- Joined
- Sep 14, 2014
- Messages
- 787
FWIW. If you haven't ground HHS there are insert options from A.R. Warner. A bit pricy, but usable as is and these lathes were made for HHS. There is also the tangential tool holder from Eccentric Engineering. Cry once but it doesn't take long to offset the cost of inserts. BlondiHacks on YouTube, a very successful teacher, is a convert.
You can sharpen inserts and that will make a difference. A Harbor Freight 4 sided diamond block to start followed by a diamond hone. Expect to spend some time at it. Another reason I tend to stick with HHS. May as well just grind it and the tangential tool takes longer to remount and set the height than it does to touch up a dull edge. Some swear a regular grinding wheel is just fine for carbide. I tend to stick with the manufacturer's recommendations.
You can sharpen inserts and that will make a difference. A Harbor Freight 4 sided diamond block to start followed by a diamond hone. Expect to spend some time at it. Another reason I tend to stick with HHS. May as well just grind it and the tangential tool takes longer to remount and set the height than it does to touch up a dull edge. Some swear a regular grinding wheel is just fine for carbide. I tend to stick with the manufacturer's recommendations.