Printable tool-rest setup card
Every dimension a pole lathe session leans on: rest heights by tool, rest-to-work gaps, rest stock sizing and the spring-pole geometry. One page, print it once, tape it inside the shed door.
Pole lathe tool-rest setup cardlathe: ______ · checked by: ______
| Setup item | Dimension | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Rest height — gouges | level with spindle centerline | check with a rule against the workpiece axis |
| Rest height — skew & parting tools | ⅛″ (3 mm) above centerline | cuts happen on centerline; bevel must ride the work |
| Rest-to-work gap — general | ⅛″ (3 mm) | re-set after every re-mount; closer on small spindles |
| Rest-to-work gap — parting | ¼″ (6 mm) | relief so the deep blade never binds |
| Rest stock — steel | 1″ × ½″ (25 × 12 mm) mild bar | the standard; ≥2″ overhang past tool travel each end |
| Rest stock — hardwood (first build) | 1½″ × 1″ (38 × 25 mm) seasoned | replace when the top chips or glazes |
| Spring pole | hazel/ash sapling ≈2″ (50 mm) Ø thin end | 6–8 ft, straight-grained; bungee = modern swap |
| Cord | nylon mason line / braided cord / leather | plumb from pole tip to treadle string |
Before the first cut:
- Hand-spin the blank a full circle — clears rest, cord and bed
- Rest height re-checked for the tool in hand (gouge vs skew/parting)
- Gap at ⅛″ — ¼″ if parting
- Face shield on; sleeves rolled, no gloves at the work
How turners use this card
- One rig, one page — if your rest moves between sessions, the card is the reset: heights, gaps and pole geometry in one glance.
- Sketch your own numbers — the blank row is for a reference rig; pencil your lathe's measured values into the margin and date it.
- The pre-cut checks are the point — a hand-spun clearance circle has caught more cracked blanks than any inspection after the fact.
Planning the blanks themselves? The turning project planner sizes them for you — and the bodging guide explains why each dimension is what it is.