Woodturning

[Joe Perkins]

What kind of turning tools will be great for making small craft like bowls, pen,
etc. ?

 

[nadogail]

What kind of turning tools will be great for making small craft like bowls, pen,
etc. ?

Lathe, Gouge, Skew, and Parting Tool.

Lots of sandpaper.

 

[jake28]

Invest in a sharpening system. Having put off buying the right grinder and jig (which together were all of $300), I traded years of turning for years of frustration, with moments of panic as blocks of wood came flying at me.

A generic 8” grinder ($) with a decent aluminum oxide ($$) or CBN ($$$) wheel and a one way jig will have you going in no time.

For the actual tools, you could start with a cheap set, or go for high speed steel versions from sorby or one way. Getting and keeping them sharp is the key.

 

[nateo]

For the actual tools, you could start with a cheap set, or go for high speed steel versions from sorby or one way. Getting and keeping them sharp is the key.

I'm new to wood turning but that's where I'm starting. I have two sets of cheap tools, one I bought new on sale for sub $40 and one that came with my 45 year old lathe (which I presume to be 45 years old as well).

The two sets have the same tools in them but the older set is of noticeably higher quality. All the tools cut fine (to my inexperienced eye) when freshly sharpened.

Right now I'm having decent success keeping them sharp on a 4x32 belt sander that just happens to live beside the lathe.

I'm hoping to add a bowl gouge to the collection (both sets are all spindle tools) but even an economy version will cost more on its own as all my other lathe tools put together!

 

[Renegade1LI]

High speed steel is a good starting point, I've been using for years with great results, as mentioned and you know sharpening is key. I to use a belt sander, I like it much better than a wheel, just seems to get them sharper. I bought a set of sorbys 8 pcs and just add what I need as I go. I do have a set of HF Windsor, used to have 2 lathes, they're hss and honestly work good, but I really like the size and handles of the sorbys, they just fit and work nice. I don't do enough turning to warrant a carbide set, but if I found them for the right price. Does your lathe have variable speed? That's a good feature to have, seems like every wood has a sweet spot rpm wise.

 

[niget2002]

I never do things correctly, so I'm sure someone will tell me I'm dumb...

I don't use my lathe nearly often enough to get good at sharpening the tools, so I bought a set of carbide insert tools.

For the few times a year I turn something, they work well for me.

 

[yatg]

What kind of turning tools will be great for making small craft like bowls, pen,
etc. ?

Got this set couple of years ago for small scale stuff.

 

[McFarmer]

Rasps work well, be careful, have a good handle.

 

[walta]

Understand woodturning is a very slippery slope that will **** up all your time and money if you give it half a chance.

This photo is my tool rack turners have a saying “just one tool short of greatness.”

Consider finding joining the local club. Most are not meeting in person now but some are offering one on one mentoring.

https://woodturner.org/

https://woodturner.org/Woodturner/C...spx?hkey=3ebc2dcf-286d-49a1-9b72-ff55e5523609


Walta

 

[walta]

My most used tool is my 3/8 bedan next is ½ bowl gouge and a thin parting tool. The last 2 were the first tools I bought

Walta

 

[DocParker]

I worked as a production wood turner.We used "Bob's tools" (Robert Sorby).I love the edge that you can get with HSS.A sharpening system is a must.Long tools like Sorby's bowl gouges give a turner additional confidence due to the extra leverage.Older Buck Brothers gouges had good steel and are always a welcome addition.Beware of used tools that are short as they likely have been sharpened down past their good metal and won't hold an edge.

 

[matt_i]

I got my Dad a couple of inserted carbide woodturning tools from Highland Hardware for a gift, just two of them. Originally he wanted to try to use inserted carbides from a metalwork lathe but after comparing, the woodturning inserts are much higher positive rake (lower numerical acute angle). He probably turns a day per week in his retirement and is super happy with them a couple of years later.

 

[glentre]

And don't forget a good full face shield and a quality dust mask when sanding.

Glen

 

[walta]

I worked as a production wood turner.We used "Bob's tools" (Robert Sorby).I love the edge that you can get with HSS.A sharpening system is a must.Long tools like Sorby's bowl gouges give a turner additional confidence due to the extra leverage.Older Buck Brothers gouges had good steel and are always a welcome addition.Beware of used tools that are short as they likely have been sharpened down past their good metal and won't hold an edge.

Doc please tell me more about when and where and what you did as a production turner. It is a rare person alive today that ever got paid a livable wage as a turner.

