Unimat 3 watchmakers hand tool rest

In all the years that I've used a lathe I've never done any hand turning, apart from using files for making convex curves (I do concave curves with forming tools), something that I feel should change. I also have a fascination with watchmakers lathes and methods of working. And so it follows that one of my recent acquisitions has been a hand tool rest for my Unimat 3, along with a couple of gravers.

The 'rest;

From underneath, showing the clamp;

Fitted to the bed;

The base swivels and can be moved in and out, and the rest itself can be set to any angle;

So the 'rest can be moved up close to the job;

The whole base is hinged, and can be swung away from the work to allow for close inspection and measuring;

Quite large jobs could be accommodated;

Set to an angle;

I have two gravers ready, 3 and 4mm, both made by Vallorbe and both fitted with file handles with I think would be better for hand turning than the usual mushroom handles that gravers are fitted with (which are designed for hand engraving);

The ends are ground to a diamond shape;

As yet I have yet to use them, but that shall change shortly.

Paul.