Carbide tool questions

[airborne_r6]

I am thinking about switching to carbide tools for turning the various non-wood materials, but I have two questions.

I currently make the finishing cuts on acrylic blanks using a scraper with a negative rake. This works really good, I can start sanding with 1500 MM. Will carbide tools give me the same quality of cut?

Also, about how long does an insert last, that is to say about how many pens are you getting from an insert?

 

[ossaguy]

I have the Woodchuck Pro,and I'm really happy with how I can go to wet sanding with MM.

After rotating the 4 cutting sides,just take off the insert and lap it flat on a credit card- diamond sharpening plate is all that's needed to sharpen it.

That's been my experience,anyway.

Steve

 

[PeetyInMich]

The insert edge will last about as long as a car wash does. What I mean is that it depends on the materials that you are working with. I can turn most woods and really not even consider the tool for maybe 20-50 pens, but getting into tru-stone, brass, or the M3 products and the edge may only hold up for 3-10 pens (depends on how much material I am engaging, and how hard, or abrasive it is)(and also consider that with many trustones you would be sharpening, or at least honing the tool at least once during the turning of ONE blank). I bought my woodchuck instead of investing in a bunch of sharpening jigs and learning to use them (or at least put off learning) and at 10-15$ for a four sided insert, I am comfortable with the decision.

 

[randyrls]

Wayne; It is easy to sharpen (hone) carbide inserts.
See this Page for details

 

[mikespenturningz]

To sharpen all you really have to do is lay it upside down on a diamond hone and rub it around a bit. I have done this several times. It may not be the perfect method but it is good enough! If you are working with aluminum you don't need. I started out roughing with the carbide then using my skew to finish and have found and had others here tell me that the skew is HSS and I now use only the skew. It is much smoother an puts less stress on the work while I turn it. I use the skew mostly now!

 

[Wood Butcher]

Make your own. Capt. Eddie explains it all and sells the carbide with the screw to attach it. I spend $.85 for the 3/8" steel rod, $6 for the carbide (average), $1 for a copper pipe fitting and a scrap of wood. That's $35 give or take for a set of four.
WB

 

[CharlesJohnson]

You spoke of using a negative rake scraper. I often use my Capn Eddie R2 with the handle a little up, cutter a little below center. Unless I'm mistaken sounds like negative rake. Cuts either wood or acrylic real good. Lets keep on having fun.