Something a little different this week. More of a tool review than the projects/sites usually posted.

I have had an opportunity to use the Easy Wood Tools making the rounds here, at the Patriot Woodworker. For my type of turning, these tools are perfect.

The tools arrived at the most opportune time, as I was just getting ready to turn a couple of grinders- Mimi’s belated Christmas present. The grinders, made from glued up blanks, have wood grains running in all directions. This is a real test for a cutting tool. The pictures, in this post, are from what I have accomplished so far. The surface texture is what the tools produced; I have not begun sanding at this point.

The package contained three Mini tools and additional cutters. I used each tool and the supplied cutters to shape the grinders at various stages of development.

The Easy Wood Rougher (with the square cutter) made fast work of bring the rounded blank into a smooth cylinder. When starting, I used the tool directly from the package. It was sharp but it did leave a slightly rough surface. I noticed the cutter edge appeared it had been the only one used. Turning the cutter to expose a fresh edge made a marked difference in the smoothness of the cut. I cut the grinder top tenon with the Rougher, also.

Used Edge-

Fresh Edge-

 

Tenon Cut-

 Switching to the 2†roughing cutter allowed much easier shaping of the grinder. I liked the way the cutter moved over the blank with very little tendency to create a line at the edge of the cutter. The 2†cutter- even the 4†cutter (not tested) - would be my choice for roughing and moderate shaping.

The Mini Finisher created the cove cut. It made a very smooth, clean cut. I first started the cove at a relatively low spindle speed. Mike Dillen experienced some ridging and so did I. Increasing the speed to moderately fast, eliminated this problem. I guess the “trick†is to keep the lathe speed high, when using this particular tool.

 

The Mini Detailer cut the convex portions of the grinder. Of the three tools, I liked this tool the best. It is very versatile and easily controlled. It can act as a parting tool or shaping tool. In my opinion, if anything could improve this tool, it would be creating a cutter that has a “square point†on one end and the “round point†on the other.

Using these tools is a pleasure and I will be adding some of them to my turning arsenal. Checking the manufacture’s web site, for pricing, these products seem priced competitively with similar tools from other manufactures. These are American made tools. To me that is a deal maker! 

I'll post pix of the completed grinders later. Until then, Safe Turning!

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Lew Kauffman-
Wood Turners Forum Host

Time traveler. Purveyor of the world's finest custom rolling pins!

Lew, excellent reviewing, thanks so much for taking the time to use them and review them. And your right, there are other's out there, but these are Made in USA. You can't argue that! Thanks again Lew for the review.

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John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker
Proud Supporter of Homes For Our Troops and Wounded Warriors Project

I actually found the detailer quite nice as well, but a bit tricky to control cuts in tight corners, and what I mean by that is that it is so sharp that you really have to be careful or you will cut something you don't want cut. This is not so much a problem with non carbide tools, or duller carbide blades, but fresh out of the pack, yea you better be careful. I figure that I don't need the mid size detailer, I don't see any difference in the tool or cutter, so I will probably get a mini and save money. I hope to do that once orders start picking up again.

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Charles Nicholls
Site Host
nicholls61@att.net
Proud supporter of The Wounded Warrior Project, Homes For Our Troops and the NRA

http://www.etsy.com/shop/nichollswoodworks

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John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker
Proud Supporter of Homes For Our Troops and Wounded Warriors Project