G0766 - Actual toolrest stop measurement

[Roger Chandler]

I took the time to actually measure the tool rest dimensions. The tool rest on my G0766 actually sits below the center line [measured with spur center in spindle, from the point to the top edge of the toolrest] in an amount of 5/16" below the center line.

This is not too bad.............consider this.......as your rest gets nicks and dings in it, the recommendation is to take a file and smooth those out, which will of course take off a little metal.......in time that will add up.

If you feel like yours is too high, then take a measurement like I mentioned above and then post what your results are...........measure carefully, so we can get an accurate spec.....we can compare notes, and also if you feel like yours is just a bit too high, then you have the option of filing down the top of the rest a bit as well.

Aftermarket rests with no stop machined in the post, will not matter as long as the post is long enough. I took the time to take a 1" silver and deming twist bit in the drill press and put some oil to aid the cut.......the hole in my banjo is now 1" and slick and smooth.........if you decide this is what you want to do with your unit, then just be careful doing this and clamp that banjo down securely. I had to put mine on a block of wood to allow it to sit flush because of the clamp bolt underneath.

[James Conrad]

Mine is 9/32 below center. This is way too high and there should be at least an inch of adjustment down, shaving a bit off with a file is not going to cut it. It is an item on my issue list that is getting emailed to Grizzly. Overall I am happy with the purchase, just a few things that need to be addressed.

[Roger Chandler]

Mine is 9/32 below center. This is way too high and there should be at least an inch of adjustment down, shaving a bit off with a file is not going to cut it. It is an item on my issue list that is getting emailed to Grizzly. Overall I am happy with the purchase, just a few things that need to be addressed.

I agree, that we need more downward adjustment in that toolrest!

[Doug Herzberg]

My Grizzly toolrest broke after a year or two, as did those of several others. Maybe it's different on the 766. Unless there's something special about it, I'd be considering aftermarket rests right away.

[Roger Chandler]

My Grizzly toolrest broke after a year or two, as did those of several others. Maybe it's different on the 766. Unless there's something special about it, I'd be considering aftermarket rests right away.

Yeah, Doug........my original broke on me on my G0698 as well.......it was my fault, though. I was turning way out on the very end and got a big catch........that made the cast iron post snap...........that does not happen with solid steel posts! I am going to get a couple of new rests, but want the original with the 0766 right as well..........have to see what Grizzly says about the situation to know how I feel about this in the long run!

[Dennis Collier]

Mine is 1/4" below center. Id definitely like a little more adjustment.

[Roger Chandler]

Just initially after getting the lathe set up and using it...........I have tweaked my unit to suit myself, and the only thing about the lathe that is not super good at this early point is that toolrest. If they had just machined an addtional 5/8 to 3/4 inch more into that post, then my particular lathe would have been perfect.

I am waiting to hear about the toolrest issue from Grizzly and see what they say about it. Of course I had already planned to get a couple of Robust rests anyway for it, so that is not going to be a prohibitive issue for me, but I do want them to either send new rests or find a way to credit us, so we can have it machined down locally.

[Randy Red Bemont]

I too am at 5/16". A little lower is needed.

Red

[James Conrad]

I urge you to report this issue to Grizzly Tech Support, ASAP. I was the first to report it and there was a bit of hemming and hawing if anything was going to be done as no one else has logged the problem. He will kick my request up the chain, however, if we don't have a volume of us making it known we are unlikely to get a resolution. For me, the stock rest is near useless without the additional travel. Please contact them.

[Roger Chandler]

I just had a long conversation with tech support.........this tool rest issue will go up the chain to higher ups. The tech support guy has a process he has to go through on this and I shared a couple of solutions with him.........he does not have authority to make the final say, and has to pass this to those who do, but he understands the issue as he is a turner himself and also a metal lathe user..........he will make sure the higher ups understand what should be here, and I will be sending him some pics for the activity reference number on this matter and there will be followups.

[Matt Schrum]

First of all, thanks guys for raising the issue to Grizzly-- for those of use still waiting to receive our lathes, the sooner Grizzly knows of the problems, hopefully the quicker they are resolved.

