Review of the Robust Modified Comfort Rest
BACKGROUND:
In January of 2009, I started a discussion on the AAW Forum regarding my (then) recently acquired Robust Comfort Tool Rest. The only significant issue that I identified with the Standard Comfort Rest is that when used on a Powermatic 3520b lathe, if you turn anything over 9†diameter you will not be able to get the rest closer to the work than about ¼†to 3/8â€. I’m not going to repeat that discussion here, but if you want to know more about it you can review the discussion on the AAW forum at the following link:
Robust Tool Rest - PM3520
(broken link repaired by Bill Boehme Oct. 6, 2020)
Brent English (Owner of Robust) participated in the discussion and offered to send me a Modified Comfort Rest for testing on my Powermatic 3520b. This is a review of the Modified Comfort Rest after 8 hours of turning with it. It was used for everything from aggressive roughing to fine finishing (shear) cuts during the testing period.
The Review:
The particular rest reviewed is a modified version of the 12†original style Robust Comfort Rest. The modification to the rest was to tip the body of the rest slightly forward which has the effect of moving the post back slightly.
The following picture compares overhang. Left is the Standard Powermatic Rest, center is Standard Comfort Rest and right is Modified Comfort Rest.
The Modified Comfort Rest doesn't have as much overhang as the Powermatic Rest, but the amount of overhand is more than adequate. With the new design, the Modified Comfort Rest can be snugged right up to the work without any interference from the banjo.
The pictures above were all taken with the same tool post extension. Because of the different design between the Powermatic and Comfort Rest, the picture gives the illusion that the Powermatic Rest is much taller.
The Modified Comfort Rest is approximately 7¼" tall. That is a quarter inch shorter than the Standard Comfort Rest and a half inch shorter than the Powermatic Tool Rest. The Modified Comfort Rest can be set to a maximum height of 12" over the lathe ways. The Standard Powermatic Tool Rest can be set to a maximum height of 12½" over the lathe ways. The swing on the Powermatic 3520b is 20½". A maximum height setting of 12" for a tool rest is more than adequate to support any use I can imagine on the Powermatic 3520b.
The minimum height setting for the Standard Powermatic rest is 9¼" which compares to about 8" on the Modified Comfort Rest. No issue there.
The post on both the Standard and Modified Comfort Rests is 0.996" diameter which compares to a post diameter of 0.992" on the standard Powermatic Tool Rest. Minor difference, but I like the "feel" of the Comfort Rest post in the banjo. The Standard Powermatic Tool Rest now feels like the fit is a little sloppy to me. This is strictly a perception issue and has no impact on performance.
I only have 8 hours on the Modified Comfort Rest, but I have about 60 hours on my Standard Comfort Rest. The hardened steel rod on the top surface of the Comfort Rests has proven extremely durable and showed no sign of wear even when used with my thin parting tool that has a tendency to leave nicks in my Powermatic Tool Rest.
I have only heard one issue regarding the hardened surface of the Comfort Rest. A small manufacturer that recently came out with a new tool has advised against using the tool with the Comfort Rest. The manufacturer is concerned that the Comfort Rest might dent the shaft of their tool in use. The only comment I have is that if you find yourself denting the shafts of your tools on the Comfort Rest, you might want to take a hard look at the tool and / or how you are using it.
I have an assortment of Sorby, Thompson, Kelton and P&N tools that are completely dent free after 68 hours of combined use on Comfort Rests.
There is a significant difference in the degree to which the tool handle can be dropped for cuts using the three different rests (Powermatic, Standard Comfort and Modified Comfort). The tool handle can only be dropped about 25 degrees on the Standard Powermatic Tool Rest before it starts riding on the back of the rest. You can drop the handle approximately 45 degrees on the Modified Comfort Rest. The Standard Comfort Rest allows you to drop the handle up to a whopping 65 degrees.
This is illustrated in the picture below (Powermatic left, Modified Comfort Center, Standard Comfort right):
I never found myself wishing I could drop the handle further on with the Modified Comfort Rest. I am more than happy to give up 20° of angle in exchange for the ability to get the rest closer to pieces larger than 9" diameter. If your particular turning style or tools require more than 45° of handle drop, then you may feel differently about the trade-off of angle for closeness.
The fit and finish on the Comfort Rests is good. The post is welded to the rest body. No part of the weld interferes with usage of the rest even at maximum handle drop. There were no sharp edges on the weld anywhere that might prove troublesome when handling the rest. Increasing the angle of the rest body on the Modified Comfort Rest will result in more stress on the weld than with the Standard Comfort Rest configuration. The weld on the Modified Comfort Rest looks like it is more than up to the task and I am not any more worried about failure than I am about failure of the cast iron in the Standard Powermatic Tool Rest.
There was one tiny rough spot on the interior of the rest body right below where the hardened rod is attached to the rest body on the left side. It was a minor irritant to the back of my finger / hand when rubbing my hand against the interior of the rest for control. A couple swipes with a round diamond file and it was gone.
I am extremely satisfied with the Modified Comfort Rest and very impressed with how responsive Robust Tools and Brent English are to customer needs. I can't recommend the Comfort Rest enough. In my opinion, it is a "must have" upgrade to the Powermatic 3520b. My recommendation would be to select a Modified Comfort Rest, but some people may prefer the Standard Comfort Rest. With the addition of the Modified Comfort Rest to the tool rest lineup at Robust, customers now have a choice and can get exactly what they need.
Ed McDonnell
(layout updated by Bill Boehme to match original PDF file)