So I've been on the fence about this.  I know I really enjoy having my carbide cutters I like them.  How ever I think its due time that I do go back to getting into HSS gouges.  So I'm currently trying to research decent HSS gouges for myself that wouldn't be too expensive and way out of my price range.  I'm also looking into a stone bench grinder for sharpening and some sort of jig for getting the angles rather than just eyballing it.  If you guys have any suggestions on certain tools I'm all ears.  I'm just not looking to break the bank.

I am in the same boat. I have a cheap set and would like a better set but don’t know what to get.

 

There are a lot ways to consider what tools to buy. Without knowing your experience level it's hard to give a good suggestion. If you are just starting to explore high speed steel tools I would recommend a store brand like Benjamin's best sold by Penn State. A lot of turners also like the Hurricane tools, which I believe are sold on Ebay. Either is far, far from the best. Thompson lathe tools, Carter and Sons, Dway are all high quality steel and comparable with each other. Personally, I don't believe someone buying traditional tools for the first time should spend the big bucks for quality steel. One of the few times I would give such advice.

The reason is, there is a learning curve to sharpening just as steep or steeper than actually learning to use the tools. It's easy to grind away a tool and shorten it's life dramatically until you learn to sharpen. FWIW, after several years of turning, my tools of choice are Glenn Lucas' signature line. I just seem to get a better cut with them. After you get some experience, both using and sharpening, then you can upgrade to more quality steel.

For sharpening, woodturners wonders has a good starter package with a grinder and the jigs to get sharpening.

 

2 minutes ago, Steve Krumanaker said:

There are a lot ways to consider what tools to buy. Without knowing your experience level it's hard to give a good suggestion. If you are just starting to explore high speed steel tools I would recommend a store brand like Benjamin's best sold by Penn State. A lot of turners also like the Hurricane tools, which I believe are sold on Ebay. Either is far, far from the best. Thompson lathe tools, Carter and Sons, Dway are all high quality steel and comparable with each other. Personally, I don't believe someone buying traditional tools for the first time should spend the big bucks for quality steel. One of the few times I would give such advice.

The reason is, there is a learning curve to sharpening just as steep or steeper than actually learning to use the tools. It's easy to grind away a tool and shorten it's life dramatically until you learn to sharpen. FWIW, after several years of turning, my tools of choice are Glenn Lucas' signature line. I just seem to get a better cut with them. After you get some experience, both using and sharpening, then you can upgrade to more quality steel.

For sharpening, woodturners wonders has a good starter package with a grinder and the jigs to get sharpening.

 

This was almost my thought exactly.  I don't want to buy too much of an expensive set just to ruin them and have them go to waste.  I would rather learn on a in expensive but quality set of tools rather than waste my money.  Not what I'm looking to do.  

6 minutes ago, AndrewB said:

This was almost my thought exactly.  I don't want to buy too much of an expensive set just to ruin them and have them go to waste.  I would rather learn on a in expensive but quality set of tools rather than waste my money.  Not what I'm looking to do.  

 

Andrew, I am speaking from experience. When I first started I asked pretty much the same question you just did. Many, many people advised me to buy Thompson as they have the best steel available, 10V. That's true, they do. So, I bought 1/2" thompson bowl gouge, a tool that would last an experienced turner a few years at least. I had it ground to a nub in less than a year and still didn't have a good handle on sharpening.

I then bought a benjamin's best set of bowl gouges and learned on them. At that time, the whole set cost about the same as the one Thompson.

To be fair, since then I have invested in several Thompson gouges because they ARE a very good tool but again, my tools of choice are Glenn's.

Edited December 31, 20205 yr by Steve Krumanaker

The problem I am having is I like longer tools. My set is mid size. I haven't been able to find longer tools at a mid price range. You can see here how short my set is.

I guess I could always make longer handles for them.

26 minutes ago, RustyFN said:

The problem I am having is I like longer tools. My set is mid size. I haven't been able to find longer tools at a mid price range. You can see here how short my set is.

 

If it's longer tools you are looking for, this lady seems to have various sized-

https://www.ashleyharwood.com/

 

I love watching her turn. She has turned some of the largest pieces I have seen anybody turn.

I started with Mexican Set "el-cheap-o". I think there were 7 or 8 chisels in the box- of which I may have used 3 or 4. My saving grace was that my sharpening station was (and is) the original green Tormek. The slow speed and water bath saved me from grinding away a lot of metal and the sharpening jigs provided the ability to grind consistent shapes. My first real bowl gouge was from Woodcraft- a Record Power. I have several other turning tools from Record and a few from Pinnacle. 

 

I know these may not be top of the line for traditional HSS but they have served me well.

That will be another nice project to start on is a nicer tool rack for tools now that I have a proper bench things run up the way I do.  But I want to get the gouges first before I start on that   Still waiting for the stimulus check to come in so I can get the lathe but I'll probably be getting the gouges and grinder tomorrow.

