Tantung bits

[Bob Hodge]

I watched a video on making one's own tantung turning tool.  This is completely new to me.  Check out this video at THE BIG UGLY TOOL by Reed Gray aka Robo Hippy with Randal Dale - YouTube  

I've seen this discussed on a couple of other sites, but not here.  I like here best. 

It appears that one can buy small pieces of tantung reasonably cheap. Then comes welding to a piece of steel and handle.  The question is whether what you get from tantung is worth the effort.  

Your experiences with tantung, please

[HandyDan]

It is another tool steel.  Heat doesn't bother it and it can be sharpened by grinding.  Reed gray uses scrapers to hog away material quickly using a lathe with a lot of power.  If this is also your turning style then it would be an advantage especially if you are a production turner.  To find where to buy it search   tantung g for sale  There are some Ebay sellers in addition to machine shop suppliers. 

[lew]

Just adding the link Robo Hippy's video

 

https://youtu.be/orV-Oi5UsSo

 

 

 

[Gerald]

I think Reed uses the big ugly mainly for roughing and it must be some tough steel. He is the only one I know of who uses or sells this and he mostly sells at symposiums. He has now closed his tool sales so will not be selling any more. I think he has said it is silver solder he uses and that is kinda tricky to attach the Tantung. The reason Reed touts it so is that he does all of his hollowing with scrapers and hardly ever uses a bowl gouge.