Redundant 'wonder tools'

[Bodrighy]

Having read Tom (Wizer's) understandable hunger for various tools, I started thinking what tools have we got that we rarely if ever use? I have a captive ring tool that rarely sees use and a ring hollowing tool that again I seldom use as it's too viscious when hidden inside a hollow form. What have you got hanging there doing nowt that you were seduced into buying?

Pet

 

[Jenx]

A thing that was bought as a 'square chisel' ... its basically a skew, without the 'skew' angle.

and its about as much use as T*ts on a boar.

Never use it

 

[TEP]

Woodcut shielded hollowing tool, just couldn't get on with it. Been put to sleep for a long time in a drawer.

Finally invested in a Hamlet Big Brother, works fine, but I still use my 'Oland' tools a lot more. #-o So could say I didn't need that either.

 

[johnny.t.]

...its about as much use as T*ts on a boar.

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: 8) 8) 8) :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

I have a pair of sorby captive ring tools,they're great for almost completeing a captive ring then snapping it off at the last minute!! :evil: I've also gone right off my sorby rs200 'mikey mouse' hollowing tool, I now use a homemade oland, homemade side cutting scraper type tool and a sorby swaneck hollowing tool for forms, goblets etc.

JT

 

[tekno.mage]

A thing that was bought as a 'square chisel' ... its basically a skew, without the 'skew' angle.

and its about as much use as T*ts on a boar.

Never use it

Why not regrind it to be a skew, or a scraper?

When I was given my old Jet lathe it came with a plastic bucket full of turning tools - all well rusted and most needing new handles. There were more carbon-steel spindle gouges than I know what to do with, several dubious scrapers made from old files and one 1/4" bowl gouge that is unnecessarily long and feeble looking. Needless to say most of these items are now hiding in a dusty corner of the workshop!

More usefully, the rusty bucket-load included a 1 1/2" heavy skew chisel, a large roughing gouge, a decent Crown parting/beading tool, a couple of narrow parting tools and a small oval skew - all of which are now re-handled and in use, along with the best of the spindle gouges.

As to tools I've bought myself and don't use - there is a very tiny spindle gouge I bought in a sale and haven't needed to use yet, and a Robert Sorby shear scraper with interchangeble tips (again bought in a sale) that I don't really get on with - I prefer my Ashley Iles shear scraper made of round bar.

tekno.mage

 

[TEP]

As Pete began with, 'seduced into buying'. I think we've all seen the turner at shows sending ribbons of shavings arching through the air, while demonstrating the new wonder tool he has just designed which is going to revolutionise woodturning.

I have long since realised that said turner has been practising with this tool for years previously, and you are expected to emulate his performance, if you would only buy one. Yet I do think it is a learning stage we all have to go though, something to do with the running v walking syndrome. We all like to think we are capable of making something we just haven't yet got the ability for. I believe this is named the 'Learning Curve'. :lol: :lol:

Long may it all continue. 8)

 

[wizer]

Last night I was thinking to myself "I need this tool." then John would pass me another and I'd think "Sh*t, I need this too!"

Whilst talking with the chaps last night I ended up talking myself down purely due to costs. There's no point in me buying bowl turning tools when I can't even afford a chuck yet. I'm going to keep going with spindle turning and do bowl work at the club for a few months. Chuck first then tools after.

 

[Jenx]

several dubious scrapers made from old files

You raise a good point there.. and one which cannot be emphasised enough... There's an old fella near me ( and he's a fair turner too, the lad, fair play to him ) that has a lot of these 'home crafted items'.
--I've mentioned to him about it.... and my feelings about it, as much as I dare to without offending him...

For the benefit of any of the lads just starting out.... :
I beeseach thee, here and now.... do NOT under ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.. make scrapers or any other woodturning devices from old Files.
I know a lot about files, and the metallurgy of files, and the reasons why its extreme stupidity to make turning tools out of files etc etc ....
Don't do it. :wink: Its playing with a very large fire if you do, and as mummy used to say.. "Burney, Burney".
Files are for filing.. nothing else. ! :wink:

 

[tekno.mage]

several dubious scrapers made from old files

You raise a good point there.. and one which cannot be emphasised enough... There's an old fella near me ( and he's a fair turner too, the lad, fair play to him ) that has a lot of these 'home crafted items'.
--I've mentioned to him about it.... and my feelings about it, as much as I dare to without offending him...

