Good parting tool metal lathe?

[FishingMan]

Im looking for suggestions for a good carbide parting tool for a metal lathe. I have a kennametal self grip. Looking for a good strong reliable parting tool. For a South bend heavy 10. On a quick change tool post.

 

[dr_clyde]

Iscar.

I routinely part off all common shop materials with mine, from 304SS to uhmw.

I’ll look up the part number when I get back to the shop.

 

[The Cobbler]

subscribed

 

[matt_i]

Iscar SGIH 19-2.

HOWEVER....make sure your toolpost is square (press to flat-end or OD of tailstock ram) and your cross slide is not suffering from excess backlash. I had a lathe once where parting was a sweaty nervous affair and that was because I had a large amount of backlash (lost motion) in the leadscrew in the cross-slide. It was cured when I sourced new parts. The fail mode was parting along and then suddenly the tool would dig in about 1/32" in an instant and either snap off the tip of the blade or bend the workpiece into something undesirable.

In the shared use shop where I work I draw a line with a paint marker 1" back from the tip and write Max Stickout. I've found the tool sticking out over half of its length.

 

[bullnerd]

Just curious, why carbide over the old HSS style?

 

[ez-duzit]

Actually have better cuts with HSS, even on stainless, because it is sharper.

 

[dr_clyde]

Actually have better cuts with HSS, even on stainless, because it is sharper.

Um, no. Not even close.

Modern carbide tooling is far and away more suited to cutting literally anything.

The only reason to use HSS anymore is the ability to hand grind easier and the ability to get cuts done on slower spindle speeds.

There is a reason modern manufacturing uses carbide for literally everything.

 

[slowtwitch73]

I've had good luck with Iscar too, but as mentioned, a good hss parting tool is better suited for that size lathe and gives more doc if need be as well as cheap.

 

[ez-duzit]

...There is a reason modern manufacturing uses carbide for literally everything.

Yes, speed.

 

[matt_i]

If you can get away with a thin blade HSS is sometimes better for a smaller lathe. I forget the width of the Iscar but its somewhere around 3/32. HSS parting blades can be found in 1/16" width.....and if you play your cards right that can be useful if you are looking to make a .050" or .035" wide snap ring groove....

If there were to be any type of interrupted cut I'd choose the HSS also.

 

[dr_clyde]

Yes, speed.

Speed, durability, consistency, head dissipation, wear resistance, and efficiency.

HSS is cheap. That’s about the only benefit.

 

[dr_clyde]

If you can get away with a thin blade HSS is sometimes better for a smaller lathe. I forget the width of the Iscar but its somewhere around 3/32. HSS parting blades can be found in 1/16" width.....and if you play your cards right that can be useful if you are looking to make a .050" or .035" wide snap ring groove....

If there were to be any type of interrupted cut I'd choose the HSS also.

Yeah that’s about the only thing I keep HSS blades around for. Grinding custom grooving tools.

Then I discovered Nikcole thin bit inserted carbide grooving tools. Sooo much faster for common snap ring and O ring grooves.

 

[rbgearz]

Yeah that’s about the only thing I keep HSS blades around for. Grinding custom grooving tools.

Then I discovered Nikcole thin bit inserted carbide grooving tools. Sooo much faster for common snap ring and O ring grooves.

That's all I use the HSS for. Easier to grind for a custom tool. The carbide is much better for everything else.

 

[ez-duzit]

I use plenty of carbide tooling, but it requires more speed and horsepower. For parting the HSS has provided superior performance.

 

[FishingMan]

My parting blade holder is an iscar sgih 26-2. My only insert is gone. Having a hard time figuring out what inserts to order. They are self grip.

 

[Kevin54]

Just curious, why carbide over the old HSS style?

It boils down to knowledge.

 

[FishingMan]

Looks like i need GTN2 inserts.

 

[darkzero]

My parting blade holder is an iscar sgih 26-2. My only insert is gone. Having a hard time figuring out what inserts to order. They are self grip.

Looks like you figured it out already but the 26 is the blade height & the 2 tells you what width insert it takes, in mm.

My favorite parting tool is the bandsaw. I use it whenever possible. But real my go to parting tools are Manchester Seperator, I love em, I never use my GTN stuff anymore. I also have the Nickole Mini System tools and love em but I use them for grooving only.