Secondly, I am waiting on my lathe to arrive near the end of this month (should be in the warehouse on the 22nd at last check). This is my first lathe, so I don't have the arsenal of accessories most of you folks have. Do you think it's worth getting a 3rd party rest now so I can have it ready when my lathe shows up? If so, should I stick with the 25mm size, or are most rests going to be 1" and I should just go that route and drill out the existing hole?

[Randy Red Bemont]

I just sent an email to Grizzly in regards to the tool rest height issue. Other than that I love the lathe so far.

Red

[Roger Chandler]

First of all, thanks guys for raising the issue to Grizzly-- for those of use still waiting to receive our lathes, the sooner Grizzly knows of the problems, hopefully the quicker they are resolved.

Secondly, I am waiting on my lathe to arrive near the end of this month (should be in the warehouse on the 22nd at last check). This is my first lathe, so I don't have the arsenal of accessories most of you folks have. Do you think it's worth getting a 3rd party rest now so I can have it ready when my lathe shows up? If so, should I stick with the 25mm size, or are most rests going to be 1" and I should just go that route and drill out the existing hole?

If you will go to Robust website turnrobust.com. there is a link to toolrests........notice at the bottom of the page there is a comment that they can special make 25mm posts on their rests for Grizzly lathes & others. That being said, for me personally, I want the 1" as I already have other accessories of that size, and want to stay consistent. Just know that if you stay with the 25mm, not everyone else's accessories may fit, but the 1" is pretty much standard now, so that is why I enlarged the hole in the banjo, and did a very smooth job using my quality bit and drill press with some cutting oil.

[Roger Chandler]

In my discussion this morning with a member of tech support, I agreed to do a "before and after" email with pics to Grizzly about the tool rest. Mine is currently at a local machine shop, and I will pick it up tomorrow, if all goes well. They are a very busy shop and had a lot going on with big items like the frame of an 18 wheeler, doing repairs and a number of other industrial/farm related items. My little "take a bit off the rest down to the post diameter" is pretty small beans! ;)

From what the shop foreman told me the repair would be around $60...........not sure what rates others may encounter if they go the way I am going.

I proposed two solutions to Grizzly.......one have everyone send in their rest for these and have Grizzly machine them down........if they do this, they will incur the cost of shipping, and all the logistical issues of shipping around the country. The other thing I proposed to the guy, was that Grizzly issue some sort of credit to the owners with this problem and allow them to go to their local machine shop and have it milled.........seems like to me that would be less costly than all the logistical issues and shipping associated with Grizzly doing it themselves, but then I do not know their internal thinking on things like this.........

We will see what sort of responses that Grizzly gives us related to solutions to issue.

[Dennis Collier]

The second option requires me to waste my time locating a machine shop and then hope they are willing to do the work for the amount that Grizzly deems necessary for the credit. The best solution in my mind is for Grizzly to just send me a rest that actually works and if they want this one back, send a return label with it.

[Roger Chandler]

The second option requires me to waste my time locating a machine shop and then hope they are willing to do the work for the amount that Grizzly deems necessary for the credit. The best solution in my mind is for Grizzly to just send me a rest that actually works and if they want this one back, send a return label with it.

At this early point in time with back orders still needing to be filled, they do not have any extra parts in stock to send out. I was not willing to wait until they could get some from overseas, so I took mine to a local machinist after speaking with the tech guy this morning. He was not in a position to authorize anything over the phone until this is run by decision makers.

I still think the conversation was fruitful, because it alerts Grizzly officials to some potential issues for safety, and other minor issues that have come up. We will see what develops from this. I also ordered two Robust rests yesterday, and they have been shipped already this morning.........

It is my personal feeling that since this was machined wrong, they need to address it some way that helps owners get it taken care of in the least inconvenient way.

[Fred Belknap]

should I stick with the 25mm size, or are most rests going to be 1" and I should just go that route and drill out the existing hole?


Matt I have owned two Grizzly lathes and drilled out the tool rest post on both. Just to make it clear the 25mm original Grizzly tool rest will work just fine in a toolrest post drilled out to 1"

[Randy Red Bemont]

The best solution in my mind is for Grizzly to just send me a rest that actually works and if they want this one back, send a return label with it.

