Artie Posted April 18, 2019 Report Share Posted April 18, 2019 I made a comment on a previous post, and can’t find it. Whoever started the post had made some beautiful work on the lathe, and I mentioned it made me want to try turning. Then I asked about turning tools (Shopsmith ones) and it was mentioned to me that Easy Wood Tools is a sponsor. Plus I wouldn’t have to learn how to sharpen the tools, while learning how to turn. I’ma thinking my next present to myself might be a set of Easy Wood Tools, full size. Do we have a particular person/store/enterprise we should support? Or hammer the net, looking for a best price? Any opinions, advice, or comments welcome. Thank you. HARO50, John Morris and Gunny 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerald Posted April 19, 2019 Report Share Posted April 19, 2019 Not likely to find any deals. Turning tools do not go on sale often. I have seen 10% off at Craft Supplies but that is as good as it gets. At symposium you can get tools without paying shipping and maybe a little discount. HARO50 and Artie 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Gunny Posted April 19, 2019 Popular Post Report Share Posted April 19, 2019 4 hours ago, Artie said: I’ma thinking my next present to myself might be a set of Easy Wood Tools, full size. Do we have a particular person/store/enterprise we should support? Contact @Jim from Easy Wood Tools. I asked awhile back for a suggestion on which ones to get for my type of use. Was very helpful. Me, I will just go to the website and order when I get some $$$. These pesky things like mortgage and power bills, insurance and such they seem to eat up my ready cash. Oh and let us not forget taxes!!!! HARO50, Mijohnson1984, Cal and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lew Posted April 19, 2019 Report Share Posted April 19, 2019 I have some full and mid sized EWTs. I find I use the mid sized tools more. Artie, HARO50, Cal and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunny Posted April 19, 2019 Report Share Posted April 19, 2019 43 minutes ago, lew said: I find I use the mid sized tools more. Exactly what Jim suggested. Also, they fit in the drawer that I have. Bigger ones, not at all.. Cal, HARO50 and Artie 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mijohnson1984 Posted April 19, 2019 Report Share Posted April 19, 2019 What I’m curious about is rehandling them. @Jim from Easy Wood Tools I don’t have the biggest hands (tiny actually) but cause of surgery on my left hand there are days trying to grasp slender handles is rather annoying. So I’ve been rehandling tools to make it easier. Some are easier while others. Let’s just say maybe a step short of getting a welder and a torch. Artie, Cal and HARO50 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lew Posted April 19, 2019 Report Share Posted April 19, 2019 8 hours ago, Mijohnson1984 said: What I’m curious about is rehandling them. @Jim from Easy Wood Tools I don’t have the biggest hands (tiny actually) but cause of surgery on my left hand there are days trying to grasp slender handles is rather annoying. So I’ve been rehandling tools to make it easier. Some are easier while others. Let’s just say maybe a step short of getting a welder and a torch. EWT sells unhandled tools- See the attached PDF EWT_retail_demo_crt_price_sheetno-whlsever09-23-14_final.pdf Artie, Gunny and HARO50 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Jim L Posted April 19, 2019 Popular Post Report Share Posted April 19, 2019 Artie - I work for Easy Wood Tools and I have been turning for over 30 years. I would be glad to help or advise in any way that you like. First let me say there is a whole universe of turners out there who believe that unless you are turning with traditional HSS tools you are not really turning, you are cheating, you are taking a shortcut. I've been with Easy Wood Tools now for about 2-1/2 years and I can give you some facts. Yes it is easier to turn with carbide tools, the learning curve is much, much shorter and you will be making projects almost immediately, instead of spending hours learning techniques and learning how to properly sharpen HSS tools. I know for a fact that there are thousands of people out there today that are happily turning with carbide tools who had given up out of frustration and fear of using HSS. Don't get me wrong, there is an art and beauty to seeing accomplished traditional turners wield a finely sharpened bowl gouge or turn a perfect bead with a razor sharp skew chisel. NOTHING BUT RESPECT for traditional turners and their art. Take a look at Gerald's library of images... he is an excellent example of an accomplished traditional turner. I believe there can be a balance of using both carbide and HSS tools, there are many on this forum that use both. Look at @Steve Krumanaker's work. One of the finest turners on this site (IMHO) and he is primarily a HSS turner, but occasionally uses a carbide tool. Why can't you have both types of tools in your quiver? I do. Take a look at @lew's work... he is an EWT guy, and his work is as good as any I've seen He really is a fine turner. My suggestion to you is a set of Mid-Size EWT tools. Find out if you like it or really LOVE it. If you get hooked on turning (and I hope you do...) take some classes and learn to use traditional tools as well. My office number is (859) 246-0294. If you want to call and chat... talk turning, I'd love to speak with you. I have the best job on the planet... I paid to play with tools! Jumping off my soapbox now... hope this helped a little bit. Call me anytime... except today, I took the day off and I'm watching my Cubs play the Diamondbacks! Cheers Jim Gunny, Artie, lew and 5 others 3 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lew Posted April 19, 2019 Report Share Posted April 19, 2019 Thanks @Jim from Easy Wood Tools! @Artie, let me know if I can do anything to help you! Cal, HARO50, Gunny and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HARO50 Posted April 19, 2019 Report Share Posted April 19, 2019 Artie, you may recall that I was the recipient of a set of three mid-sized EWT tools won in the Christmas raffle by Herb. Due to health problems in the family, I haven't had much chance to use them, but I HAVE tried them on an old blank my dad started years ago. They are truly amazing, and much easier to use than my HSS tools! As Jim suggests, give them a try. You'll be amazed. John Thanks again, @Dadio. GO, Harbor Freight! Cal, Dadio, Artie and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Artie Posted April 19, 2019 Author Report Share Posted April 19, 2019 Jim, I’m very much still in the “I don’t even know, what I don’t