HSS Tooling For The Lathe -Apples and Oranges

[woodchucker]

THAT's WHY they call it MO - MAX you want MO of it.
Mo-Max is one of my favorites. You don't need a ton of it because it lasts. The only thing you need is more shapes.. But it's not like a hobbyist is going to wear it out.

I agree on the coarse stones. I don't really see much of a difference between a coarse and a fine wheel. The coarse cuts faster, and usually cooler, but the finish is not that different. When I am done shaping and rough sharpening I will hone it, ending up at a translucent stone.. Quite sharp, but not delicate that its going to break. I don't do knife edges, just well supported sharp edges.

 

[Tipton1965]

I am working on improving my HSS grinding skills to create the perfect threading tool.

After almost 30 years of being out of the trade I went ahead and ground a threading tool the other day. Haven't used it yet but I have high hopes.

 

[Batmanacw]

I kinda feel dirty because I grind my hss tools on my surface grinder. I use a vise in a vise to set my angles and they come out really nice. I don't even get the steel all that hot.


Then I hone with diamond stones.

 

[benmychree]

I keep this in my bookmarks, so I can look up things I find online.

The Traditional Tools Group (Inc.) -- Document View

This page is about working with traditional tools.

www.tttg.org.au

The site lists Mushet tool steel, and mentions F.W. Taylor and Maunsel White as conducting extensive experiments with the Mushet steel to ascertain best speeds, feeds and tool shapes for the most efficient manufacturing techniques; however the author does not credit them with the process of hardening the steel to its maximum potential, a gain of about double the surface speed compared to the former hardening practice. This was done by accident, having left the tool in the fire too long while doing other things; the tool came up to white heat and was throwing sparks, they thought it was ruined, but dressed it anyway and were astounded at its performance. This is all detailed in the book they wrote "On The Art of Cutting Metals". Re reading the first few pages I note that the gain in speeds for cutting soft metals was as much as four times the previous limits using the Taylor White hardening process. They also experimented with the use of water based coolants and discovered gains in speed on the order of 33 percent could be made despite the steel makers instructions not to use water on self hardening tools while machining.

 

[ErichKeane]

I kinda feel dirty because I grind my hss tools on my surface grinder. I use a vise in a vise to set my angles and they come out really nice. I don't even get the steel all that hot.


Then I hone with diamond stones.

I do more or less the same when I need precise angles, except I use my 2 axis magnetic chuck on my normal chuck. Its really nice to have an exactly-60-degree angle on my cutter!

 

[woodchucker]

I kinda feel dirty because I grind my hss tools on my surface grinder. I use a vise in a vise to set my angles and they come out really nice. I don't even get the steel all that hot.


Then I hone with diamond stones.

I have done the same.. but mostly do it by hand. Faster. My newer grinder hogs off pretty fast. mo HP = mo fast I also use my 1x42 belt sander.
I see how I'm feeling and pick a tool.

 

[Batmanacw]

I have done the same.. but mostly do it by hand. Faster. My newer grinder hogs off pretty fast. mo HP = mo fast I also use my 1x42 belt sander.
I see how I'm feeling and pick a tool.

My grinder sucks. Since my surface grinder works so well I don't see myself buying a bigger grinder.

 

[Bob Korves]

My grinder sucks. Since my surface grinder works so well I don't see myself buying a bigger grinder.

Yes, surface grinders are good machines for all kinds of grinding operations, from quick and dirty, to as flat and shiny as we want to make it. The place they lose some love is in trying to hog deep cuts for removing bulk metal...

 

[C-Bag]

Shhhh! Don't tell anybody... I have bought nearly all of my cutting tools that way, for unbelievably low pricing, and have enough to pretty much always find one of the correct length and roughly shaped to allow a quickly made tool. Most are also highly regarded brands and quality alloys. Not all used things are inferior, ignore the shiny new stuff...

I was always seeing lathe bits on CL. Not until I went to a long ongoing sale that was from a defunct machine shop did I decide to buy some selections and they have proven to be a boon. Like Bob said most were already ground and of excellent quality. I threw them on on the pile because the guy was tired and blowing them out. I got three mint boxes full and several have turned into my favorite tools. The odd ones have come in handy too. I’m set, I don’t foresee ever needing anymore bits. I think the three little mint tins were like $15.

 

[benmychree]

I was always seeing lathe bits on CL. Not until I went to a long ongoing sale that was from a defunct machine shop did I decide to buy some selections and they have proven to be a boon. Like Bob said most were already ground and of excellent quality. I threw them on on the pile because the guy was tired and blowing them out. I got three mint boxes full and several have turned into my favorite tools. The odd ones have come in handy too. I’m set, I don’t foresee ever needing anymore bits. I think the three little mint tins were like $15.

Without pictures --- you know the rest