Woodturning chisels

[Simpo Two]

Returning to the sport of woodturning after a lapse of many years, I bought a £50 set of six chisels - the usual gouges, angled chisels, scraper etc. However in practice I'm finding them a bit clunky and they lose their edge quickly.

How do 'carbide' chisels compare? Are they replacements for for something different? Presume they don't 'cut' but only 'scrape'? Opinions welcomed!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Carbide-Tipped-Wood-Turn...

[sparkythecat]

Get yourself along to this woodworking show next month and speak with some of the expert wood turners who'll be doing demos there. They'll put you right

http://www.skpromotions.co.uk/index.html

[Big Al.]

Never used TC tipped tools on wood, have always used HSS for chisels. gouges, and some wider scrapers also have a fee ground edge files as scrapers.

Tormek for all HHS, off hand bench grinder for scrapers.

Imoportant thing when grinding scrapers leave on the minuter burr that results from grinding the edge it improves the cutting action, don't be tempted to oil stone the edge.

[dickymint]

Big Al. said:

Never used TC tipped tools on wood, have always used HSS for chisels. gouges, and some wider scrapers also have a fee ground edge files as scrapers.

Tormek for all HHS, off hand bench grinder for scrapers.

Imoportant thing when grinding scrapers leave on the minuter burr that results from grinding the edge it improves the cutting action, don't be tempted to oil stone the edge.

I use the cheaper Triton version of the Tormek with this jig..............


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyScXCyh4Jc

Can't fault it

[paulrockliffe]

I've got a set of the tc cutters for my lathe, they're very impressive. You can get cutters that have the edge turned up which cut rather than scrape, the extra cutters are about £5 a pop, so worth getting.

[Simpo Two]

paulrockliffe said:

I've got a set of the tc cutters for my lathe, they're very impressive. You can get cutters that have the edge turned up which cut rather than scrape, the extra cutters are about £5 a pop, so worth getting.

Thanks - would you say they are a modern version of traditional tools, or an adjunct to them?

Personally I'm happy to scrape because if I ever try to angle the tool upwards and cut like the F. Pains of this world, then no matter how careful I am or how the rest is adjusted, it goes kapang and rips a lump out.

[paulrockliffe]

I'm not really experienced to be able to answer that. I find them easier to use because I've not got the hang of sharpening the 'proper' tools yet, but I'm sure that'll come with a bit more experience and now I have a decent wetstone grinder and jig. I think they're definitely worth having though, whether you prefer to work with traditional tools or not.

[minivanman]

In my limited experience, every time I've had a catch I've been doing something wrong. Be it the wrong tool, the wrong angle, not "rubbing the bevel" or just plain not concentrating enough. It's a steep learning curve! I've got a sorby pro edge to eliminate tool sharpening from the learning curve. With the correct chisel for what you're doing (Very important - bowl flying out of chuck is not something I want to repeat!), held correctly so the bevel beneath the cutting edge is supporting it, its quite easy to get the hang of it. The Keith Rowley book is very useful for explaining how to cut the various shapes correctly.