Todays the day I plan on ordering the HSS spindle tools.  For the hollowing I will continue to use my mid size easy hollower how ever I did happen to find a decent deal on a sharpening jig for hss gouges and chisels it was around 56 bucks after all was said and done so not too bad...  I  wound up getting the PSI WoodWorking LCMPLUS Chisel Mate Plus Sharpening System.   So not too bad for the over all cost...  I still need to purchase the spindle gouges and grinder not sure if I want to get a disc like the one shown in the picture or just a regular bench grinder with stone wheels I haven't quite decided yet.  I'm going to scope out home depot before I order and see what they have in stock first before I look online.  Also I picked up a very cheap set of tools to learn how to sharpen before I spend a ton of money on good tools.  Amazon lists them at 25.99 so I wound up with a bill at roughly 28 bucks in total.   So NOT too bad for a cheapo set of tools to learn how to sharpen on.  I'll get the most use out of them fortunately I wont need to purchase any bowl gouges.  Now hurry up and wait for my orders to get here.

 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004UMB4CW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_image_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07D2PNYLL?ref=ppx_pt2_dt_b_prod_image

Edited December 31, 20205 yr by AndrewB

If you decide to go the bench grinder route, look for a low speed grinder similar to this one

 

https://www.rikontools.com/product/80-805

 

1750 RPM's will not overheat the tools as quickly as the higher speed models

 

Sharpening is not just a skill, it is an art. When I started turning, I bought the cheap set from HF knowing that my first attempts would not go well. I did some research on proper grinding and angles. Still, I did not do a good job. When the carbide cutters came out, I got a set of 3 and after a short learning period, I do really like them. I also sharpen them using a set of diamond hones. It would be great to have a nice set of expensive conventional cutters, but I'd ruin them.

That's what I did @lew I got my bench grinder this morning.  So now I'm all set with most of the tools I'll need for the time being except the new lathe LOL.  That will have to wait until that stimulus check gets deposited.  Either way I wound up picking up the Ryobi 6 inch bench grinder from Home Depot this morning after I finished paying bills....  this one....

 

https://www.homedepot.com/p/RYOBI-2-1-Amp-6-in-Grinder-with-LED-Lights-BG612G/205216320

 

Just under 60 bucks for it so not too bad.  I don't think I need anything more than that to do what I need to do for sharpening.  @Ron Altier when I first tried sharpening spindles I ruined the first set I got entirely by the third time I sharpened them...  Huge learning curve.  This was way back when I first got the first set when I bought my wen lathe.  How ever now I have watched a few videos I ordered the sharpening jig so that should help entirely.  But it will still be a huge learning curve to get through because some of the things I want to start doing such as pepper mills Id like to do with hss tools mostly.  I'm not sure how well that will go but I'm sure it will work out.  I've still got a bunch of stuff to learn with the sharpening.  But at least now I should be quite set up.

48 minutes ago, AndrewB said:

That's what I did @lew I got my bench grinder this morning.  So now I'm all set with most of the tools I'll need for the time being except the new lathe LOL.  That will have to wait until that stimulus check gets deposited.  Either way I wound up picking up the Ryobi 6 inch bench grinder from Home Depot this morning after I finished paying bills....  this one....

 

https://www.homedepot.com/p/RYOBI-2-1-Amp-6-in-Grinder-with-LED-Lights-BG612G/205216320

 

Just under 60 bucks for it so not too bad.  I don't think I need anything more than that to do what I need to do for sharpening.  @Ron Altier when I first tried sharpening spindles I ruined the first set I got entirely by the third time I sharpened them...  Huge learning curve.  This was way back when I first got the first set when I bought my wen lathe.  How ever now I have watched a few videos I ordered the sharpening jig so that should help entirely.  But it will still be a huge learning curve to get through because some of the things I want to start doing such as pepper mills Id like to do with hss tools mostly.  I'm not sure how well that will go but I'm sure it will work out.  I've still got a bunch of stuff to learn with the sharpening.  But at least now I should be quite set up.

I set up an angle system on my small belt sander and it helped. I would look down as I held the tool to get the proper angle.

 

...That PSI unit reminds me a lot of my old Delta lathe sanding table.

 

BTW the Ryobi is a 3600 RPM grinder.

 

Whats going to be the real challenge is learning how to grind a negative rake when it comes time to do that LOL.  That's going to be the real challenge.

You bought the wrong grinder.  Has the wrong grinding wheels and is too fast.  You need this one which is only one step up but it is a big step.  Variable speed would be best.

 

https://www.homedepot.com/p/WEN-120-Volt-8-in-Slow-Speed-Bench-Grinder-4286/205413322?MERCH=REC-_-pipinstock-_-205216320-_-205413322-_-N

 

A  OneWay grinding jig is most helpful too.  Makes grinding lathe tools a cinch with a small learning curve.

 

https://www.amazon.com/Oneway-2291-Wolverine-Grinding-Jig/dp/B000CSQONC

 

 

 

Edited December 31, 20205 yr by HandyDan

The grinder was what I could find for not having to order out for it so I will make it work.