How To Use Carbide Tip Turning Tools

Carbide turning tools are more forgiving than traditional woodturning tools and when Im a little unsure of sticking my nice Sorby bowl gouge into a.

How to use carbide tip turning tools. I do use my shopsmith with a disc sander attachment to knock off the corners and sand the blanks down closer to finished size before going to the lathe. Shaping a bowl blank goes pretty quick with a carbide turning tool. Position the tool rest as close to the work as possible so the carbide cutter is at the lathe center line.

Move the tool from side to side keeping it level and remove all the edges until the blank is round. Turn the lathe on a slow speed and file the ferrule round. Carbide tipped tools are more efficient and cost effective compared to high speed tools because they retain their cutting edge hardness at high machining temperatures which are generated by high cutting speeds.

The replaceable carbide insert on each tool is easily rotated to expose a sharp cutting edge by loosening the T15 Torx head screw with the included key and rotating the cutter. Reduce Fatigue - Pressure goes into the tool rest so your body doesnt get tired as quickly which equals more turning time. Be sure to cover up the motor and any speed control devices so the brass shavings dont ruin anything.

Bowl blank material can be removed quickly with a carbide turning tool and catches are less frequent than HSS tools. Carbide inserts do not have to be throw away. This saves time on the lathe helps me avoid chipping and saves the sharpness of the cutter for just finishing the turning.

You can move them backwards and forwards along the top of the tool-rest as you make your cut. While securely holding the tool slowly move the carbide. If one side of a carbide cutting tip wears out depending on the cutter shape the tip can be rotated to a new fresh sharp area.

Place the tool on the tool rest with the tool shaft parallel with the floor. Usually a piece of 12 steel round or square notched out in the end to accept a small square round or triangular carbide cutter that is screwed onto the steel shaft and the far side of the shaft has a long wood handle. To use the Simple Turner and Hollower just follow these 3 simple steps.