Anyone know a source for very long tool rests? I have the Oneway inside curve rest which works well for bowls of about 6" in depth, but can't go as far as I need. I'm looking for a rest at least 12" long. I'm tempted to go to a junkyard and find an old piece of leaf spring and buy a cheap welder. The oneway rest definitely flexes when taking wide cuts. Maybe someone knows a vendor that supplies longer rests. I know they must exist.
-
August 2025 Turning Challenge: Wooden Version of Non-Wood Item! (click here for details) -
Congratulations to Nino Cocchiarella for "Three Sisters" being selected as Turning of the Week for August 18, 2025 (click here for details) -
Welcome new registering member. Your username must be your real First and Last name (for example: John Doe). "Screen names" and "handles" are not allowed and your registration will be deleted if you don't use your real name. Also, do not use all caps nor all lower case.
extra long tool rests
- Thread starter Nate Hawkes
- Start date
Try Robust Tools. If I understand correctly Brent may even make custom rests.
I used to make a bowl rest that was 10 inches from the post to the end, and there was zero vibration/wobble all the way out to the end. Brent at Robust does make 2 bowl rests in the same design now, and he did not make the long one. I think the larger one he makes is 7 inches from tool post to tip. They are rock solid. I think Emelliano does have one, that is long and J shaped, but don't remember the brand. Maybe you could PM him.
Oh, I had the same problem with the Oneway rest. They need a wing under it like they use on their coring system.
robo hippy
Oh, I had the same problem with the Oneway rest. They need a wing under it like they use on their coring system.
robo hippy
Vicmarc makes some very big ones that need two banjos. They also make custom clamp blocks so their banjos fit other brands.
Lance Mirrer
AKA "taxman"
Check this out. Nice to deal with company. All USA Made. I suspect he can accomodate custom.
- Joined
- Apr 27, 2004
- Messages
- 9,260
- Likes
- 5,930
- Location
- Lakeland, Florida
- Website
- www.hockenberywoodturning.com
I like the Robust J rest for hollowing bowls
It’s excellent for bowls up to 16-17” wide
And is usable for larger bowls.
I like Steve Sinner's rests https://advancedlathetools.com/. I own the 16" and he makes a 22". His design, which allows for a vertical tool handle position, is very helpful for shear cutting and scraping.
Did you purchase the standard post or long post option? I still think I may end up making a really long tool rest but the Robust one will be a major upgrade I think. I would really like something in the 14-16" long inside curve. I use the "Bill Grumbine" extra long bowl gouge from Doug Thompson, which helps with the distance hanging over the rest, but it's impossible to achieve good finish cuts when your gouge is hanging 3-4" over the tool rest. Thanks everyone for the replies.
The post length will depend on your lathe. Brent does make a short and long version of his "J" rest, I have the short version, but the long version is on my wish list. They work great. He also has an inside the bowl tool rest intended for 12' bowls, but I have used it on much larger and found it works as it should
- Joined
- Apr 27, 2004
- Messages
- 9,260
- Likes
- 5,930
- Location
- Lakeland, Florida
- Website
- www.hockenberywoodturning.com
I bought it at the robust booth at a Florida Symposium - Don Geiger said it was the one for my lathe. He was right.
Robust can tell you which one will fit your lathe.
With experience and an appropriately ground gouge you will get a smooth inside surface with a 4” overhang.
My older Delta 12" lathe had a 22" toolrest, which required a pair of banjos. It was for a 1" banjo, but I recall the posts on the rest were relatively short, so it might not play nice with larger lathes.
Robo Hippie's curved tool rests are the best I've ever used.