Home made skews / gouges

[samuel07]

anybody make there own tools? If so what kind of steel have you used. It seems like it would be pretty easy to grind the right shape.
I want to make a heavy duty scraper to turn aluminum.

 

[gerryr]

The only tool I've made was a narrow parting tool made from an old table knife. But, to turn aluminum, I am pretty sure you will need to use HSS and I would go for something at least 1/4" thick.

 

[ed4copies]

Samuel,
I would start with a cheap, but large chisel. Regrind the slope of the end and you are "home-free".

Generally, when I have made tools they are very small for unusual, fine work. They normally started life thinking they were going to be used to tighten screws (but then, what do tools know about their function in life???)

 

[laspringer]

samuel07,
I made my lathe tools with 3/8" round rod for the body
and for the cutting tips I use HSS that is used for a metal lathe.
I have had no problems cutting aluminum, brass or wood.
email me if you want more info.

Alan

 

[chigdon]

If you want flat stock for a scraper I would use HSS and would probably go to MSC (mscdirect.com).

 

[bonefish]

The few I have made, I used M2 high speed steel, and then sent them to a prefessional heat treater, requesting a hardness in the Rc 64 to 65 range.

They were heated in an, oh my, oh my, do I ever hate to used the V word. I don't know if I will recover from this tramatic expeience, but [:I][:I] they were heated in a VACUUM furnace.[:0], then quenched at 320 degrees below zero.

Since then, I have contacted a tool maker, and he recommends that M4 High Speed steel would be a better choice.

I can recommend places to get the steel, in the annealed condition, and I can also recommend some heat treating specialists. Send e-mail if you need further information.

Bonefish

 

[ctEaglesc]

I would imagine aluminum to be softer than brass and I use my regular tools on wood, brass,(kit parts) plexiglass, antler and steel at times.
(That's why God invented diamond stones)

 

[joeatact]

I have made my own tools for cutting aluminum. Heres a link to a pdf I made showing how I made a aluminum pen and shows the tool I made

http://tinyurl.com/r4v8d