Tool Rests

[Rob]

Anyone have any experience with these? Looking to upgrade mine.

http://bestwoodtools.stores.yahoo.net/tbarmodtools.html

 

[cliff56]

got two of the curved rest, rob work great on bowls excellent quality

 

[NCTurner]

Rob, this is not first hand info, but most of the feedback I have seen regarding the round bar posts is that they put the tool to far away from the work. If, I were gonna spend your $, I would look into the Robust comfort rests, now including a curved rest. Yup that's where I spend it.

 

[Woodman2k]

I'll second what Gary said. It leaves your control hand too far away from the surface your cutting. I like the robust version myself and have made them cheaply. The material is not hard to find and not very expensive.Start with a slice of 3" or 4" schedule 80 steel pipe ,get a piece of 1" steel round bar stock,a piece of A2 drill rod for the top rail and you have everything you need.
Angle iron works also ,if oriented correctly.
Greg

 

[cyclopentadiene]

Another agree with Gary. The robust tool rest is very hard steel and will not flex, bend, break or develop rough spots. I would worry about the threads as this at the stress point. If they are slightly loose, it could strip the threads with a good catch. Also, this route is no more costly as you must purchase the bar and the upright separately.

 

[willarda]

I have a set of these. The main problem is that the diameter of the rods are 1" and so you can not get youir tool closer to the work than 1/2" which is a bit far. I am used to setting the traditional rest right up to the work for maximal support. For small diameter work, this is way too far away. I basically have quit using these rets, altthough I paid a lot for them. Want to buy a set cheap?

 

[Rob]

Due to the reviews here, I just bit the bullet on the robust, both interior and exterior. Thanks all.

 

[Rob]

Wow, ordered these Tuesday from Packard, they arrived yesterday. Look nice, haven't had a chance to test them yet.