Got Ron Brown's Newsletter today and this related to one of our sponsors Easy Wood Tools. I found this to be an exact statement of what place there tools have taken in woodturning.

 

Carbide Turning Tools – I Was Wrong

I first met Craig Jackson, founder of EasyWood Tools, at a turning symposium around 2005-2007. I had heard about his carbide-tipped tools for a while. Craig was not the first or the only one to introduce carbide to the woodturning world, but he was the best marketer of the bunch.

 

I was very passionate about turning wood and had invested a great deal of time, effort, and money in learning how to use High-Speed Steel turning tools and how to keep them sharp. I understood the difference between cutting and scraping so I confronted Craig to let him know that I felt he was single-handedly ruining new turners by teaching them to scrape everything with his carbide scrapers! He was congenial and agreed to disagree.

 

Over the next few Woodworking show seasons and turning symposiums, I spoke to many people who told me that they had been introduced to turning using EasyWood Carbide tools because they were easy. They loved our hobby and were now ready to learn more.

 

Several recurring themes among these new turners were:

1.They originally only had only a mild interest in turning,

2.Using carbide tools, they had instant success with their first few attempts and made something useful right away,

3.They were terrified of having to sharpen HSS conventional turning tools,

4.After a short while, they were hooked on turning and expressed a deep hunger to learn more. They were now eager to learn how to use and sharpen conventional turning tools to become better turners.

 

My earlier assessment only saw one side of the story. I still believe carbide turning tools are scrapers and that it is better to cut wood fibers than to tear wood fibers whenever possible. What I didn’t realize was that carbide tools made it easy for new turners to have quick success as they were introduced to our wonderful hobby. They could produce the same beautiful turned wooden treasures that we love to make, but with much less hassle. Folks who might have otherwise become frustrated and quit wanted to take the next step.

 

Here is how it makes sense to me: There are four pillars in woodturning,

1.The Lathe

2.Work Holding Devices – Chucks, spur centers, faceplates, etc.

3.Lathe Chisels – High-Speed Steel & Carbide

4.A sharpening station – Grinder, Wheels for HSS, Sharpening Jigs (Wolverine, etc.

 

Carbide tools don’t require a sharpening station. A turner can eliminate 25% of the equipment, the cost of that equipment, and all of the time and energy needed to learn how to use the sharpening equipment and various gouge grinds. By eliminating so much expense and effort, the chance for one to become a successful turner increases greatly.

 

I eventually became a great promoter of carbide tools for folks with a mild interest in turning wood. Whenever someone told me they wanted to try it to see if woodturning was something they might be interested in, or for non-turning parents helping their kids get started. Carbide turning tools are a great starting point.

 

Why? Because it really is easy. Don’t get me wrong, I still believe carbide tools are scrapers, but scrapers have their place. Most turners who stay with our hobby eventually add HSS tools to their arsenal and do acquire a proper sharpening station. I own and use carbide scrapers as well as HSS scrapers and use them when appropriate. I mostly turn with razor-sharp HSS tools because it is so much faster, cleaner, and easier once you know how.

 

So, the day came when I had a chance to meet Craig Jackson face-to-face again a few years later. I apologized for my earlier premature judgment which he graciously accepted. The lesson for me was not to make snap judgments and give the situation a little seasoning so I can see a bigger picture and make a more accurate assessment. First impressions might not tell the whole story. Remember that wherever you go, there you are.

 

Here is my inspiration for this week’s message:

 

Prov 12:15 AMP The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who listens to counsel is wise.

 

Acts 5:38-39 MSG "So I am telling you: Hands off these men! Let them alone. If this program or this work is merely human, it will fall apart, but if it is of God, there is nothing you can do about it—and you better not be found fighting against God!"

 

John 7:24 AMP Be honest in your judgment and do not decide at a glance (superficially and by appearances); but judge fairly and righteously.

 

Basic Concept:

It is better to cut wood fibers than to tear (scrape) whenever possible.

 Copied from Ron Brown's Best newsletter

 

Just found this link to archived newsletters:

https://ronbrownsbest.com/archive/index.php/en/

Edited November 6, 20214 yr by Gerald

Really interesting!  Thanks for posting this, Gerald.

I agree with that but a new turner should know going in the limitations to the carbide tools.  They can't expect perfect results without a lot of sanding.  I do use the carbide tools when needed.  The carbide tools do leave a nice surface as long as they are sharp and used with a light touch for the final tool shaping.

 

I'm self taught and my first attempt at turning was using dull HSS tools as scrapers.  I was discouraged and quit for years.  It wasn't until I started watching Tim Yoder on PBS that I knew what I was doing wrong.  The power of television and video are a great way of understanding how it is done unless the wrong person is viewed and there are a lot of those out there.     

Edited November 6, 20214 yr by HandyDan

Hunter Tools have taken carbide to the next level.  Carbide tools for wood lathes are no longer just scrapers.  Carbide has been used to cut steel for years, it just a matter of how the tool is presented to the material. 

 

I've got a Hercules and a Osprey in my bag of tricks.  Both of them work like a gouge and are capable of taking the finest of shearing cuts.

 

.40

Edited November 6, 20214 yr by forty_caliber

I’ve yet to find a chance to try out my Easy Wood Tools, but I’m hoping they will allow me to have some success and plant the bug for turning.

I guess I would have to chalk this one to personal preference. Yes the carbide tools generally scrape and not cut and you will end up doing more sanding but they are both capable of ending up in the same place. The art of turning is more the artist than the tools he uses. From a certain prospective sanding is scraping also just at a micro level.

Paul

3 hours ago, Masonsailor said:

I guess I would have to chalk this one to personal preference. Yes the carbide tools generally scrape and not cut and you will end up doing more sanding but they are both capable of ending up in the same place. The art of turning is more the artist than the tools he uses. From a certain prospective sanding is scraping also just at a micro level.

Paul

The beauty of using "cutting" tools vs "scraping" is hat even after sanding the properly cut surface will show the grain better and scraping can lead to more tear out. Just speaking to tool advantage here not that either cannot accomplish the final form. I have six Hunter tools and really like the Viceroy for hollowing. With my Hunters for hollowing I can get and almost 180 grit surface. But remember I have been turning 15 years and for the beginner any carbide may be a game changer. 

On 11/6/2021 at 3:23 PM, HandyDan said:

I agree with that but a new turner should know going in the limitations to the carbide tools.  They can't expect perfect results without a lot of sanding.  I do use the carbide tools when needed.  The carbide tools do leave a nice surface as long as they are sharp and used with a light touch for the final tool shaping.

 

I'm self taught and my first attempt at turning was using dull HSS tools as scrapers.  I was discouraged and quit for years.  It wasn't until I started watching Tim Yoder on PBS that I knew what I was doing wrong.  The power of television and video are a great way of understanding how it is done unless the wrong person is viewed and there are a lot of those out there.     

I agree. I got into using carbide tools for everything. Now I hardly ever use them. I bought a good bowl gouge and learned to sharpen it and use mostly traditional tools now. Tim Yoder is one of my favorites. I have been watching him on YouTube for a while now.

 

I have never used the carbide tools myself. But I guess if it allows more people to enjoy turning that’s all that matters. Still there is nothing like the feeling of those ribbons of wood peeling off, something I don’t think is possible scraping. 
Paul