Cheap lathe tools

[rhahnfl]

I bought a set of cheap lathe tools at Harbor Freight this morning. $9.99 for an eight piece set with a nylon holder. I know they aren't the greatest ever made but I figured I could use them for antler etc. and if I tear them up ... what the heck. Plus, it'll give me something to practice my sharpening on before I mess up my good tools. They also had a good selection of sand paper in shop rolls 50 yds long. I bought some more as I like the width for pen making and I can cut any length I feel like. Lastly, they had their punch tool set half price. Haven't had to disassemble any yet but know it is coming sooner or later.

 

[Jeff-in-Indiana]

All useful "tools" ... especially the pin-punch set .. I have three sets (that I can find, and there is one more set """somewhere""") I also grabbed some of the rols of sandpaper, but mine were only available up to 320 <?> ... at the price you can afford to use it a time or two and toss it ... take it easy

 

[its_virgil]

I bought that set to practice sharpening also. Now I use the HF set that sells for about $45 per set. They are HSS steel and, regardless of what others have to say about them, I use that set almost exclusively for making pens and I love them. The roughing gouges are used for all rough turning and the skews are used on pens. The tools are cheap enough and good enough that I've purchased and extra set and have ground them to different profiles such as the curved skew a la Allen Lacer and the scraper is now a negative rake scraper and the detail gouge has a fingernail grind, and well, you get the idea. That set often goes on sale for about $35 and with a 20% off coupon is even better. I know serveral here use who those tools... I consider them a great deal and one of HF's better tool offers.
Do a good turn daily!
Don

Originally posted by rhahnfl
<br />I bought a set of cheap lathe tools at Harbor Freight this morning. $9.99 for an eight piece set with a nylon holder. I know they aren't the greatest ever made but I figured I could use them for antler etc. and if I tear them up ... what the heck. Plus, it'll give me something to practice my sharpening on before I mess up my good tools. They also had a good selection of sand paper in shop rolls 50 yds long. I bought some more as I like the width for pen making and I can cut any length I feel like. Lastly, they had their punch tool set half price. Haven't had to disassemble any yet but know it is coming sooner or later. []

 

[skiprat]

ALL my 'starter' tools are el-cheapo's. A Robert Sorby set ( for eg )would be wasted on me.[:I] If/when I get better than the tool, I upgrade them.

 

[thewishman]

Sounds like you got some great deals, Chris. I've got a set like Don's and use them a lot. My main tool is a Benjamin's Best oval skew from PSI via Woodturninz. It looks like they were all made from the same materials in the same style - could they be related?

I stopped using HF sandpaper, including the cloth backed rolls. They clog up very quickly and the paper dulls almost instantly. I use the Norton 3X and it is cheaper as I can reuse it, sometimes for several pens.

Chris

 

[Draken]

I haven't seen a 20% off coupon to HF in a long time. Once in a blue moon you'll see the 15%. I sure do miss those 20%'ers... []