Hello All!
I have never been educated on machine tool use, other than reading & experimenting, so please pardon me if this is a really basic question. My experience with the lathe has been using almost exclusively 5/16" carbide tipped throw-away tools. I do have a couple of HSS tool bits for fine & aluminum work. (It's a South Bend 13" 34-BQ from 1922.)
I acquired many of what look like HSS lathe tool bits. They are 1/2" square. Each is ground to particular shape, most of which are normal turning tool angles & profiles. A few are radius tools & 2 look like threading tools.
But, when I tried to turn some scrap 12L14, the edges simply rounded over & no steel was cut. I tried again on mystery steel (a hardware store bolt). I got the same result.
I cleaned some of them up and found tattle-tale words stamped on a few. The words lead me to believe these used to be disposable carbide tipped tools that someone re-ground after the carbide was broken (no carbide is left). Some of the words are " Carbaloy 78-R AR 8", "Super Tool Co D-8 Steel Use", "Wesson BR-8 WM".
Once suspicious, I re-ground some on my bench grinder & noticed that sparks are quite a bit brighter orange than the dull orange I see with known HSS. (Grey wheel). They ground faster, too.
Do these sound to you like they are shanks from former carbide tipped tools?
Can you think of what material the former owner used these on?
If I may sneak in another 2 questions:
When I grind a bit on my 8" bench grinder, the ground surface has the expected concave curve of the wheel. Studying photos on line of ground bits, I never see that curve. Is it OK to have the curve? (I always learned not to use the side of the wheel fearing shattering of the stone.)
And, what stone material do you all prefer for grinding HSS tool bits?
Thanks to All for you advice on these questions. Your help is appreciated.
Enjoy Today!
Paul
I have never been educated on machine tool use, other than reading & experimenting, so please pardon me if this is a really basic question. My experience with the lathe has been using almost exclusively 5/16" carbide tipped throw-away tools. I do have a couple of HSS tool bits for fine & aluminum work. (It's a South Bend 13" 34-BQ from 1922.)
I acquired many of what look like HSS lathe tool bits. They are 1/2" square. Each is ground to particular shape, most of which are normal turning tool angles & profiles. A few are radius tools & 2 look like threading tools.
But, when I tried to turn some scrap 12L14, the edges simply rounded over & no steel was cut. I tried again on mystery steel (a hardware store bolt). I got the same result.
I cleaned some of them up and found tattle-tale words stamped on a few. The words lead me to believe these used to be disposable carbide tipped tools that someone re-ground after the carbide was broken (no carbide is left). Some of the words are " Carbaloy 78-R AR 8", "Super Tool Co D-8 Steel Use", "Wesson BR-8 WM".
Once suspicious, I re-ground some on my bench grinder & noticed that sparks are quite a bit brighter orange than the dull orange I see with known HSS. (Grey wheel). They ground faster, too.
Do these sound to you like they are shanks from former carbide tipped tools?
Can you think of what material the former owner used these on?
If I may sneak in another 2 questions:
When I grind a bit on my 8" bench grinder, the ground surface has the expected concave curve of the wheel. Studying photos on line of ground bits, I never see that curve. Is it OK to have the curve? (I always learned not to use the side of the wheel fearing shattering of the stone.)
And, what stone material do you all prefer for grinding HSS tool bits?
Thanks to All for you advice on these questions. Your help is appreciated.
Enjoy Today!
Paul