ADVICE ON GOOD LATHE TOOLS??

ive got a delta set. HSS. they work ok but i also have some crown tools and a few sorby tools that i like much better. now if i could just get the hang of using them!:-] skeez

IMHO the HSS tools offered by Bernie Mares is the best bang for the buck around, and they are American made. You can find them at www,seriouslathe.com. Great tools, great prices, great service.

Spy in Hawaii

I believe all the HSS tools Delta sells under their label are in fact made by Sorby. Nice tools.

Spy in Hawaii

Spy, You've been out of touch for a while haven't you. Bernie has been trying to or has sold the business.

The tool stock that Serious Lathe sells is NOT high-speed steel.

Peter Teubel Milford, MA

Great tools, but the steel is A2. Makes a sharper, but somewhat less-lasting edge than most of the others. The 1" bowl gouge fears no overhang.

You can find a review of a Robert Sorby Turning tool set at

Nice set!

-- Regards,

Dean Bielanowski Editor, Online Tool Reviews

5 Reviews:- Infinity Router Bits- Incra Wonder Fence- Veritas Jointer Blade Sharpener- Miller Dowel System- Robert Sorby Woodturning Chisels------------------------------------------------------------

Aloha Jim, Yes I have been away from turning for over 2 years since 2 herniated discs in lower back, just getting back into turning again. Thanks for the info about Bernie Mares, didn't know his business status had changed. What he sold was made by Timkin, famous for their bearings. There must be someone else that carries these Timkin HSS steel tools. If anyone here finds out, please inform the group. Good to be back. Regards

Spy in Hawaii

Aloha Peter, I beg to differ, the Serious Lathe tools ARE HSS, I've purchased and worked with enough of these gouges, and scrapers, as well as Sorbys, and Crown tools, and the steel is comperble to these English HSS tools. I don't think Bernie would falsely advertise his tools as HSS if they were not. Mind you my last purchase was over 2 years ago, and maybe current stock differs from the past but I assure all my Serios Lathe tools are HSS of quality comperable to the best the English has to offer but at a better price. Don't knock um til you've tried um.

Spy in Hawaii

Might want to check the advertising.

is a tool, versus High Speed. stuff, as I said before. Love it in both lathe tools and plane irons.

Peter Teubel Milford, MA

I have just purchased HSS tools. They carried the logo "HSS Sheffield England". Conversely I got some tool blanks and its etched "HSS made in China". What are the legal ramifications of having a logo stamped on tools "HSS made in Sheffield England in lieu of "HSS Sheffield England". I often wonder where these manufacturers/vendors located in UK get their HSS tool blanks?

Canadian Tire has a sale on turning tools.(I live in Ontario) There is no name on them other than HSS on the blade. $99.00 (reg approx $180)

17" long, blade 6 1/2" long, 1" oval skew, 3 gouges, scraper, diamond parting tool. Dark handle colour like Diamic, shape like Robert Sorby.A copy cat? To top it off a wooden box. I would rather have it for a buck less thhan the box. I have not sharpened them yet but several in my turning club said that they are OK.

Ed

I saw their flyer. Even at $99.00 CAD Canadian Tires are making their normal profit margin on them. King, House, Delta and Busybee also have some similar packages on sale from time to time. The HSS quality is not always the same. This depends on the run of the mill and the deal they got from the original manufacturers. Time will tell if you have made a good purchase. The Delta gouge I purchased was only used five times and turned out poor work. The mechanical and chemical properties of HSS can only be checked by destructive testings The best method to validate HSS is by using it over a long term.

Sheffield is an Icon in producing steel. The question is are they still was they used to be? Why are they not stamping anymore on their tools "HSS made in Sheffield England". The trend today is to get HSS tool blanks in a Swedish managed Steel plant located in China. In turn, the tool makers. forms, drop forges, grinds and polishes and affix their logos on the finished tools. Just out of curiosity can we quantity how many steel producing mills are operational in Sheffield England today. Nevertheless I like cutting tools coming from Sheffield England.

You are right about different qualities of HSS. I have now sharpened them and tried one gouge and the parting tool. So far so good but this is not a good test yet. I do like long tools most of the time even though I chock up on them some of the time. These are not the real cheap "paint scrapers" that you see at Busy Bee. They go at $20 or $30.

Well, when I got to Canadian Tires last Monday they were all out of the $99.99 CAD set. I took a rain check. At the same time, I saw the one that you have nicknamed "Paint scrapers". I would said that my (Sanvick) paint scrapers are of better quality than these. I do not know when they are going to call me for the rain check. If you have some feedback relate to using your new tools acquisition we could all benefit from it.