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The height of the toolrest

Hello all,

I've been turning since October 01. Prior to starting I looked at quite a few books from the library, whatever videos I could find on the net, and, of course, this group. I read up and followed all the bits of advice including the 'proper' height for the tool rest for different turning approaches - scrapers versus gouges. Last night I am turning some walnut and realize that I had not adjusted the height of the toolrest in over 4 years. Turning pens, bowls, platters, divets (those things you use to plant tulip bulbs), and all sorts of other items, the rest never changes its altitude. I realize I make adjustments as circumstances warrant with my approach but is there anyone else out there leaving their toolrest at the same height?

Reply to
Kevin
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"Kevin" wrote: (clip) I realize I make adjustments as circumstances warrant with my approach

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ If you change the height of the tool rest, and then bring the tool back to the same orientation with respect to the wood, the cut will be the same. What changes is the angle of the tool handle, and, of course, its height. If your arms and back are flexible enough to different tool positions, you won't need to worry as much about tool rest height as an old f**t like me.

Reply to
Leo Lichtman

I think the whole idea is to keep just below dead center. Can be over but not under. Center doesn't change, the cutting edge does so some change requires adjustment depending on the height of the cutting edge.

I started turning (have the Deer horns on three stacked disks in my office (was Moms)) 50 years or so. Left for a number of years, but upon the return of my parents from overseas I was able to bring the lathe home. It was in storage.

I haven't turned anything in 2 years and I plan on getting back to two pre-turned items I left to stabilize. A spindle of Bois D'Arc (horse apple) and a chunk of Madrone. Used to have Madrones on my place on the West coast.

Mart> Hello all,

Reply to
Martin H. Eastburn

Most of the time I will have the tool pretty close to center height. Maybe a little low on the outside of bowls, and a little high on the inside. The only real difference is that when I am making boxes, I like the lathe to be higher than I do when I am turning bowls. Mostly it makes it easier to see inside the box, and I don't have to stoop over to do it.

robo hippy

Reply to
robo hippy

I won't use the rest the same height for say, a bowl gouge and a scraper.. The tool thickness, cutting angle and such makes it a lot harder to be at or slightly over center with each tool, unless your scrapers are about an inch thick..

I can be done, because you're doing it, but I think your work would be better and safer if you got in the habit of checking the rest height for each tool before using it.. (or turning on the lathe)

mac

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Reply to
mac davis

I agree. Each tool has a different (cutting) thickness. I've got scrapers that are very thick (1/2") and some that are much thinner. I wouldn't think of keeping the tool rest at the same height when I switch from one to the other. Nor would I set the tool rest the same for a 3/8" bowl gouge and a 3/4" bowl gouge. That's not to say that I'm obcessive/compulsive about the exact height. I just bump the tool rest up or down depending on the tool.

Reply to
ebd

As a production turner, I don't fiddle with the tool rest to keep it at the perfect height. That would be just too much messing around. If it is a little off, I raise or lower the handle, whichever is appropriate. You can make pvc collars to go around the tool rest, or do an end grain turning with a hollow in it since we are turners. This will get it close as well without too much fine tuning.

robo hippy

Reply to
robo hippy

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