After I got my Jet Mini lathe, I discovered that the tool rests were too large for small applications. So I got some cold roll steel, cut to length for the shaft, soldered on some copper pipe fittings and made my own. The larger one has a piece of electrical conduit soldered on too. The round rest on the small one works fine and I really cant tell the difference from a normal rest. I think that a round one would work well with longer rests too. I have been using them for more than 5 years now and they are still as strong as ever. 

 

Here are the top and side views

Edited February 19, 201610 yr by Ron Altier
no pictures first time

Sorry this got posted twice...........I don't know how to delete one of them

That's a really neat idea, Ron! 

 

Ron, what is that ol saying, necessity breeds invention? Or something like that, or sometimes in most of our cases, a tight budget breeds invention! I bet those are pretty comfortable too. I find my tool rest kind of digs into my forefinger sometimes while supporting the tool.

I could have purchased them, but I enjoy a challenge. They were made to my exact specs and that made them better.  Many of my wood projects are like that too. 

Love it Ron! My dad is the same way, there are more woodworking home made shop jigs and modified tool this and that laying around than there are store bought items for his shop. I see it more and more in the seasoned generation, the 60 plus year olds. Dad is in his early 80's, he doesn't throw anything away when it comes to his shop, and he'll make it before he buys it!

Nice job Ron. I tried the round rests and just did not like them. I like the Robust rests and have 3 of them.

That is the nice thing about being able to make something like that vs. purchasing one - you get EXACTLY what you want. Great Job

I am going to make a full length rest this weekend to accommodate the 42" length back chair legs I need to turn for my Shaker and Appalachia ladder backs and rockers. Should be fun!

That is a great idea you had there Ron.  I have made some of the round rests and like Gerald they are not my favorites.  That does not mean I don't use them, I do.

1 hour ago, John Morris said:

I am going to make a full length rest this weekend to accommodate the 42" length back chair legs I need to turn for my Shaker and Appalachia ladder backs and rockers. Should be fun!

Hope you have that steady rest in working condition 

24 minutes ago, lew said:

Hope you have that steady rest in working condition 

Will be working on that too Lew. Thanks!

I made most on mine...