Thread: My turning tools

Today is my Saturday and i got the normal weekly things done just before the rain hit. So i decided to make a safe place for my turning tools. So after an hour of so i got them sitting pretty in a drawer. All edges will stay safe from cutting anything or anything beating against them. I was going to try to turn some wood today but with all the rain and the wife not feeling well i guess it will wait until tomorrow.



BTW, there is room for a couple more in the back of the drawer. Wouldnt want to cut myself short. Lol.

Very impressive, Jerry-Now you get to learn to use each one. I'm slowly doing that myself. For me, the spindle/detail gouge seems to take the most practice and finesse. We are currently at a cabin in the Smokey Mountains, though my son tells me that the custom-made radiused skew I ordered from Alan Lacer has arrived. After watching his videos, that is one I really want to spend the time to master if possible. We also signed up for a beginner class at Woodcraft. If I can get beads and especially coves worked out, I can get somewhere (without the damn lines!).

I've been turning off and on for about 3 years. My first set of tools were Craftsman made from carbon steel instead of high speed steel. I discovered right away carbon steel dulls quick, research showed HSS last longer. Also I was going to have to buy a sharpening jig at a cost of over $100 to add to my grinder to keep the tools sharp. With the $60 already invested in tools that weren't going to last very long that would be a total of $160+ with having to buy more tools in the future.

So, after some research I discovered carbide inserts, carbide tipped tools start at roughly $130 each and I was going to need four tools. Being retired, disabled and on a fixed income I decided to make my own and ended up with four tools for less than the price of one. In the attached pic is a rack I made for my tools; the 4 on the left are the carbide tipped with Locus handles, the 5 on the right are the Craftsman that I seldom use and the 3 in the middle are negative rake scrapers with Locus handles I made from old files. Locus handles made from a tree down the road, rack made from a 1" x 4" piece of wood from another project.

There is more sanding involved with carbide tools but that can be reduced with scrapers. Better sanding results can be achieved by using a self powered hand sander, check out video by Eddie Castelin (Big Guy Productions) on how to make.

Total cost of Craftsman tools, carbide tipped tools, hand sander and rack ........less than $200.

Captain Eddie! He's fun to watch. Nice set. I have the 4 carbides and 8 of the others. The grinder is on order along with a CBN wheel. Im kicking around the idea of making the jigs for sharpening as Capt. Eddie shares this info and measurements.
Sure cost a lot to make a shave brush.

Nice tools and handles, Doughboy. Thinking about getting some carbides myself for certain cuts.

I do a lot of sharpening with my diamond paddles, but I need to get one of those CBN wheels and a jig, especially for those tricky gouges. I can freehand the skew and parting tool okay. I already have a 1750 buffer motor I can use. Which grit are you getting, Jerry? I'm thinking about getting the 6" 180 grit-those things are pricey!

Looks great, Jerry! I am always impressed with your clean and organized ways.
If only I could posses those traits!

I ordered the 8" 350grit wheel. A day after I ordered I got a message saying they were oversold and on order. It could be 3 to 4 weeks before I see it. The Grinder I bought has White Wheels (Aluminum Oxcide) . 80 and 120 I think. I ordered a jig set from Capt Eddie. All I will need to do is buy 24" of square tubing and do some mounting and measuring when the jig shows up.

I just sold 12 radios on eBay to help pay for some of this stuff I've been buying. Maybe by December I will have all the tools paid off.

BTW...
I've read, been told and seen on vid that after the bevel has been cut you only need to lightly sharpen. One or two passes on a jig so your exactly on the angle and your done. This keeps ya from grinding away too much metal.

Now where have i heard this before. Lol.

Know what you mean Jer.
Been cleaning out the stockpile to fund the MG rebuild
Sold a 944 intercooler I’d never need, as well as a compressor, and bunch of vw parts, nib.
Pay for some of the stuff at least, or the importing taxes.

Gotta do what ya gotta do to fund the habit, I mean Hobby. Lol.

BTW, I got my grinder in the mail today. Bet the postman isnt happy with me.