Side post since I obviously love talking about myself today...

 

Haas anyone upgraded the stock tool rest that came with your lathe, and if so...to what?  Noticed yesterday that mine has some serious nicks in it.  Didn't really bother me until I tried my new chisel, the square edge vice an oval one.  Now I cannot stop noticing them.  Is it worth an upgrade, or just figure out how to smooth them out and move on smartly?

I use a medium file and run it over the top of the tool rest to smooth it out. My original one is rather soft and the nicks are easily removed.

I also have a modular type tool rest- post and top can be interchanged- similar to these- 

http://bestwoodtools.stores.yahoo.net/tmotoresy.html

Can't remember where mine came from.

 

If you know a welder (or have a local vocational school) you can get custom rests fabricated for a reasonable price. The kids at our local school made me several styles for material costs and doughnuts.

Like Lew says, you can file nicks out of a tool rest, should actually be a routine maintenance practice. I also knock the sharp corners from tools that have them, be it scraper or a skew. With that said if I were looking to replace a tool rest it would be with a Robust tool rest. Outstanding quality.

 

Steve

I have Robust rest on two lathes and have not had the midi long enough yet to upgrade. There are several of this type rest out there but I just prefer one piece rest over the two piece. I have a two piece from Woodcraft and I just do not like it as compared to the Robust. I have seen some make the Robust style as far as the drill rod just no one else does the curvature the same.

My Jet mini came with the standard rest. I also made a couple out of conduit. All became worn, etc. I cleaned and filed to maintain surfaces. I was at Rockler and saw a great looking rest display that had a chrome like hardened steel rest surface. I bought the 4", the one I use most.  I am very happy with it and have used it for more than a year. It has no marks, scratches and looks new. My tools slide very nicely

I made most of mine....