Woodturning Online

Hello,
I am a new turner with one class and quite a number of hours of practice under my belt.
I am using a Nova DVR XP and find myself unhappy with the tool rest but am not sure I know enough to be unhappy for cause. The edge of the rest is not perfectly flat as the metal has a slight dimple effect on its surface. The metal also seems soft and already has some slight nicks in it which doesn't allow the gouge to slide easily.
I have noted in turning videos that many turners have rests that seem to be made of straight or curved round bars of steel. I would like to know what most folks use and where to buy tool rests. The Nova website only offers the rest I have and one curved tool rest. I would also like a smaller straight tool rest.
Many thanks,
Pozos

A straight edge and a file will soon flatten it out, I do mine with a curve so your tool isn't resting against a sharp edge. Every so often when I am not paying as much attention as I should a tool will grab and slam into the rest so it out with the file once again. Nothing worse than doing a final cut and having the tool hang up or stutter on a nick in tool rest. I have made my own curved rest for doing bowls out of mild steel 3/4ins rod and this works ok although in my early days turning I would get a few grabs and end up with a bent tool rest but being mild steel it was easy to straighten.

Yeah, they make the tool rests out of soft steel. In many ways this is actually good since it's so easy to provide regular maintenance for them. A normal file will quickly clean up any bumps, dings or chips in the tool rest.

I've tried all types of shapes and although at times a curved rest can help in a deep bowl, I find that I use a straight tool rest most of the time. The big key is how far the tool hangs over the tool rest and how thick the shaft of the tool is. If I get any vibration in the tool, I'll typically move up to a larger shaft.

I hope that helps,

Dennis

Rests are often made of cast iron because of the natural lubrication provided by the entrained graphite. The Nova rests are made of malleable steel. It's soft, but that shouldn't make much difference if you hold the tool to the rest rather than, as some, try to hold it underhand where it rises and then whacks back down as your small muscles try to control it. Lay your hand over the tool to stabilize, use it as a fulcrum for controlling the entry of the tool into the work, and push or pull as required. It'll go a long way to maintaining your toolrest. If you get a nick or ding from careless operation, file first perpendicular to the rest, then draw file for straight. I did my 3000 rest right after I got it, because it came with some dings (used equipment). Five years and more than a thousand large pieces later it does not need it. Look at St. Roy of Underhill's rest next time you catch his show. It's wood, as many used to be back when.

I have the 100mm short rest for mine, http://www.teknatool.com/products/Lathe ... /rests.htm and I like it. For inside work, it's tough to beat this one. http://www.woodturnerscatalog.com/store ... rest?Args= It's cast iron, too, and with over ten years of service I haven't had to file it, because I'm an overhand grip.

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d160/ ... raight.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d160/ ... /Curve.jpg

Closeup of years worth of use.
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d160/ ... in-Use.jpg

Thank you all. I'll get out the file. I'll also consider the short Nova toolrest.
Pozos

In Alan Lacer’s skew video he shows rounding the corners of the skew. On the short point side he fully rounds it, on the long point side he just breaks the sharp corner. I also "broke the edge" on the bottom side of my scrapers, the top cutting surface needs to remain flat. This helps prevent dings in the tool rest if you get a catch.

If you have a piece of candle, or any lubricant, a quick rub across the edge of the tool rest will make it easier to slide the tool along.

Mike

Can't believe I never thought of that!

A clubmate of mine, who mends cars for a living, makes tool rests to order using the centre shafts from shock absorbers. They are maintenance free, as hard as being good ALL the time and slide beautifully.
The circular section isn't ideal but is well worth putting up with for the other benefits. If making your own may I suggest you consider positioning the stem about a third of the way along the rest. This offers you two choices of rest position from the same banjo setting...Reet Handy!
All the best
Brian