• August 2025 Turning Challenge: Wooden Version of Non-Wood Item! (click here for details)
  • Congratulations to David Croxton for "XOXOXO" being selected as Turning of the Week for August 11, 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.

Wayne Omura - Marcolongo Vermec Tool rest

Emiliano Achaval

Administrator
Staff member
Beta Tester
TOTW Team
Joined
Dec 14, 2015
Messages
3,362
Likes
4,590
Location
Maui, Hawaii
Website
hawaiiankoaturner.com
When Guilio Marcolongo stayed with me, for a second time, he really liked Wayne's tool rest. Guilio took all the dimensions and pictures and his good friend Enzo Verrecchia, the wizard owner of Vermec started producing them. Enzo made them even stronger than the original. The tool rest is a super-strong beefy electroplated 3/8in bar with a stainless steel bar on the top. You have an amazing 16.5 in reach into a bowl or whatever you are turning. The tool rests are now listed on the Vermec web site. Because of the weak Australian dollar, they are priced very reasonably for us in the US. A few of us in Hawaii were part of the original production run, I just got 16 tool rests, all spoken for. They arrived inside the crate of my Stubby 1000.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_7307.JPG
    IMG_7307.JPG
    308.6 KB · Views: 255
  • IMG_7308.JPG
    IMG_7308.JPG
    295 KB · Views: 243
Tool Rest is currently 'Sold Out'. Link: https://www.vermec.com/store/p100/Curved_Adjustable_Toolrest.html

$180AU is $122.76USD using current exchange rates. Not a bad price for turners with heavy duty lathes.
In Maui I could not even buy the steel needed to do it for that. I think Enzo is doing another production run soon. If you email Nadine they can make it for your lathe. I just could not deal with 17 different sizes, we ordered the tool post long and guys will have to cut it as needed it. Some were not happy, lol It was quite the undertaking, collect money from 17 guys, deadlines, different payments. I mailed 2 boxes to Oahu today with 12 tool rests, I'm glad it's over.
 
I've tried to order this tool rest for several months. So far it is not possible.
Email Nadine: vermec@netspace.net.au
she is the girl that can help you. You can also call her, tell her Emiliano said she can help you. They do not update the website often. Calling is your best option. I just talked to her last week, I ordered a Vermec sphere jig.
 
I’m interested in one for my PM3520. Any chance we could order a batch and save on international shipping? I guess we’d have to divvy them up and ship once they got here so maybe not feasible.
Your best option right now is to call Nadine. Tell her I told you that she can help you. You will be surprised at the total cost. You can do paypal, credit card or mail them a check. In the spirit of camaraderie, I added 17 tool rests, over 100 lbs of weight, to the crate of my Stubby 1000. I only charged I think $5 US each, plus a little to ship to Oahu. The other option is tell Christian of Woodworkers emporium to hurry up and order some.
 
Mine came in today! Man, it’s huge! This will be perfect for larger stuff. Makes my 14” Robust J rest look silly.

I think I probably need a bigger lathe to go with it now.

EDIT: I had a few questions about the rest, here are some pics comparing it to my Robust rest. It came pretty bare bones, without any instructions, not even an Allen wrench (I’ve got plenty). So I’m not sure if there’s a ‘max’ extension I’m supposed to use, but setup with a similar ‘tail’ as my Robust rest I’ve got an extra 8” of reach! It’s more than I think I’ll ever need but my Robust rest has been 3-4” short on a few projects and this should be perfect.

BA80D98A-74C7-4D13-B8E4-6E602C7E4106.jpeg 5A4BF504-2388-4DF0-A38E-89F553A42DC6.jpeg
 
Last edited:
Back
Top