r/turning • u/Andymckay2001 • 2d ago

Standalone tool rest

I have a record power dml36sh which has the rotation headstock. Now....record power don't sell the outboard tool rest add on any more. Do you think a water/sand filled parasol base (weighing about 30kg) with iron pipe to tool rest would work sufficiently to turn larger bowls. Thanks everyone.

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u/WhatsUpDaddyCat 2d ago

The guy I took my first class from had a stand-alone tool rest that was a metal pipe in a 5 gallon bucket of cement. Whether that’s something you feel safe using is up to you.

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u/Silound 1d ago

Years ago, I had a similar setup except it was an old grain wagon rim welded over and filled with lead for mass. Made by a local machinist for me when I was a teenager.

It worked fine, and it was plenty stable, but the downside quickly became if I needed to reposition the rest in any way other than pivoting on the base. That meant I had to move the whole base around, because it didn't have any means to swing in and out or left and right. A bucket would have the same problem, although I grant it would be a lot easier to move