I have seen tool rests made with angle iron, but it seems like this design might not provide good support for the fingers. If this is true, maybe a piece of wood inside the angle iron corner would provide good support. What is the ideal shape for a tool rest? Please see attached drawing.
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Replies
If the angle iron is mounted like an L you have a place for your fingers .Our long ( 96)" rest is made with 2 L's back to back to stiffen it.The downside is you have to be further from the work but we needed the stiffness.Sometime it will be improved but it works for now and earns it's keep.
It is a matter of preference and work method.If you look at tool rests supplied on reputable makes you can see that the tool rests on a narrow convex followed by a much wider deep concave-for fingers.
If you make one based on angle iron then you achieve the same objective by "filling" the angle with wood-which you can shape to suit your preference ie make it concave whilst the edge of the iron will be rounded convex.
Your picture shows a good choice....
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