know” category of woodworking. I have a maybe 15 foot by 18 foot workshop in the basement, which must also be used for other purposes at times. I have a Shopsmith, and still haven’t used all of it’s features. With a lathe being one of them, it seems that if I had some turning tools, I could try it, see if I like it. I don’t really like labels. If I’m in my basement, having fun, hurting no one, and breaking no laws, then it doesn’t matter to me what terms are used to describe what I’m doing. And if there is an end result that I could give to someone and they would actually like it, then home run. In my mind, shaping a spinning piece of wood seems an epitome of woodworking. Now when I first try it, butcher the wood, eat sawdust, and send the turning tool halfway across the room (in other words, real life happening LOL) who knows if I’ll like it. I rather suspect it’s a capability I’m gonna want to have. Kinda like fishing-live bait, fly fishing, lure casting, night fishing, surf casting, multitudes of different ways of enjoying the sport, you wanna get reasonably competent with at least a couple of them. So for me, with Easy Wood being a sponsor here, the recommendations from people here, who’s opinions I value, and being a US made product, yeah that’s an easy decision. So to get to the last real question I have, (now that I know to start with the midsize tools) does it matter who/where I buy them from? I have seen SEVERAL different projects people have made with their lathes that made me want to try making myself. From what I’ve read, one would also want a deflector shield? Seem to have a mostly positive review, with some not being able to keep them on tight. ) I’m wondering if some Loctite might help with that. Thank you for your help, Artie Gunny, Cal, Dadio and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post lew Posted April 19, 2019 Popular Post Report Share Posted April 19, 2019 (edited) 10 minutes ago, Artie said: From what I’ve read, one would also want a deflector shield? The deflector shield is nice. You should also consider a face shield I have this one and really like it. I think I got it off of Amazon but they also have them at Woodcraft as well as other retailers. Edited April 19, 2019 by lew HARO50, Mijohnson1984, Cal and 2 others 3 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Artie Posted April 19, 2019 Author Report Share Posted April 19, 2019 Lew, in my younger, less experienced (I almost said stupider LOL) days I woulda just gone with safety glasses. Now having enough experience to understand that bad things can happen to ME, yeah a face shield might be a better option than one on the tool. I’ll have to look into what Woodcraft has, think I still have a gift certificate left over from Christmas Thanks HARO50, Cal and Gunny 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lew Posted April 19, 2019 Report Share Posted April 19, 2019 I have the uncoated clear shield. It's a bit less expensive- https://www.amazon.com/Honeywell-S8500-Bionic-Shields-Uncoated/dp/B01KCGLXWU Cal and Gunny 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mijohnson1984 Posted April 20, 2019 Report Share Posted April 20, 2019 36 minutes ago, lew said: The deflector shield is nice. You should also consider a face shield I have this one and really like it. I think I got it off of Amazon but they also have them at Woodcraft as well as other retailers. Yes should rate as high as ear muffs. Even though I don’t mind being dirty, I do mind foreign objects in my eyes. HARO50 and Cal 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Morris Posted April 20, 2019 Report Share Posted April 20, 2019 51 minutes ago, Artie said: does it matter who/where I buy them from? Always great to purchase straight from the fine folks at EWT. More profit for them, and a direct contact from you to them, being a Patriot Woodworker, they will know that their sponsorship is a good one here. Please mention you are a Patriot Woodworker. You may even prefer to deal with @Jim from Easy Wood Tools directly. Or http://www.easywoodtools.com/ Thank you for your support of our sponsor Artie, it means the world to us, and them. Gunny, Cal, Artie and 1 other 2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Artie Posted April 20, 2019 Author Report Share Posted April 20, 2019 On one of the face shields I saw, they recommend/state that you should wear safety glasses/goggles underneath. Do you wear glasses/goggles underneath the shield? For turning do you wear masks/respirators? I’m not sure if turning creates more chips/shavings than sawdust, and therefore might not need a mask? Cal, Gunny and HARO50 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post John Morris Posted April 20, 2019 Popular Post Report Share Posted April 20, 2019 3 minutes ago, Artie said: On one of the face shields I saw, they recommend/state that you should wear safety glasses/goggles underneath. Do you wear glasses/goggles underneath the shield? For turning do you wear masks/respirators? I’m not sure if turning creates more chips/shavings than sawdust, and therefore might not need a mask? Artie, I may be a simpleton or just plain stupid, but for my little turning that I do, spindles for chairs, etc, I don't use a mask, the only thing I wear is safety glasses. Perhaps turners who turn bowls are more apt to catch one in the teeth? But for spindle work, chair legs, rungs, posts, candle holders and such, I feel that a good pair of safety glasses is all that's needed. Now I'll run and duck for cover as the safety guru's around here throw tomatoes at me! HARO50, HandyDan, Cal and 2 others 3 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Artie Posted April 20, 2019 Author Report Share Posted April 20, 2019 John, I have no problem voting with my wallet (as long as I can actually write the check LOL). Seems hypocritical to complain that nothings made in the USA and then buy a cheaper version from elsewhere. Now having said that, if the price difference is hundreds to thousands of dollars, well I gotta take care of the family. While researching scroll saws all I read was how nice a guy Ray at Seyco is. If I get to the point where I’m buying a new scroll saw, I’m planning on calling Ray. HARO50 and Cal 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Artie Posted April 20, 2019 Author Report Share Posted April 20, 2019 John, I like the idea of full face protection, but not sure I need to double that up with glasses/goggles. Also not sure how much lung protection is needed during turning. I have found that when I use a ROS and it’s connected to the vac, I don’t need a dust mask, can’t smell anything wood. Cal 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.