Chris H Posted March 14, 2013 Report Share Posted March 14, 2013 Does anyone have any experience with these? My lathe only came with a 12" rest that can be too large for pen turning, especially when I get the DC and stuff all setup. I don't know if I should just buy each rest individually, or if there is a benefit to going with the "Modular" setups. Any thoughts or experiences as always are much appreciated! TIA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duckkisser Posted March 14, 2013 Report Share Posted March 14, 2013 why not just make your own all it is is rolled steel. do you have access to a grinder, hack saw and some kind of blow torch or welder? for about 50 bucks you could buy enough steel to make every possible tool rest you will ever need. but all you realy need is a 12" 6" and a s curve is helpfull. i saw a video where the guy bought a extra tool rest the part that slides on the lathe. then he made his own tool rest that he put into the two tool rest bases. he was making base ball bats so he needed a tool rest that he could slide down the entire wood blank. so it ended up being a 36" tool rest. if you wanted it to be modular you could drill a hole in the center of a steel rod and then you just thread and tap the different parts. any shop should have the right tools that you need. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris H Posted March 14, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 14, 2013 I never really considered making my own, only because I have no welding experience or equipment. I have a torch for sweating pipes, but I don't know if that would get hot enough to bond steel. Can you buy "rolled steel" at local hardware stores? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duckkisser Posted March 14, 2013 Report Share Posted March 14, 2013 not shure but there has to be a metal place in the area. look up machine shops bring in your tool rest and then you can at least ask there advise. a tool rest is nothing more then a piece of metal you can place your tools on. does not have to any special metal its shape thats important and that the metal wont crack or shatter from the pressure from the cutting. if you get it bent and cut at home alot of places might weld for free or for a few bucks thrown there way. auto body shops have welding equipment as well. use map gas rather then propane to heat it because it will heat faster. map gas just gets way hoter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted March 15, 2013 Report Share Posted March 15, 2013 Mapp gas isn't hot enough to weld steel, unless there is some special rod or brazing supplies I am not familiar with. I think arc welding is probably better than a torch on steel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duckkisser Posted March 15, 2013 Report Share Posted March 15, 2013 not to weild but to heat it to bend it . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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