Building Tool Rests For The Woodturning Lathe

This is a follow on video from when I built the banjo for the lathe. In this video I build three tool rests for the banjo. These are 100, 150 and 200mm (4", 6" and 8") long. The are made from hardened steel round bar so they should last a long time.
Building a quick release banjo - • Lathe Restoration And ...

[@joell439]

Really nice work as always. Looking forward to the spindle video. 👍👍😎👍👍

[@ttraband]

My understanding is you want the rest to be softer than the tool, so that the tool nicks the rest, and not the other way around.

[@thehobbymachinistnz]

Thanks for your comments. I'm working on the spindle now so I should have a video for that soon.

[@ab-shop]

Nice! I'm not an expert on how wood lathes are made and watching your video I'm always learning something new!
P.S: I don't remember where you live but I too have napkins that I use as rags like yours...😂 I recognized it right away! It is probably a theme that is very successful also in the world, not only in Italy!! Ciao and good week, Alberto

[@thehobbymachinistnz]

Thanks for your comments Alberto. I'm still learning a lot about woodturning. I'm getting close to getting this lathe running, so than I will be able to test it out on some actual wood.
That is actually a bed sheet which was folded up. But, I do also use tea towels as rags which I think you call napkins.

[@balahmay]

Well I had to watch because of recently making some tool rests myself. I am therefore naturally curious about how others tackle this type of project. Yours look like they should work very well. For mine I cut full length gusset supports from a junked out hydraulic cylinder. I machined a 4.5mm trough into the edge of the gussets and the bedded a 9mm hardened steel rod onto the gussets with JB weld after the 1” post was welded on. I did have to deal with some warping after welding the post on one of them. It is a bit of extra pleasure to work with tools you have made yourself. Thanks for sharing!

[@thehobbymachinistnz]

Hi, no problem. This is an old video, and these tool rests do have their limitations. I have made a later video where I build different tool rests. Have you seen that one?

[@balahmay]

@@thehobbymachinistnz I did go watch your second video. Again of interest to me because I am going to make a few more. Thanks for letting me know about your second go at it. They look real good.

[@MASI_forging]

Looks fabulous as always 🙂🙂

[@thehobbymachinistnz]

Thank you.

[@azarellediaz4892]

To work around the chamfer issue on the first toolrest all you need is a second tapped hole lower on the banjo past the bottom of the chamfer.

[@thehobbymachinistnz]

Thanks for your suggestion.

[@jonsworkshop]

Nice job Jon, these look very sturdy, especially in combination with your banjo. Cold blue on hardened steel? That's a new concept to me, my cold blue won't touch hardened stuff for some reason. Cheers, Jon

[@thehobbymachinistnz]

Thanks Jon. May be it is the type of metal or the cold blue causing it not to take? Mine seemed to blue easily with no issues.