Michael Mills
09-29-2009, 10:49 AM
Hello Creekers,
I marked my tool rest for center height for easy reference. (This is not to say that I set it to center height all, or even most, of the time.
For tools such as the Sorby Multi Tipped Hollowing Tool, with the hollowing cutter, the bit is used exactly dead center. Since the flat of the tool bar is dead center, the flat of the cutter is also dead center. For the scraper blade on the same tool, the rest would be set above center to allow to angle down. Again the mark on the tool rest post gives me visual reference in how much I can angle down and still stay at or above center.
For a bowl gouge (given that you want the tip to be at center when reaching middle of the bowl) it gives me a quick reference as to how much to lower the tool rest.
Reference line was made by setting the tool rest to center using a drive spur, cutting a small indent (1/64 inch deep?) with a hacksaw held flat on the top of the banjo and then filling in the indent with paint (or nothing if you wish). I feel the minor steel removal will not affect the strength of the post. If I break a 62/64" post I will probably have more serious problems to deal with.
The height stop is easy to adjust and about $2.79 at AutoZone for two. Most turners that I have seen place one hand on the rest post to maintain the height, loosen the post, rotate the rest, and retighten the post. This clamp only carries the weight of the tool rest. If you are hollowing a bowl with a gouge and the clamp is used for the height, just unlock the post from the banjo and you can rotate it 360 without the height changing. Collars with setscrews are made for the same purpose but then you have to keep up with another allen wrench to fit the collar. So far the wings on the clamps have not interfered with anything I have turned and they are easy to grasp.
Sorry about the wordiness.
Mike
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=128860&d=1254168364 (http://www.sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=128860&d=1254168364)
I marked my tool rest for center height for easy reference. (This is not to say that I set it to center height all, or even most, of the time.
For tools such as the Sorby Multi Tipped Hollowing Tool, with the hollowing cutter, the bit is used exactly dead center. Since the flat of the tool bar is dead center, the flat of the cutter is also dead center. For the scraper blade on the same tool, the rest would be set above center to allow to angle down. Again the mark on the tool rest post gives me visual reference in how much I can angle down and still stay at or above center.
For a bowl gouge (given that you want the tip to be at center when reaching middle of the bowl) it gives me a quick reference as to how much to lower the tool rest.
Reference line was made by setting the tool rest to center using a drive spur, cutting a small indent (1/64 inch deep?) with a hacksaw held flat on the top of the banjo and then filling in the indent with paint (or nothing if you wish). I feel the minor steel removal will not affect the strength of the post. If I break a 62/64" post I will probably have more serious problems to deal with.
The height stop is easy to adjust and about $2.79 at AutoZone for two. Most turners that I have seen place one hand on the rest post to maintain the height, loosen the post, rotate the rest, and retighten the post. This clamp only carries the weight of the tool rest. If you are hollowing a bowl with a gouge and the clamp is used for the height, just unlock the post from the banjo and you can rotate it 360 without the height changing. Collars with setscrews are made for the same purpose but then you have to keep up with another allen wrench to fit the collar. So far the wings on the clamps have not interfered with anything I have turned and they are easy to grasp.
Sorry about the wordiness.
Mike
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=128860&d=1254168364 (http://www.sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=128860&d=1254168364)