I like this option. If I had to send them my tool rest I would not be able to use my lathe until they returned it to me. I shouldn't have to go out and purchase one that will work while they work on mine.

Red

[Klaus Waldeck]

Roger, what length post did you get on the Robust tool rests your ordered? It was not clear to me which one is appropriate, since they mention these are for 20, 24, and 25" swings.

[Roger Chandler]

Roger, what length post did you get on the Robust tool rests your ordered? It was not clear to me which one is appropriate, since they mention these are for 20, 24, and 25" swings.
I was told by a Robust dealer that the 20-25" swing class of lathes use what is called the "long post" which is what I have coming..........the rest and post measure 7.5 " in height, total, and will be plenty for our lathe.........I took measurements while we were on the phone discussing the matter.

[Jim Sevey]

My lathe arrived last Wednesday. I was out of town and got it un boxed and built today. Some minor leveling and I'm set. Like many- I had some paint scrapes on the stand (upper outside) and some scrapes on the tail stock where it rubbed metal on metal in transit. Lots of loose nuts and bolts in the crate. I forgot it all when I turned it on. Dead steady smooth and quiet. Very pleased so far. My rest is 5/16 below center. I would like more, but I don't have a stepped hole like some reported. I hope to finish leveling and tune up by this weekend and hope to make some trial cuts. So far- all is well.

[Roger Chandler]

My lathe arrived last Wednesday. I was out of town and got it un boxed and built today. Some minor leveling and I'm set. Like many- I had some paint scrapes on the stand (upper outside) and some scrapes on the tail stock where it rubbed metal on metal in transit. Lots of loose nuts and bolts in the crate. I forgot it all when I turned it on. Dead steady smooth and quiet. Very pleased so far. My rest is 5/16 below center. I would like more, but I don't have a stepped hole like some reported. I hope to finish leveling and tune up by this weekend and hope to make some trial cuts. So far- all is well.

Congrats Jim! It is not a stepped hole..........it is the shaft on the toolrest that is stepped, and that step needs to be machined farther up the shaft another 3/4" down to the post diameter.............

Sounds like another impressive unit!

[hu lowery]

I have had the same issue with my old Craftsman, forces me to work higher. Inquiring minds and such so I went and measured height on the tool rests on this lathe that is ten or fifteen or twenty or so years old. Can't remember anyone making a bunch of noise about this issue on the Craftsman, too busy complaining about everything else maybe!

Anyway, I have draw filed these soft cast iron tool rests a bunch of times. The long one measures 0.406" below the centerline of the spindle, the short rest measures 0.396". Just on a guess I suspect they both started off three-eighth of an inch below the centerline.

Oh yeah, they moved the shipment up to tomorrow on my lathe.

Hu

[Doug Ladendorf]

Sounds like this will be a nice upgrade for you Hu. Maybe you guys should do before/after pics to show what you are going from/to.

Doug

[hu lowery]

Sounds like this will be a nice upgrade for you Hu. Maybe you guys should do before/after pics to show what you are going from/to.

Doug

Doug,

As it happens I did take a bunch of before pictures just to have something to post on Craig's List. My work area is pretty crude and there was no doubt the machine did get used. I'm putting the new one in the same place so before and after will be fun. Getting busy around here so getting it in place and a quick test turning might be all that gets done for a few days or a week. All these storms left a good bit of wood to be cut and picked up. Some temptation to check up and down the road where I see some big new trees down. Don't want to look like a vulture though.

Hu

[James Conrad]

I'm curious what the measurement is on the G0733, seems like a similar size tool rest, banjo might be different though.

[Roger Chandler]

I'm curious what the measurement is on the G0733, seems like a similar size tool rest, banjo might be different though.

On my G9698, predicessor to the 0733 the post was shorter than on the G0766, supposed to be the same on the 0733, The banjo on the 0766 is exactly the same as the 0733......I still have an extra one I purchased for the duplicator I have that sets in two banjos.