Walta

 

[John in OH]

High speed steel is a good starting point, I've been using for years with great results, as mentioned and you know sharpening is key. I to use a belt sander, I like it much better than a wheel, just seems to get them sharper. I bought a set of sorbys 8 pcs and just add what I need as I go. I do have a set of HF Windsor, used to have 2 lathes, they're hss and honestly work good, but I really like the size and handles of the sorbys, they just fit and work nice. I don't do enough turning to warrant a carbide set, but if I found them for the right price. Does your lathe have variable speed? That's a good feature to have, seems like every wood has a sweet spot rpm wise.

I like your under-mount PVC chisel holder! May steal that idea.

 

[John in OH]

And don't forget a good full face shield and a quality dust mask when sanding.

Glen

DEFINITELY use a quality dust mask when working with walnut!!

 

[Joe Perkins]

Lathe, Gouge, Skew, and Parting Tool.

Lots of sandpaper.

Which bowl gouge will be a good option for making bowls? Share your experience!

 

[Joe Perkins]

Invest in a sharpening system. Having put off buying the right grinder and jig (which together were all of $300), I traded years of turning for years of frustration, with moments of panic as blocks of wood came flying at me.

A generic 8” grinder ($) with a decent aluminum oxide ($$) or CBN ($$$) wheel and a one way jig will have you going in no time.

For the actual tools, you could start with a cheap set, or go for high speed steel versions from sorby or one way. Getting and keeping them sharp is the key.

Thanks for your suggestion!
What kind of bench grinder will be a good option for sharpening woodturning tools and chisels? [ Slow speed, Variable speed, High speed ]

 

[Joe Perkins]

I worked as a production wood turner. We used "Bob's tools" (Robert Sorby).I love the edge that you can get with HSS.A sharpening system is a must. Long tools like Sorby's bowl gouges give a turner additional confidence due to the extra leverage. Older Buck Brothers gouges had good steel and are always a welcome addition. Beware of used tools that are short as they likely have been sharpened down past their good metal and won't hold an edge.

As a beginner, I don't know that much of woodturning know-hows. So, I did a little bit research on bowl gouges before asking the question. On my research, I find a blog where they mention the benefits of a long handle bowl gouge on their reviews.

Now, it looks like sorby's has some quality woodturning tools and other mate's are also suggest Sorby's on their suggestion.
Thanks for sharing your experience. It's a helpful one!

 

[James-W]

I have a Craftsman wood lathe that I bought many years ago. I have not used it for probably 30 years or so. I bought it for a project I was doing for a friend and after I got the finished with the project, I had no real need for it. I have considered buying a larger wood lathe for making bowls and such to give away as gifts for Christmas and birthdays, but I have not convinced myself it is a good idea as of yet.

One of the guys I used to work with made a lot of bowls with his lathe and he was quite good at it. He liked to glue different types of wood together and make large bowls. They looked really cool and he sold a lot of them at craft shows. I don't think he made a ton of money doing it, but he enjoyed it so it doesn't really matter if he made a lot of money or not.
I know he had a whole bunch of woodturning tools that he bought over the years, different brands and some were steel and some were carbide.

I am not sure what he used to sharpen the tools, I think he had a small grinder but I am not certain of that. Even with a grinder I doubt he could sharpen carbide, but if he had changeable tips it wouldn't matter. I wish now that I had spent more time in his garage and learned more from him, but at the time I wasn't all that interested in woodturning. He moved to the southwest when he retired, and I am pretty sure he took all his woodworking tools with him. At least he didn't have an auction or garage sale or anything like that so I assume he took all his tools with him.

 

[Joe Perkins]

High speed steel is a good starting point, I've been using for years with great results, as mentioned and you know sharpening is key. I to use a belt sander, I like it much better than a wheel, just seems to get them sharper. I bought a set of sorbys 8 pcs and just add what I need as I go. I do have a set of HF Windsor, used to have 2 lathes, they're hss and honestly work good, but I really like the size and handles of the sorbys, they just fit and work nice. I don't do enough turning to warrant a carbide set, but if I found them for the right price. Does your lathe have variable speed? That's a good feature to have, seems like every wood has a sweet spot rpm wise.

Worth speaking, Thanks mate!

 

[Joe Perkins]

Understand woodturning is a very slippery slope that will **** up all your time and money if you give it half a chance.

Walta

It's a better truth!