Tool help

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pullit

Member
Joined
Oct 24, 2008
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6
Location
Middle/West TN
I am starting out and just got a new Jet mini lathe. I bought the cheap set of HF lathe tools and I am not impressed with them. I guess you get what you pay for...

My question is, what is a decent set of tools without breaking the bank? I have looked at woodcraft and they are in the $50 plus per tool range, and I can't afford that.
I will be turning pens and trying my hand at duck calls. I may try some other stuff later but this is where I am starting...

By the way just found this place, and I think it is great!

thanks for the help and I am sure I will have more questions....
 
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I have the HF set as do several other folks on here. I'm not an expert as I've only been doing this for about 6 months but I don't have any problems with them. If you do not have much experience the issue could be either how you are using/holding them or how you are sharpening them. I know there are some folks on here that have been using them for many years. Yes, there are better tools but that will not fix other issues. The only other tools I have are 2 Sorbys for bowl turning.

You may want to post why you don't like them so others will be better able to give some advice.

Oh, and adding your name to your post and profile will help also as people here like to know who they are talking to :)
 
I'm going to suggest Sorby's but there are a lot of good tools in that price range. There are very few good tools in the lower prices. For pens you just need a small (3/4") roughing gouge and a 3/4" to 1" skew. I think you could make do with those for most things except bowls.

Now allow me to get up on my soapbox. Cheap tools cost more than good expensive ones. They dull faster, so you grind them more often. I've seen turners work with a dull tool and think that they're doing fine way too often. They get used to their pain if you know what I mean. Slightly dull tools leave slightly damaged surfaces which generally get 'fixed' by sanding. But sanding sacrifices depth of finish to get you an even surface.
So cheap tools make for cheap turnings.

Oh, one other thing, turner's tend to think 'I wonder if I should sharpen this' about one pen later than the should have sharpened. Develop a pattern of sharpening and honing that works for the tool and stick to that, even when your thinking 'just another few minutes...'

My opinion FWIW,

Marc
 
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Hi;
I started with a set of tools from HF. Yeah, get what you pay for but they do work. They are an excellant starter set and after selling a few things I was able to upgrade. This is one of the first tools I got from WoodCraft:
SORBY Fingernail Profile Gouges it is on sale now for $34.39
you might also try www.woodturnerscatalog.com ( Craft Supply) They have some excellant tools and some 'beginner' sets that are some what reasonable.
welcome to the addiction. Yeah,,, tools cost as much if not more than the lathe.
 
there really isn't a good 'set' beyond the HF tools. in my experience, you upgrade tool by tool with the good ones until you end up with a new 'set'. i think the HF tools are great to practice on and they've treated me fine so far. I've only had to upgrade a few tools and still use the HF ones quite a bit. unfortunately the good ones cost a pretty penny. the first tool i ever got was a sorby roughing gouge and i thought that was the only tool i'd ever be able to afford...
 
JimB said:
I have the HF set as do several other folks on here. I'm not an expert as I've only been doing this for about 6 months but I don't have any problems with them. If you do not have much experience the issue could be either how you are using/holding them or how you are sharpening them. I know there are some folks on here that have been using them for many years. Yes, there are better tools but that will not fix other issues. The only other tools I have are 2 Sorbys for bowl turning.

You may want to post why you don't like them so others will be better able to give some advice.

Oh, and adding your name to your post and profile will help also as people here like to know who they are talking to :)
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Ok your point is well taken.

1) I have been working with Cocabola and bodock (spelling on both?) as well as some ebony. The edge seems to get dull very quickly.

2) I have been sharping them on a belt sander with a 120gr belt on it. (the vert type belt sander not a wood type belt sander)
 
It sounds like you are trying to cut some hard and difficult woods. From what I have heard, the HF tools are a good set to start with. However, make sure that you have the HSS ones. I was at HF last Friday and saw a lathe chisel set for something like $15, one for around $40, and a third for around $50. Its the latter set you want. That was actually the first time I had seen the really cheap set. They must be aluminum or something. : )

I started with the Benjamin's Best set and the basic HSS "pen" set that PSI makes. I bought them both on Amazon. Although I have purchased many other tools since, I am happy that I practiced sharpening on these and did not destroy pricey tools. When I make pens I still use the BB 3/4" roughing gouge. Up until recently I was still using the 1/'2 oval skew that came with the pen set.
 
Hi John - Yeah, the HF tools will dull quicker than other tools. I made the mistakes Marc pointed out. I was waiting too long to sharpen my tools. So now I have a home made jig attached to my $20 grinder so sharpening the roughing gouge (it does 95% of the work) is quick and easy. I usually sharpen it before each pen and it only takes about 15 - 30 seconds. I have 2 skews (both came in the HF set) that do the rest of the work. They get sharpened less often as they do less work and I have 2 of them.

Someday I'll probably spend the money and get more expensive tools but for now the HF set does the job as I'm not ready to spend the $$$ now. Using the jig has really helped getting a better edge on the gouge. I do the skews free hand.

The edge on my 2 Sorby tools lasts much longer. That's why I spent the extra $$$ because with the bowls they do a lot more work removing a lot more wood than with the pens and I didn't want to spend all day sharpening just to turn one bowl.

