BMWOOD Tool rests

[Cary Hulse]

Has anyone used the BMWOOD tool rests available from amazon? They seem to have the hardened rod for the working edge and are quite inexpensive. Any other tool rests folks would recommend?

 

[Nate Hawkes]

I bought a 4” one, but I didn’t do my homework. The post is too short for my powermatic. They are threaded onto the post, fyi.

 

[Craig Duncan]

I bought a 4 inch and 12 inch one from Amazon.
The 12 inch one had a casting imperfection that showed up after I used it a few times.
I ended up draw filing the surface of the rest to remove it, then waxed it.
As far as it being hardened, well, the file cut pretty easy.
We'll see how long they last.
Oh, and the posts are just barely long enough to be raised past center on my 16X42 lathe.
Hope this helps.

Craig

 

[Monte Richard]

I bought the set, came with 2 posts, a 1" dia, and a smaller dia. one. Also came with 2 or 3 different length rests. I love mine, use it all the time. the length of the 1" dia. post is fine on my Nova Neptune (14 1/2" swing). I recently used it on a Jet 12" swing club lathe for a demonstration and noticed it bottomed out on the banjo just the right height below the center for my 5/8" bowl gouge. Worked out as I didn't need to go any lower. They have held up really well so far, as I've had them for about 6 months.

 

[Mark Jundanian]

One BMWOOD rest had a structural failure in this post:

Thread 'Another close call'

Oct 6, 2025

I think near misses are instructive as they can teach us.
Today when coring a 14” oak bowl on my Jet 1640 lathe the 8” tool rest flew apart and hit my jointer.

I was not hurt. I was wearing a face shield and not standing in the line of fire. My tool was near the center of the rest. Speed was about 850 and the tool was sharp.

I think the bolt holding the rest to the post just failed. I reached out to the manufacture and I will update if they respond.

If anything happens now while I lathe I go back over each step to make sure I wouldn’t have done anything different…in this case I...

• Aron Fast
• Replies: 30
• Forum: Woodturning Health & Safety

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[Mark Hepburn]

One BMWOOD rest had a structural failure in this post:

Thread 'Another close call'

Oct 6, 2025

I think near misses are instructive as they can teach us.
Today when coring a 14” oak bowl on my Jet 1640 lathe the 8” tool rest flew apart and hit my jointer.

I was not hurt. I was wearing a face shield and not standing in the line of fire. My tool was near the center of the rest. Speed was about 850 and the tool was sharp.

I think the bolt holding the rest to the post just failed. I reached out to the manufacture and I will update if they respond.

If anything happens now while I lathe I go back over each step to make sure I wouldn’t have done anything different…in this case I...

• Aron Fast
• Replies: 30
• Forum: Woodturning Health & Safety

• 
• 

Scary. That's why I don't like buying products that don't have great reputations. But even then something dangerous can happen.

 

[Cary Hulse]

Well, this is exactly why I asked the question. I appreciate the feedback.
I'll hold off and save up until I can afford a Robust.
thanks all

 

[Wally Crawford]

You will not be disappointed in the Robust rest

 

[Mark Hepburn]

Yep. I have several and had them for years