Carbide turning tools

[johnwilliamson062]

I am sure carbide insert turning tools have been covered in dozens of threads and I have read through a few here and other places, but I have some unique concerns.

By day I work as a CNC machine operator. This, of course, means I work with carbide insert tools daily. I have never used them on wood though.

What is the best tool to get? My guess is something like a roughing gouge as it is the single tool that does the most work. On the other hand, one of the tools with a more complex contour might be best as it is more difficult to sharpen. I sharpen all of my tools free hand as I don't have a jig. I pretty much have how to sharpen the 4-5 I actually use down, but sometimes it takes a bit, of time ans steel, to get the more complicated ones correct. Those are more general concerns.

Specific to my situation:
I have more or less unlimited access to inserts that are too dull to cut steel with a 125 or less finish. Some access to inserts that are unable to cut metal at a 32 or less finish. Probably more than I could use. Not the same profile as the inserts I see advertised for use in wood turning, but...

As a machinist, admittedly a fairly inexperienced one, I have the ability to manufacture basic tools. Much more cheaply than what is on the market. Assuming +/- .001 is sufficient. Would manufacturing tools that can take advantage of this free supply of carbide inserts prove productive? Is an insert that can't cut a 32 finish in steel able to rough wood efficiently?

I realize many of you can't answer these questions, but I am hopeful someone has experience in both fields. The info may be useful to others. It may develop into a service for community members if successful.

Of course, I will have to try this out to really see if it will work, but it would e nice to have some feedback on whether I am headed in the right direction or just wasting my time.

[wa2crk]

John;
I have been using the Easy Wood Tools for a while now. They are mostly a scraping tool which does not give as fine of a finish as the traditional tools but they do a good job. The cutter can be sharpened by removing it from the tool and placing it cutting side down on a diamond sharpening plate with a few drops of water and then moving the cutter in a figure eight motion and the cutting edge will be restored.
Bill V

[JPG]

Ask Capt. Eddy!:D

http://eddiecastelin.com/products_and_services

[anmius]

I have experience using a 35 degree carbide insert (Sandvik Coromat) in wood turning. The insert was held in a tool holder on a hydraulic tracing lathe to reproduce many, many turned parts. Used inserts, for the most part, did a fairly good job but I used them for roughing cuts only. I used brand new sharp inserts for the final finished turning. It was fast, easy (once the template was tuned in), and only required minor touch-up with 600 grit sandpaper. And the beauty of the 35 degree diamond is you have two cutting edges and can reproduce some fairly ornate detail.

So, I say if you have the experience to make your own hand turning tools and have access to various styles of carbide inserts, go for it.

[JPG]

I fergit!

SS does sell inserts for the lathe duplicator.

I have been thinking of making a holder myself for 'manual use'.

http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/catalog/latheduplicator.htm

Scroll down go bottom of page.

If yer 'supply' does not work, you could fall back on these.