japanese turners I have seen use for rests,
but they turn a wee bit different that we do typically.
If you are talking about the typical post/banjo type rest, there would only be a few woods that would have any staying power for such an activity.
And aluminum would not be much better, unless you had it hargened thru and then hardcoated for wear, which would be more expensive that buying the 35.00 one
but they turn a wee bit different that we do typically.
If you are talking about the typical post/banjo type rest, there would only be a few woods that would have any staying power for such an activity.
And aluminum would not be much better, unless you had it hargened thru and then hardcoated for wear, which would be more expensive that buying the 35.00 one
PenPal
Member
Scott,
I feel blessed in that I use short pieces of steel etc weld my own. Round Rock must have dozens or more handy people like me who could weld one for you suggest a pen in exchange. I enclose a happenstance tool rest I made to use on my Vicmarc VL100 that I needed to clear the Vac tube I fitted thru the rails. Surprise and lasting happiness cause this accidental angle allows me to rest the chisels flat, no more chatter etc and lasting comfort whilst turning. Sorry you are so far away for me to help other than show you my experience with Custom Made toolrests. Have success Peter.
PS This bench of mine welded steel etc I made to sit at on a highish drafting swivel chair not cause I have too but it is very comfortable. Noticed the terms no more colleywobbles that refers to my nesting the mandrel in the live centre doing away with the point in the end of the mandrel as I have done for ever it seems.
I feel blessed in that I use short pieces of steel etc weld my own. Round Rock must have dozens or more handy people like me who could weld one for you suggest a pen in exchange. I enclose a happenstance tool rest I made to use on my Vicmarc VL100 that I needed to clear the Vac tube I fitted thru the rails. Surprise and lasting happiness cause this accidental angle allows me to rest the chisels flat, no more chatter etc and lasting comfort whilst turning. Sorry you are so far away for me to help other than show you my experience with Custom Made toolrests. Have success Peter.
PS This bench of mine welded steel etc I made to sit at on a highish drafting swivel chair not cause I have too but it is very comfortable. Noticed the terms no more colleywobbles that refers to my nesting the mandrel in the live centre doing away with the point in the end of the mandrel as I have done for ever it seems.
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TurnerJohn74
Member
I used some sort of shiny steel from HD, I just cut to length and welded it with my little mig. I can make tool rests for under $3.00 in materials.
gketell
Local Chapter Leader
Here is how I would do it if I had no welder or anything to make it out of metal.
Get a 2x2 of hardwood long enough for the rest you want. Cut off one of the points so you have a flat spot the width of the banjo hole. Drill a hole the size of your banjo hole in the center of the flat spot about 3/4 of the way to the opposite point. This is your tool rest holder, not the tool rest.
Buy a section of 2x2 angle iron. Cut it to length to match your wood (or make it longer). Lay it onto your wood. Drill and screw it in place at the ends on the side of the rest away from where your hands will be. THIS is your actual tool rest. Smooth out the top corner with your file.
Buy a metal bar that fits into your banjo and into the hole in the wood. Cut it to the right length so you can move your new rest from slightly too low to slightly too high. Mount the tool rest onto this post. Drill a hole between your two screws from earlier such that it goes through the angle iron, through the wood, and into the tool post. Remove the tool rest and then tap the post. Re-install the tool rest and bolt it in place using the new hole.
You will have to buy the metal and the tap (probably) but you would be able to make many many tool rests this way.
If you know a welder, skip all that *stuff* with wood and just have your friend weld the angle iron onto the post but have him weld it so that one side is up like an 'L'. You can make it better by having him tack on a piece of drill rod that won't ding with use, but just the angle iron would be stronger than the stock tool rest from the mini jets.
Get a 2x2 of hardwood long enough for the rest you want. Cut off one of the points so you have a flat spot the width of the banjo hole. Drill a hole the size of your banjo hole in the center of the flat spot about 3/4 of the way to the opposite point. This is your tool rest holder, not the tool rest.
Buy a section of 2x2 angle iron. Cut it to length to match your wood (or make it longer). Lay it onto your wood. Drill and screw it in place at the ends on the side of the rest away from where your hands will be. THIS is your actual tool rest. Smooth out the top corner with your file.
Buy a metal bar that fits into your banjo and into the hole in the wood. Cut it to the right length so you can move your new rest from slightly too low to slightly too high. Mount the tool rest onto this post. Drill a hole between your two screws from earlier such that it goes through the angle iron, through the wood, and into the tool post. Remove the tool rest and then tap the post. Re-install the tool rest and bolt it in place using the new hole.
You will have to buy the metal and the tap (probably) but you would be able to make many many tool rests this way.
If you know a welder, skip all that *stuff* with wood and just have your friend weld the angle iron onto the post but have him weld it so that one side is up like an 'L'. You can make it better by having him tack on a piece of drill rod that won't ding with use, but just the angle iron would be stronger than the stock tool rest from the mini jets.