Boyd Allen
Active member
Recently I picked up an old F & H Machining front rest, (sort of an aluminum version of a Wichita). After I had taken it home, I started thinking about how best to use it, and at that point I remembered that I had an extra windage top that I could put on it. I could have pulled off the old top and had the post faced, drilled and threaded for the top, but if I did that, I would not be able to conveniently switch it with any other of the tops that I have, that fit my Hart. What we did instead was to bush the hole in the main casting with a two inch long bushing that is a slip fit, and which was drilled 3/4" ID, with a cross hole to allow the post tightening screw to set screw to pass through. It works perfectly, and it has the advantage that all of my tops will drop in. I will try it out to see how I like it, and if it passes the test, it will be time to remove the old nicked up black crinkle paint and make the old girl look respectable again. All in all, to this point, it seems a successful project. I have a solid second rest, with a windage top for the grand total of fifty dollars.