I was roughing a black walnut bowl, about 16" diameter. Had a catch while the gouge was way out on the end and the post snapped right where it meets the tool rest. I already have a 6" Robust rest, which is what I usually use, so I don't think I'll replace the Grizzly 12".
Doug........I broke one on my G0698 the same way....got a major catch when on the end.......snap! I have a second one that I purchased and some aftermarket rests as well. I still use the Grizzly the most and a robust rest a good bit. I had a 15" VS Craftsman before I got the Grizz....same thing happened with the cast unit on it. The Grizz rest is the same as the rest on the Jet 1642 evs....only a little bigger. Can't beat a steel rest like the Robust, but the cast iron rests can snap if one is turning on the end.
I stopped by the local WC to look for a 12" Robust. The biggest they had was a 9" comfort rest. The sales guy, who is a turner, recommended the WC brand 12" tool rest. It fits interchangeable posts which screw into the various tool rests they offer. The threaded part of the post looks a little flimsy, perhaps 3/8" steel, but the tool rest itself looks very nice. I already have a post from a WC bowl rest I bought some time ago, so I'm giving it a try.
Doug and Roger, thanks for sharing the stories. My OEM Grizzly rest is 14". I ordered several extra and shortened those to different lengths for variety. So far so good. I'd heard about broken rests, but the OEM for the G0698 and G0733 seem so stout I guess I figured a bowl would blow up first. I've added two Robusts, 12" and 9", but I haven't rebored the 25 mm banjo hole yet to receive them. I plan to cut them down later if I want, since the price difference was negligible. Both are Comfort. I turned with their Low-Profile rest at a workshop, and tho I see some advantage in being able to extend the index finger out under for support, I found most of the time it didn't leave as much room for my hand on top as I like. BTW, Steve Fulgoni at The Woodturning Store is a Robust dealer, SMC member and all-round good guy. He recently worked a group buy with our club on Robust rests; nice discount and free shipping once we hit a minimum. Hadn't seen Robust discounted before.
Thanks David for the info on Steve and the Robust........I had seen that some time ago, but had forgotten it!
These guys have a very nice rest based on the Robust design but a little better price. I bought one while at the SWAT symposium a few weeks ago. Like it a lot ! ! http://www.advancedlathetools.com/
David, I measured. My rest is also 14". My bad. Have yet to try the WC rest I bought.
Terry, did you get a show special at SWAT? I just looked at Advanced Lathe Tools' price list on their site and their 12" rest is actually $6 more than the regular price of the 12" Robust on The Woodturning Store's site. Our group buy brought the Robust 12" down another $10.50 from that! David
David, May have been show special pricing, I did not notice. I bought the 6 inch wide rest and it was $5 less than the Robust rest I saw there, but it was not a Robust vendor. Robust did not have a booth this year.