After coming off a Jet mini, I was used to doing a lot of smaller stuff so knew I would need a smaller tool rest than the 14” that came with the PM3520b. I had a master turner who also does metal work to assist me in making a couple of small tool rests while waiting on the shipment for my new Powermatic. OK, to be truthful he did almost all of the work except for the surface grinding and polishing which anyone could do. He cut a piece of the wall from a scrap of four inch diameter steel pipe to make the curved portion of the tool rest. I bought a three ft piece of 1” steel rod at a local steel fabricator for $16 to make the posts since they do not carry this size at the local Borgs. We only used about a foot so he has some left to make more rests. The 1” bar was actually a shade too large to fit in the banjo so we put it on a metal turning lathe and used an angle grinder on it to make it fit. I am very pleased with the shape and low cost compared to buying one. The basic shape is very close to the 14” tool rest that came with the lathe.
This was a very satisfying project. After this experience, I would encourage anyone who knows someone with metalworking ability to consider making a tool rest if they need something special.