Tool rest recommendations?

[Jim Underwood]

I need a smaller rest for my Jet 1642. Although I appreciate the mass and length for long spindles, I need something smaller, say 4 inches or less for things like miniature birdhouses and tops...

Do you have any recommendations?

Thanks.

[Philip Morris]

Jim,
On my 1642 I use a Oneway 6" rest for general stuff and a 4" Robust Comfort rest (with the hardened steel rod on top) for finials, boxes and stuff. Very pleased with both.

Note: I did have to cut the Oneway post about 1/4" shorter. The Robust rest comes in various post lengths. Their website has a table that cross-references the right length for a given model. Think mine is 3 1/2" long.

[Don McClure]

The Robust 4" comfort rest is great.

[Gordon Seto]

For delicate turning, get the low profile Robust. It is the best at reasonable price.

[Chris Stolicky]

I have the robust 6" and use it on the same machine. They are really nice.

[Ron Bontz]

Another vote for the Robust comfort rest.:)

[Robert Snowden]

You could get a local welder to make you any length you need i built my own out of s.s. 2,3,4,6,12. you can use carbon steel as well.

[DON PENCIL]

Jim,
Do yourself a favor and just go with the Robust. You will never regret it.

Be Well,

[Bernie Weishapl]

I agree I have the 6" and 4" robust rest. They are great. You won't regret it.

[Thom Sturgill]

Another vote for the robust. I just recently bought a 4" and 6" for my 1220 and will buy the longer one.

[David E Keller]

Check out the classifieds on the penturners website... There's a guy selling custom rests that are modular and reasonably priced. I've not ordered on but a whole bunch of people have with good feedback. They are made to your specs, so you can get exactly what you want

[Leo Van Der Loo]

Another vote for making your own, get 6 for the price of one :eek: :)

[Dolan Brown]

Another vote for the ROBUST. I have the 12" and 6" low profile.

[Robert Snowden]

I have never used a robust.Don't know the price of the robust.I can not disagree with that may be the best in the world.I can say that mine work as well as any and if i need one 48" that i make it,for about 10 dollor's.I make most of my tool's that i use.

[Gary Chester]

My neighbor is a retired welder, the toolrest he welded for me is very "robust" and only cost me a six pack... and I got half of that while I watched him weld!!!

[Paul Douglass]

I just bought this with three different length bars and a post. They are very reasonable and you can ask for any lengths of rests and heigth of post. This guy makes great stuff.

You find then at International Association of Penturners (IAP) website. Search custom tool rest

[Gordon Seto]

I don't like tool rest that has round rod horizontal bar for delicate work. I like the slant style that Leo has. The fulcrum point can be closer to the work. There is also room to hook the fingers under for ultimate control.

The round one is fine for larger scale work.

[Ryan Baker]

Another vote for the Robust. The large round bars are particularly not good with short rests, when you are generally doing more delicate work in close.

[Sid Matheny]

When I got my Nova DVR XP I modified one of my old tool rests and made a 4" & 8".

http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/af350/Sidro59/ToolRests.jpg

Sid

[Mauricio Ulloa]

Get the robust!

[Keith Harrell]

Get the Robust. I used the round ones on my shopsmith but compared to my new Robust I got for Christmas I wouldn't use any others now.
I have the 9" and just received a 4" I gave myself.