Wood turning tools

[simo27]

Hi all
After some advice and guidance please. I am getting rid of my really cheap turning tools and want to buy a decent set. The Toolpost have a Journeyman' set that sounds good (6 tools for £150), Robert Sorby, Record Power and others all sell sets, are their any manufacturers to avoid? For the time being it will be simple turning, few spindle objects, simple bowls etc, any advice greatly appreciated!

Chris

 

[pip1954]

hi simo i would buy single chisels decide which one you need and get that then buy the next one don't think you would use all in sets
try evilbay get some reasonable on there check prices first don't get carried away
pip

 

[renderer01]

Simo,
Your questions re tools for woodturning. Its a little to do with style of tools, what amount of turning you are going to be doing, a lot more to do with budget.
For me, at £150.00 the budget you speak of you couldnt go wrong with Ashley Iles or Robert sorby tools they are in my opinion superb they cut well and the steel grinds well without breaking at the tip as some tools do.

However if you have not used a lathe much you will soon discover that sharpening tools is a whole other art form and unless you master this your work will be far harder to accomplish in some cases impossible.
That said it may be a good idea to buy a slightly cheaper set if such a thing exists now.
Its a little about what I know and am happy with but the above brands are for me best. If you are competent at sharpening they will give you excellent service.
Other decent brands in my humble opinion are Hamlet and Henry Taylor I believe Axminster premier are made by Henry Taylor but check this for yourself. A friend I teach to turn bought a set and he seems quite at home with them, I think they only cost £80.00.

If I can be of more use to you just ask, all best and good luck.

Rend.

 

[nev]

Some good advice here.. http://www.peterchild.co.uk/info1/firsttools.htm

I think quite a few of us started with either the Sorby or RP 'set' and are probably still using them a few years down the line. Once you've got the hang of things you will probably be tempted to purchase more/ different sized/ profiled gouges to suit a particular need etc. but thats sometime off. The other tools mentioned above all worth looking into too.

Whichever tools you go for you will need to sharpen them five minutes later so be sure to get yourself some form of sharpening kit, the minimum being a bench grinder with a white wheel and a small (home made?) tiltable support.

 

[Dalboy]

+1 for the Robert Sorby set have used all of them. I find them comfy to use. If you was to buy them separate it would cost a lot more also for the £150 should be enough to buy a grinder if you have not already got one. As you progress then buy tools as needed.

 

[Mar_mite]

Poolwood machinery has that sorby set for £105. I've had my eye on it for a while.

 

[chipmunk]

Rather than buy the Record turning tool set, I'd try to stick to tools from one of the major specialist HSS turning tool manufacturers such as Ashley Isles, Crown, Robert Sorby or Hamlet/Henry Taylor.

Record have a good reputation for some things but they do not have a high profile in HSS turning tools.

HTH
Jon

 

[CHJ]

Hi all
After some advice and guidance please. I am getting rid of my really cheap turning tools and want to buy a decent set. ....

Quick and dirty advice:-

• 1. Don't get rid of your cheap tools.
  2. Really spend some thought and determine what it is about your cheap tool you don't get on with. *
  3. Go out and buy a replacement with improved attributes that meet your needs. **
  4. As you gain experience set about converting the original tool that you can't work with into a form you can use for a specialist task.

* Be honest, ask yourself why you can't correct the deficiency, is it the tool that's the limiting factor.
** Don't expect to get a whole set (that meet your needs) from one source.

 

[chipmunk]

+1 for Chas' comments.

Buying a new set of tools will not transform your turning but spending time and thought on Chas' steps 2-4 will.

Jon

 

[renderer01]

I agree with Chas also, I based my comments for some reason on the thought that you had a set of those truly horrible things that you see on ebay for £10.

It may not be possible for you to discern at this time what is not right due to lack of knowledge or experience, a club tutor/ mentor would be able to help a lot or a mate who is an experienced turner.
Buying tools as separate items gets you a set of tools that do exactly what you need provided you know how to use them and grind them, but can cost you a little more if you buy new.
Buying a set of tools can be a little cheaper but you may have little use for some included in the set so care is needed to purchase the correct set.

Rend.

 

[Spindle]

Hi

Another vote for the Sorby set - unless you decide to specialise solely in bowl or spindle turning, (very unlikely), I am confident that you will use every tool in the set. In fact those six tools are probably the six I still use the most out of the 40+ that I now have.

Edited to add my thoughts on the Journeyman selection.

The 1 1/4" roughing gouge is not the most versatile size, it's fine for large spindles but I use my 3/4" one ten times more often than my 1 1/4"

I find I have to concentrate harder when using a 1/2" skew compared to a larger one due to the 'sweet spot' being proportionally smaller - my most used skew is a 3/4", (although that may change when I get around to adding a 1" to my collection - the 1 1/4" is a joy to use but again it's size limits it's applications).

The 3/16" diamond parting tool can't be (ab)used by laying on it's side as a 'vee' scraper for marking / detailing - although I've had a diamond parting tool for ages it's one of my least used tools, I tend to part with a 1/8" tool and cut tenons with either a skew or a 3/8" beading and parting tool.

You may also find that a 1" heavy duty scraper is limited in it's application by it's size, although it will be ideal for bowls of suitable dimension.

Regards Mick

 

[simo27]

Thanks for all the advice folks, the tools I have at the moment are a set of Clarkes (£28 quid for 6 tools) from Machine Mart, I got them off my Dad when he was having a clear out, I think I need something a little more robust.

Chris