Need a smaller lathe tool rest.

[Royce Meritt]

I am getting by with a Craftsman lathe that I bought at an auction. So far it has worked for my purposes. However, when I turn my duck and goose calls and now as I am getting into turning pens, my tool rest is really too long. The 12" rest will not get as close to the turning as I would like because it won't fit in between the drives when my mandrel is mounted. I really need about a 6" tool rest so that I can move it closer to my work. I'm not having much luck locating a place to buy a smaller tool rest. Any suggestions? Thanks.

[Brian Austin]

I use this system on my Delta midi:

http://www.woodturnerscatalog.com/cgi-bin/shopper?search=action&keywords=modular-tool-rest

Lots of different sizes available.

[Steven Wilson]

The Craft Supplies site (mentioned above) and Packard woodworks ( http://www.packardwoodworks.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=lathes-acc-toolrst-mtrs ) both sell the tool rests made by BestWood Tools (www.bestwoodtools.com). I have a bunch of tool rests from them and they are very well made. When you upgrade to a different lathe you only need to change the posts and you're all set.

[Mac McAtee]

By a cheap 12" one and cut 3" off each end.