I was wondering what lathe tools you are using?  While I was teaching we would generally buy cheap ones since they were getting abused by students, I think we were buying Buck Bros. through Paxton.  I've also bought some Benjamin's Best and I liked them pretty well.

I went to Woodcraft because I was needing some new tools for my new shop and those things are expensive.  Many of them are $75 a pop, and since this is a new startup venture I wasn't too thrilled with that price.  I ended up getting a Sorby Handled TurnMaster, I think for $129.  I'm not so sure that I like the thing, but I am trying to use it and it is getting better.  I'm used to keeping my tool rest close to the work piece, and with this I need to stay back 2-3" and it is so easy for it to grab in and gouge.  In reading the reviews on it I'm finding that those who have posted aren't liking it too well either.  I thought that in getting this tool it would do the job of a couple others, but I'm not so sure.

I use the Woodchuck Uni-tool and the Woodchuck PenPro

My first set of tools were Buck Bros. that I bought with my Ridgid Lathe at HD. Since then I have built a nice set of Sorbys. I absolutely love my Turnmaster, It is the best tool for INSIDE turning. In side bowls or vases turning doesn't get any better, or easier. I still have and use my B.B. tools also. 

Until recently my turning was confined to pens. I use Sorby and have a set of the Easy wood tools. I was not very comfortable with the easy finisher until I used it a few weeks ago in a class I took. Looking forward to working with it more. It is just to humid to be in my work area at present.

Although I have a collection of miscellaneous HSS tools, I now buy almost exclusively Thompson's cryogenic tools (A-11).  http://www.thompsonlathetools.com/   I also bought a CBN wheel to sharpen them which works significantly better than the AO white wheels on my slow speed grinder.  

If you turn mesquite or dry oak you will really appreciate the extra edge life that A-11 will give you.

I use both the easywood tools and standard lathe tools.  I have lots of the standards from different mfgs.

Here's my take:

I don't pay much attention to brand.  Almost all of the standards skews, scrappers, gouges, etc. are made of HHS or are carbon tipped.  What I look for is how the tools feel and handle.  If I goe to a woodworking store chances are they have a lathe set up somewhere where I can test drive a new tool.  I take my own wood or buy it at the store.  I do not expect the store to provide the wood unless they are doing a demo. 

I have some Sorby tools which I don't like much because they don't feel right when holding them.  And I have some cheap Harbor Freight chinese tools which I use a lot.  The standard tools all sharpen pretty much the same way brand to brand.

For the easy-wood type chisels it is important to consider the brand.  Not only do the same looking cutters vary in size they also vary in availablity.  These tools are used a little differently than the old standeard skews, gouges, and scrappers.

 

I choose what tools I use according to what I am turning.  If I am turning pens, I tend to use the easy-wood tools more.  On the other hand If bowls and vases, I tend to use the old standard one.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Phil

 

Phil Rasmussen, US Army-retired

The Mountain Woodworker

Hendersonville, NC

www. mountain woodworker.com

828-890-8058

 

Honestly, 90% of my turning is with the Easy Wood Tools I got last October as an early Christmas present, but there are times where I will use either my generic no name eBay bought scraper or my Benjamin's Best scraper. I bought some Benjamin's Best bowl gouges but they hang so much that I hardly use them. Perhaps it's operator error, but I get tired of trying to learn how to hold them right to cut the way I need them to that I basically just gave up trying, and fall back to the EWT's

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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

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My lathe tool selection is all crappy stuff with the exception of two ancient gouges and a skew

I have however, some lawn mower blades left over that don't fit my new Ferris being a quarter inch too long on each end.

I may make some lathe tools from them.

I have a few no-name tools left from my first lathe (part of a $50 for a 7 piece set). Most of the other tools are Pinnacle (from Woodcraft). I bought them before they started selling the Pinnacle Cryogenic Steel. Mine have the red handles. I think maybe the WoodRiver brand may be similar. I have an Easy Wood Finisher- Nice Tool!!

Of course, on my budget, I do make most of my scrapers. Any time I find a big old file, it gets saved and ground into a specialty scraper. Some folks say this is a dangerous practice, as the file is very brittle, but so far, I haven't had any problems.

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Lew Kauffman-
Wood Turners Forum Host

Time Traveler and Purveyor of the Universe's Finest Custom Rolling Pins!

I have a very mixed batch of tools that came from any where i could find them. Except for a Harbor Freight set they were all purchased on a case for case basis. My favorite skew is made by Jet in England.

My favorite skew is a Sorby oval 1", It glides so easy across the rest that I don't need much in the way of sanding at all.

I have one of those and can't get used to the feel of it.  Maybe I will give it another try!

Rob

Dan Klinglesmith said:

My favorite skew is a Sorby oval 1", It glides so easy across the rest that I don't need much in the way of sanding at all.

Rob, Loosen your grip on it just a little, let it glide.

I use the easy wood tool finisher, finger gouge, bowl gouge as the primary ones. Working one handed I find these are the easiest to use. I'd like to get more easy wood tools but the cost stop me, just like it does everyone else!!

I have some skews and others but I haven't gotten the knack of using those and so those stay untouched.  

This is sweet gum and my cat, stormy.

Beautiful bowl Rex, the cat too. Looks very similar to mine.

]

Rex B said:

I use the easy wood tool finisher, finger gouge, bowl gouge as the primary ones. Working one handed I find these are the easiest to use. I'd like to get more easy wood tools but the cost stop me, just like it does everyone else!!

I have some skews and others but I haven't gotten the knack of using those and so those stay untouched.  

This is sweet gum and my cat, stormy.

I have a couple of Thompson Tools and the EWT's. I also have a couple of Benjamin Best. I am kinda like Ken, I like to see how it feels and how well I can move it at the lathe. The Easy Wood Tool finisher is a really nice tool. A light grip and light tough is all you need. It is not a tool to try to remove much material with. You just have to keep telling yourself light touch and light feel.

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John Moody
Site Administrator


John Moody Woodworks
http://www.johnmoodywoodworks.com

I personally use Glaser hitec tools. I've been to the factory & have an in depth knowledge of the metal, the design, the counter weight dampening materials, handles and the wonderful man that owns the company. He has a passion to make the best tool he can  like no other. When I started using Glaser tools, my skill level excelled immediately.