DIY Tool Rest

Stuart Ablett

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Tokyo Japan
I love my 9" Comfort Rest, it is REALLY nice

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but I often find it too large for some things, I'd love to get the 6" and the 4" but they cost a bit $53 and $49 respectively and shipping is not cheap as they are heavy, plus I'd live to have one like..... today :D

I had some 1" round stock and I have some heavy flatbar so spark up the new TIG welder!

I also had some 8mm drill rod that I welded on the top edge for smooth sliding.

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I'm still working on the TIG welding, as you can see, not so pretty, but I think for a tool rest it will hold.

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Yeah the welding is a bit rough, but I'll get better the more I do.
I can crank that new TIG welder up to 250 Amps and really weld some thick stuff, here I was at about 200Amps and I had to move fast or melt stuff too much!

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That is all the welding done, now I just need to clean it up a bit.

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Cleaned up and ready for it's maiden voyage!

I sure do love having my own tools etc on hand!
 
Stuart I have a couple Robust tool rest and I was looking at how they were made. It looks like the rod for the tool rest is spot welded then something like maybe JB Weld is used for the rest of the weld. They work great, I do a lot of bowls and like the curved one for the inside of bowls. Yours welds look fine to me, mine look like chicken poop.
 
Stuart I have a couple Robust tool rest and I was looking at how they were made. It looks like the rod for the tool rest is spot welded then something like maybe JB Weld is used for the rest of the weld. They work great, I do a lot of bowls and like the curved one for the inside of bowls. Yours welds look fine to me, mine look like chicken poop.


Thanks Fred, but my welds still leave a lot to be desired, I'm sure they are strong enough for the application, but they are not great.

Here is what great welding looks like....

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Welds by ZTFab
His welds are often described as weld porn...... in the best possible way :D

I decided that the rest I made was too flat, so I made another one.

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I only TIG welded the back side of the drill rod onto the rest this time, I might fill the gap on the front side with JB Weld, just for aesthetics.

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Here it is all sanded and ready to go.

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A grinder and paint make a welder what he ain't.....


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The first one is at a 45 degree angle the second is at 30 degrees, I think it's better at the higher angle.

Cheers!
 
I dunno Stu you're beads are still better than mine, and they look like they at least have good penetration so they ought to get the job done anyway. At least we all get some good grinding practice :D



Just a couple apparently :D :thumb:

What are you using for the curved part?

Appears you are epoxying the rub rail on?

These are 1/4 HRS flat stock. I had bending dies made to form these in a press. Made 2 different dies. One for large lathes and one for mini lathes. These are for large lathes. The rod is welded on the back side so it doesn't interfere when using it.
 
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These are 1/4 HRS flat stock. I had bending dies made to form these in a press. Made 2 different dies. One for large lathes and one for mini lathes. These are for large lathes. The rod is welded on the back side so it doesn't interfere when using it.

Thanks Terry, I wish I had access to a good machinist!
 
Stu i think u best be ready to make more of those rests for sale if u use it when u do ur club demo.

Wish i could weld anything like that. As for the picture u showed it looks as good as robot welding. :) That guy must have a steady hand.


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