For the benefit of any of the lads just starting out.... :
I beeseach thee, here and now.... do NOT under ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.. make scrapers or any other woodturning devices from old Files.
I know a lot about files, and the metallurgy of files, and the reasons why its extreme stupidity to make turning tools out of files etc etc ....
Don't do it. :wink: Its playing with a very large fire if you do, and as mummy used to say.. "Burney, Burney".
Files are for filing.. nothing else. ! :wink:

You are quite right there Jenx - aren't files far too brittle to be safely used as scrapers? I think this business about making scrapers out of old files comes from WWII metal shortages, old files being "recycled" into scrapers as there was nothing else available at reasonable cost - it's a practise I have only seen suggested in books written in the 1940s and early 1950s.

tekno.mage

 

[Jenx]

Yes, you only need to try to utilise a file as a 'light gauge lever' of any description, to see how fragile they are when used for anything other than filing. ( i.e - like taking a lid off a tin of paint 'light gauge lever'. )

They are wholly unsuitable to be subjected to the stresses and forces they'd encounter if used as a 'modified' turning tool. Very dangerous !. :wink:


Excellent Idea re-my redundant chisel T-M ... I will take your advice there, and reprofile it into something more useable, thanks !

 

[John. B]

Jenx,
I've got one of those enormous chisels that I turned into a skew.(about 45mm)
A bit scarey looking, can't take it out of the house in case I get stopped for carrying an offensive weapon.
( I still use my other skews more than this one though)

John. B

 

[Bodrighy]

Yes, you only need to try to utilise a file as a 'light gauge lever' of any description, to see how fragile they are when used for anything other than filing. ( i.e - like taking a lid off a tin of paint 'light gauge lever'. )

They are wholly unsuitable to be subjected to the stresses and forces they'd encounter if used as a 'modified' turning tool. Very dangerous !. :wink:


Excellent Idea re-my redundant chisel T-M ... I will take your advice there, and reprofile it into something more useable, thanks !

I remember that the scrapers we used in school (no fancy gouges in those day me lads) most of not all of them were made from files. Having said that I did exactly what Jenx said, snapped a modern file opening the polish tin. I wasn't really putting much pressure on either as I usually use my fingernails. Some cheap tools aren't much better. I bent a cheap carbion steeel roughing gouge 90 degrees early on in my turning. Definitely something to be aware of.

Pete

 

[Inspector]

Good thing my father didn't know how dangerous files were. Silly bugger even made a tool out of a farriers rasp! :shock: :shock: :shock:

 

[CHJ]

Old Files are regularly used to make engineering metal scrapers, and very good they are for the task, it's unfortunate that the name migrates across to wood turning tools where they are too brittle. (not all will harden and temper correctly, guess it could be down to original metal alloy or source)

jenx, have a think about turning you chisel into a taper cutter to match your chuck jaws.
______

 

[Jenx]

Now THAT, i really like !

brilliant idea. !
Is that one of your own, there Chas ? ...

Would I be right in calling that a 'dovetail cutter' ?

Thats a fantastic idea. 8) 8)

 

[CHJ]

....Is that one of your own, there Chas ? ...

Yes it is, made from an Ashley Iles blank steel that was marked at the 'right price' at Yandles. (test piece with brinell hardness dents in it)

....Would I be right in calling that a 'dovetail cutter' ?

Guess so.
You may need to relieve the lower edge of the left hand cutter to match the curve of the socket.
haven't needed to sharpen mine as yet but intend to rub the top surface with a diamond card when it does.

You can use your chuck jaw to gauge your fit when grinding.

 

[boysie39]

At the moment everything in the Shed and will be for a long time to come by the looks of things. Will try to sort out the taking and posting of Pics. in the meantime. REgards Boysie

 

[Richard Findley]

I really try to restrain myself when it comes to tool purchases. My biggest waste of money was a large 1 1/2" heavy scraper which I think I've used once. Cost nearly £40 I think :roll: :roll:

Cheers,

Richard

 

[Dave Atkinson]

I have a sorby pen turning set I bought years ago, small roughing gouge 1/16" and one of those spindle master things :twisted: :twisted:
The small gouge is OK but I tend to use my big gouge and a skew nowadays.
As for the spindlemaster it's the spawn of the devil - I can't get on with for love nor money.

Cheers Dave

 

[mark sanger]

Hi

This is funny I saw this as I was only a few days ago having the same conversation with someone who wanted to know what tools to buy.

I am a great advocate of learn to use the basic tools to their full potential before buying any specialist tools and by the time you know how to get the most out of the basic tools you will not need the specialist tools.

With exception of a few of course.

I have a beading tool which I purchased around six years ago. I used it the other day for the first time.

I was feeling guilty that I had not used it so roughed down a piece of ash the cut a bead with it. Stuck it back into the tool rack where it will now stay.

I won't give it away as I would only teach people to learn to cut beads with a spindle gouge, skew or 6 mm parting tool.

M