Keep checking back as I'm sure others will add to the post. Hope that helps and welcome to the group.
 
maxwell_smart007 said:
I quite like my HF tool set! I have some crown and Ben. Best bowl gouges, and they all seem to hold an edge equally - the Crown perhaps a bit longer...

Maybe I'm just not used to good tools, but they work well for me.
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Same here.

Up until I stopped turning (not by choice)...I am still using my HF tool set 98% of the time on pens.

I also had several Sorbys and Crowns, but the wood never knew the difference. I really cannot tell from my turning results.

More expensive, high quality tools does feel and work better but sometimes the saying is right and, "it is the Indian and not the arrow..." :wink:
 
i am not a tool expert. however in a recent issue of american woodworker they tested the steel of many name brand tools as well as the harbor freight tools. the steel in the hf tools is a nearly identicle composition as the sorby tools. the handles may not be as pretty but you have as good as a "starter" set as you will find. you would do well to search for a woodturners club in your area as you will find much hands-on teaching to be very valuable. i have learned more than i thought i would ever need to know and still have a long way to go. fwiw you have one of the best starter sets available and should upgrade by the piece as you learn. if there is a woodcraft store near you they offer classes too.

i did not realize that hf had three different sets. i'm guessing the higher priced set is the one that was tested. it was hss for sure.
 
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I just saw your post. I bet they will take back that $15 set so you can get one of the better ones. I have the set that goes for about $40. If you buy another set from HF I suggest opening the box in the store. I was originally going to get the $50 set but in the 5 sets they had the tool was not mounted into the handle straight so I got the $40 set.
 
I'll go against the grain here and recommend that you don't buy a "set" from anybody. The carbon steel HF set you have will do fine for the rare occasions you need anything other than a 3/4 roughing gouge, a 3/4 or 1 inch oval skew, and possibly a 3/8 bowl gouge. Either order those 3 tools in the Benjamin's best line from amazon, or search on ebay. there are a couple of vendors on ebay who consistently list BB tools separately, and you can get the 2 or 3 you need with combined shipping much cheaper than a "set" of which you will rarely use most parts.

I personally do 80% of my turning with an old craftsman 3/4 inch spindle gouge I paid $2 for on ebay, and it's been very consistent. The beauty of it is that it is flat enough to turn up on it's edge and use basically like a skew, or lay it flat and use it like a roughing gouge, and for me with only a homemade sharpening jig on a hs grinder, it's easy to sharpen, and i don't feel guilty for not having a tormec to sharpen a $75 tool with.

But hey, that's just my opinion, and you know what they say about those.
 
pullit said:
Ok, just went to HF's web site and they had the set that I have now for $9.99 and then they show this set, but that is it. They don't show 3 sets. What is the difference in the $44 and the $50 set other than $6?

thanks

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=47066
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I have a friend that has that set, it does a pretty decent job. Don't know where to look, but I got a Delta set when I got fairly serious about turning. It came with a 1" skew, 3/4" gouge, 3/16" parting tool, and a.........I'll have to look when I get home. Maybe a 1/2" gouge. HSS, and now about 8 or 9 years old. Course I don't turn like some folks here, but it has done me well. Cost about $65 at a Steve's Wholesale tools store we have here locally. They do have a web site.
 
John, the 15 dollar set is carbon steel and not the HHS, as I think someone pointed out. This is nto a bad thing as you can actually get them sharper easier than the HHS. Downside is, as you found out, they dull quickly and you can heat them up so much they lose their temper. Before you go out and buy some expensive tools, get the HF HHS set. Another upside is that you can really learn how to sharpen and not grind away the expensive metal. Welcome aboard and good luck! By the way, I have the HF HSS set as wel as a few more expensive tools. The tool I use the most is the HF Skew.
 
pullit said:
I have the $15 set.... :(
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that makes sense. i bought that set too a long time ago and have only used it to make some modified tools for specific purposes. they didn't last long!

definitely get the more (most) expensive one, I think they have some writing on the handle (and much better handles) that says 'windsor design' or something like that (even though they're made in china). you'll be much happier with those and they are great practice for tool handling and sharpening.
 
wow -- Starting on the difficult stuff is a hard way to learn the tools. As an exercise get some 2 by 2 at the Home Depot and practice with the tools on softwood. You will quickly get some technique experience as well as an appreciation of what "sharp" means.

Different steels have capability to hold edges longer -- higher priced tools are generally more finely finished and/or have better edge holding capability. The tools used routinely are the ones you usually like to have the best steel available -- I do use carbon steel tools occasionally (short edge life) and high speed steels hold edges longer.

I am a "honer" and use a diamond hone to touch the edge on the good gouges and skews I use regularly. I do a lot of honing with cocobolo, rosewoods, ebony, and bodark (also known as Osage Orange). I like the 2030 and 2060 steel in a skew and only have one of that quality that I use regularly. Add a narrow highspeed steel parting tool. Add a small gouge with a fingernail grind - your choice for depth depending on what else you turn and life is good.
 
I would sugegst going back to Woodcraft and take a look at their Pnnacle turning tools. The sets are on sale now until tomorrow. I have the 5 peice set, and after I bought the set, I put my Sorby set up on ebay. I like the Pinnacle tools a lot better.

Dan
 
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