US maker of turning tools?

Jerry Glaser, for one, and a darn good one at that, IMHO.

John Jordan for another -- if you are looking for hollowing tools.

Bill

Take a peek here...

Most of the US turning tool makers have already been mentioned. However, I just recently demonstrated at the woodturning club in Tiagard, Oregon and Bob Sweazey of Sumner, Washington was there with his 1/2" bowl gouges. We wound up buying two of them, one with a regular grind and one with the Dave Schwesitzer grind. I haven't had much shop time since we bought the gouges, but their credentials are good. They are made of M42 cobalt high-speed steel and hardened to 66 rockwell. The handle is drilled 12 inches from the outboard end and filled with shot. It is a nicely balanced tool. Price is $84.00. He also sells them unhandled for $59.00.

I'm looking forward to giving these a good workout for a review in More Woodturning. Anyone wishing to purchase one of the tools from Bob, can get my e-mail address from my More Woodturning web site and e-mail me. I'll send you contact information.

Fred Holder

You bet! They're all over the place showing off their tools at turning club meetings, using them at craft shows/events, and hawking them at demonstrations/symposiums/lectures all over the USA. Many of the manufacturers are turners themselves but there are also several non-turning machinists that do this on a small, local scale for area turners that you won't find in a phone book or online as well. The best place to ask is at area woodturning clubs or wood merchants. Investigate locally and you might be quite surprised.

I know this isn't what you were thinking about when you asked the question but perhaps it's the answer that you might need instead.

- Andrew

There is New Edge Cutting Tools, they make tools with replaceable carbide inserts. They are located in Connecticut and their web site is newedgecuttingtools.com Martin

How much of it has to be made in the US before you call it US? Chances = are the tool steel for US tools is made offshore.

I just ordered a turning tool from John Lea in Arizona. Nice person, and his work is super. Check his site at

Serious Lathe Co. in Portland, Oregon, makes some massive tools at prices that are about two-thirds of what most brands sell for. Not sure if they are still in business as he was trying to sell the business a year ago and not sure of his email address.

Yep, that 1" bowl gouge is a hefty bugger, but it fears no knot.

Or is that knows not fear????