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Tips and Techniques
Over-the-Bed Tool Rest ~ David Chung |
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| The goal is to make an adjustable platform to steady the end of the gouge when the tool has to approach the piece from over the ways. |
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First a block of wood has to be fabricated to fit into the slot in the ways. This is the end view of the ways of a Vicmarc. A hole is drilled in the middle of the block for a 5/8” diameter bolt. A nut is glued into a recess made in the bottom of the block. |
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| A 5/8” bolt of the correct length is set into a recessed hole in a length of 2 x 6 and threaded into the recessed nut in the block below. The bolt is hand tightened. There is a rubber piece from some surplus rubber sheet cut out and nailed on top the 2 x 6. The rubber cushions the end of the gouge when it is on the platform rest. |
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This is the top view of the 2 x 6 fastened to the bed. The board has the ability to slide left and right on the ways and to swing around the center point, which is the bolt. |
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| This is a short piece of 2 x 6 with some Masonite fastened to the sides in a manner that will keep it in line with the 2 x 6 below and also slide back and forth. Again rubber sheet is fastened to cushion the top surface. If this 2 x 6 on top is too low, a 4 x 6 can be used instead. |
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This is a short piece of 2 x 6 with some Masonite fastened to the sides in a manner that will keep it in line with the 2 x 6 below and also slide back and forth. Again rubber sheet is fastened to cushion the top surface. If this 2 x 6 on top is too low, a 4 x 6 can be used instead. |
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| Here a different tool rest is used and the sliding platform is in a different position with the gouge set to start cutting in the middle of the bowl. A very controlled cut can be made in a precise spot. The height of the tool rest needs to be adjusted for the gouge to cut the bowl at the desired point. What this setup does is it enables the turner to start cutting exactly where he/she wants, because the end of the gouge is not floating in space but is positioned firmly on a relatively solid surface. |
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 Updated November 4, 2007 |
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