I have had a number of private messages and emails regarding the Robust and other aftermarket toolrests for the G0766 lathe. Thought it would be prudent to place some information here for viewers as a reference on the matter. #1 - banjo hole- I recommend highly that all G0766 owners bore out the 25mm hole to 1"....a difference of .004" and can easily be done using a twist drill bit and some oil to lubricate the cut. This will allow for many standard issue aftermarket accessories to be used, like coring rigs, threading jigs and others that come standard with 1" posts. {additional post on this due to character limit}
#2 - As related to Robust rests for the G0766 - I got mine custom made to 8.75" total height [from bottom of post to top rail, where the tool actually touches the rest] but I have heard that there is plenty of post in the newer banjo to allow a 8.5" post, total height, but I have not personally verified that. That being said, Robust can make 25mm posts, but if you keep the 25mm hole, you limit the other accessories as I mentioned above, and it is such an easy modification that I don't know why anyone would not want to do it. #3 - Other make tool rests can also be used, not just the Robust......just make sure total height is 8.5 to 8.75 inches, top to bottom.
#4- I also had a question or two about banjo replacement - If you got a G0766 after about September 2015, then you likely have the updated banjo. Some were thinking they needed to replace that and wanted to know which Oneway banjo to get.........with the updated banjo there is no need for a Oneway. Although I did get the Oneway because I was not willing to wait on Grizzly's upgrade, I now use the updated banjo from Grizzly exclusively. I am happy with it. If you are not sure you have the updated banjo, just measure the base........if it is 17" long at the base, you have the updated version. Replacements were shipped by Grizzly to all the owners who previously had the smaller banjo along with the appropriate hardware to make the conversion.
Thanks for the information, Roger. Are there any issues with using the factory tool rest after the banjo is drilled to 1"?
just to put in my 2 cents none that I have had with the new style banjo and one inch hole
Dusty, to answer your question about putting a 25 mm post into a 1 inch hole - - there is a little slop. You could minimize it by cutting a strip of aluminum from a soda can and putting it in. Or perhaps supergluing it to the old cast iron post. I rarely use the Griz. tool rest because I don't particularly like it. Maybe it would be okay for spindle work but it is a bit too long for my taste with bowls. Also, being cast iron it is brittle and it dents or nicks easier than my steel posts. On the rare occasion that I use the original post, I take one of those metric bolts that were used with the original crate and use it in conjunction with the original tightening bolt and it tightens up with no slop. There are three tapped holes in the banjo - - so just use any two.
The 25mm post will work just fine in a 1" hole......when the screw tightens against the post, it holds solid. Not that much difference in 25mm and 1 inch diameter.......about 1/64 of an inch. I agree with Brice in that I like the Robust rests much better, but I have done tons of work with my old cast iron rests that were on my G0698 and also when I had my 15" VS Crapsman lathe.
By the way, today on Facebook I saw a short video posted by Al Furtado. He was hollowing out a HF, and apparently got a catch. It snapped off the top of his cast iron tool rest. Cast iron is apparently really brittle. I wonder if it gets increasingly more brittle as it is used over and over again. Maybe its good that I don't like the original tool rest that came with my G0766.
I snapped my cast iron rest on my former G0698....I was way out on the end of it, and got a big catch. I much prefer steel rests also, but as one gets more experience, the less catches should occur. I don't want to jinx myself here, but I rarely have one anymore. Mine snapped off the post......same thing happened years ago with my old cast iron crapsman lathe......way out on the end, big catch. The Robust rests won't do that!
Today the DW had a long chat with Brent English (Robust) and he will be making her a 2 inch tool-post on the extra long post when he returns (we are all at the Oregon Symposium)
