Woodcraft Tool Rest

[gesiak]

It's been several weeks since I last posted. I have turned a few more pens but in doing so determined I need to get a smaller tool rest for my Craftsman 217170 lathe just cant get the 12" rest close enough so I am considering the Woodcraft tool rest http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?familyid=391

Any of you turners have any experience with it?

Thanks for your response.

 

[ScottM]

John, I purchased a 6" Jet rest from WC for use on my HF lathe. Like you that 12" rest is a pain for turning pens. The price was under $15.00. I love it.

 

[gesiak]

John, I purchased a 6" Jet rest from WC for use on my HF lathe. Like you that 12" rest is a pain for turning pens. The price was under $15.00. I love it.

I tried to order the 6" rest from Sears, but their supplier no longer carries it.:cry_smile

I like the WC tool rest. The rest is separate from the post and they have several "U" & "S" rests which give some good options for turning bowls and such. I am going to get the 6" rest now and maybe in a few month get one of the "S" when I get up the nerve to try turning a bowl.:5sigh:

 

[James Davis]

John, I purchased a 6" Jet rest from WC for use on my HF lathe. Like you that 12" rest is a pain for turning pens. The price was under $15.00. I love it.

Scott,
What did you have to do to your Harbor Freight lathe to get it to work? I too bought the Jet and the post would not fit into the holder. So I ended up going back and getting the Woodcraft system. It works great but I had to shim the 7/8" post to make it work. I like the system very much because of the different components that are available for it but it is pricey.

James

 

[CaptnA]

You won't regret the short rest. Other things than pens are almost impossible with a 12" rest.

Good luck ordering anything from sears. Sears, the store I LOVED no BEGGED to get to go to when I was young. Now, I'd rather get a tooth pulled with no sedation. By an angry teenager. With a blindfold on. Well, almost.
You can order it and if you go to the store they'll let you order it, pay for it, and then tell you its backordered and they have no idea when it might be available... it might be discontinued, they really can't tell.. argh!! I DID get my money back~

 

[gesiak]

Andrew. You are certainly on the money regards to Sears. I did order the rest from the Parts site, took the order and everything. Several days later, I checked the status of the order and the rest was cancelled. Took several days for them to get back to me that their supplier discontinued it. They gave me a credit for it. However, I checked the site several days ago and they are still taking orders for it....

I cant wait to get the new rest. I have a number of pens to turn for Christmas gifts.

 

[erasmussen]

Scott,
What did you have to do to your Harbor Freight lathe to get it to work? I too bought the Jet and the post would not fit into the holder. So I ended up going back and getting the Woodcraft system. It works great but I had to shim the 7/8" post to make it work. I like the system very much because of the different components that are available for it but it is pricey.

James

The HF lathe uses a 25mm post, I had to buy some 25mm bar stock from festional (sp) and weld up a couple of rests
This is the small one

 

[woodArtz]

I have tool rest system similar to the one from WC. I got it from Packard. It works just fine and you can get all kinds of different lengths and styles. It should do the trick.

 

[ScottM]

Scott,
What did you have to do to your Harbor Freight lathe to get it to work? I too bought the Jet and the post would not fit into the holder. So I ended up going back and getting the Woodcraft system. It works great but I had to shim the 7/8" post to make it work. I like the system very much because of the different components that are available for it but it is pricey.

James

James the Jet rest was on the heavy side. A couple quick passes at the bench grinder and a final rub with emery paper and there you go.

I guess that makes me a metal worker too....:gar-La;