Tool Set recommendation

Terry,

Harbor Freight has a decent set of HSS turning tools for under $40. Take the balance of your budget and spend it on a grinder with white wheels so you will have a good way to sharpen. You may also want to look at Darrel Feldmate's site for some good homemade sharpening jigs.

Sharp tools are as important as "good" tools.

Hi Terry

6 weeks is not a heck of a long time, but if you think you need/want a better set and don't want to go to the top of the line tools, have a look at Lee Valley, they have recently started to carry a lower cost line of tools, you can get any and all individually or get a 6 or 9 piece set I think it is.

Lee Valley always stands behind what they sell, and top-notch client service.

Have fun and take care Leo Van Der Loo

Here! Here! I've been using the $40 HF HSS tools for about 3 years and have only (after about a year) added a 3/4" Sorby oval skew and a couple homemade scrapers. That HF set of tools is an honest to goodness bargain floating in a sea of offal.

Oh ... I forgot about the Sorby hollowmaster ... and the likely reason I forgot about it is that I so seldom use it.

Terry ... some of the very best tools can be 'homemade' ... do a Google search for Oland or "Darrel Feltmate" or any of about a half-dozen other posters here.

Bill

I think in this case, HF = Harbor Freight. I believe he already has those tools.

You didn't say what size lathe you are turning on, or what size projects you are turning, or even what you are turning. So with that in mind, if you are still trying everything (I hope so - at six weeks in!) you would do yourself well to look at his set:

The price won't break the bank, and you will have enough money in your budget to buy a couple other of their tools in the individual tools section. I have used every tool in that set, and use a couple now. It is sad to say for me that I cannot tell any difference in these tools and my Henry Taylors and Sorbys. I just finished a long article somewhere on Woodcentral archives where one of their turners took the time to actually do some real qualitative testing, and he couldn' either.

Like all of them that you buy, you should plan on a regrind and a polish on the bottoms of the tools to ease them over the rest.

so you will have a good way to sharpen. >You may also want to look at Darrel Feldmate's site for >some good homemade sharpening jigs.

I second that excellent advice. All the more reason to buy a little less expensive tools so that you can practice with grinds you like, as well as your sharpening technique.

Many, many turners have this grinder, the best part actually being the white or "friable" wheels that come with it. They aren't the best, but they are very serviceable. The used to come with 60 grit and a

120 grit wheels, one side perfect of reshaping, the other for maintaining.

Welcome on board, Terry. Keep us posted on your progress. As you see more of the old hands post, you will see addresses for their sites. Go see them all.

For great inspiration, great information, good ideas on how to make your own jigs, fixtures and even some tools, like Harry said don't miss Darrell's site:

Robert

so you will have a good way to sharpen. >You may also want to look at Darrel Feldmate's site for >some good homemade sharpening jigs.

HF offers two 'sets' of lathe tools. The three-piece set is basically junk on a stick.

On the other hand, the $40 set is (IMHO) a lot of bang for the buck.

Bill (excluded from the "old hands with websites" rule)

You can regrind the HF set into various scrapers/skews.

You may wish to get a nice bowl gouge or various sizes. You could get an unhandled one and make your own handle. That's satisfying.

What shortcomings have you discovered with your set in your first six weeks? Address them in your new tools.

What new types of turning are you interested in? Choose suitable length and flute sizes to do the job.

I started with the 8-for-$30 tool set frmo Grizzly, and added specific tools as I needed. Basically, the tools that I (1) used the most, and (2) found lacking in quality relative to their use, got replaced. Specifically, I added a detail gouge, bowl gouge, and roughing gouge, but I'm still using the cheap skews and scrapers. It depends on what you use the most, and there's no reason to stop using the old tools if they happen to work for you.

If that's the set I'm thinking of (£40 / $80 locally) then I'd agree with you.

So how about getting _two_ of these sets, and using them with some extensive grinding to make different tools? The big gouge will grind equally well as a bowl gouge or a larger spindle gouge. The scraper obviously regrinds from flat to curved. Given the price of individaul tools and the lost cost / good quality of the steel in this one, it's not unreasonable.

Hi Steven Yes a good idea we frequently forget, the turning clubs are a good resource for all kinds of help, one can see what and how things are done, and also with what it is done, they do also have often raffles for wood or tools etc., and they are a lot of fun, wood turners are a nice bunch of guys/galls, and ready to help. As for the 1/4" gouges, they happen to be some of my favorite ones, did you have some problems with them ??, what where you doing on what ??, can we help??

Have fun and take care Leo Van Der Loo

I just picked up the "Red Handled" set and was astounded at how good they were for the buck. I paid (after a 15% off coupon and an $10 off card) a little over $30, saw the identical set (except for the color of the handle) "by" Benjamans Best for $65 at the Seattle Woodworking show. But then I also own a large set of BB scrapers