Models for grinding HSS Lathe Tools

[mikey]

An alternative is to use an internal grooving tool but its more fun to grind it.

 

[ddickey]

This one is only $12 bucks.

 

[brino]

@WobblyHand

Don't you want the mirror image of that P-shaped bit?


I guess it depends on how your holding the tool (front of centre/back of centre and upside down or not) and whether the lathe is running forward or reverse....

-brino

 

[WobblyHand]

Both of them are much nicer, with sharper corners. Having used one of their boring bars before, I'd be inclined to get one next time. For now, I'll keep plugging away at this. I'm half thinking that if I run the edge of the diamond card along the belt sander, maybe I can get in a little closer and get a squarer edge. The corners and edges are "rounded for safety".

The linked carbide tools looks good, I think I'll buy it just because. Some diamond needle files might help me shape this HSS tool better. Hope to find some at a reasonable price, and not have to wait 6-8 weeks for them.

 

[WobblyHand]

@WobblyHand

Don't you want the mirror image of that P-shaped bit?
View attachment 320762

I guess it depends on how your holding the tool (front of centre/back of centre and upside down or not) and whether the lathe is running forward or reverse....

-brino

I think it will work out ok. The undercut for the slots faces the center of the disk because the little tabs on the LED rings are on the inner radius. If not, I'll find a way, upside down, or whatever.

 

[brino]

the little tabs on the LED rings are on the inner radius

Ah I see, you are correct!
-brino

 

[GunsOfNavarone]

I'll tell you, I really only use carbide b/c of the fear of needing to make my own HSS cutters and or sharpening them, I'd love to see a video of you in action, along with some of your thoughts on why you angle things the way you end up grinding them...the thought process.

 

[WobblyHand]

I'll tell you, I really only use carbide b/c of the fear of needing to make my own HSS cutters and or sharpening them, I'd love to see a video of you in action, along with some of your thoughts on why you angle things the way you end up grinding them...the thought process.

Umm, I have to laugh. Making the video, would be hard for me. Making these tools wasn't that hard. It's more a willingness to try and fail. The worst that could happen is one tosses out a piece or two of tool steel.

For the hogging out I used my belt sander. The ceramic belts really remove material quickly. For the shaping, I used two burrs out of a Harbor Freight Diamond Rotary Point Set. Spent a whopping $20 on the diamond bits. After that it's just sculpting out the metal that doesn't belong. Go slow - be safe. Think about what could go wrong if something broke suddenly. Wear safety glasses, and have at it.

To be honest, I was dreading trying this. But I plowed ahead. It was a little awkward for me, since I didn't know what I was doing, but in the end, it wasn't hard. This is what I like about being a hobby machinist - it forces you to think and be creative, so you can make what you previously thought was impossible.

So just try it! And post up your pictures!

 

[GunsOfNavarone]

I mean @mikey I know he’s kinda a genius around here when it comes to shaping HSS. I saw someone here’s video of a tool he made for a shaper...I was pretty impressed by how it improved DOC, speed & finish. I’ve seen the video of the final product, but never how to get there. I’m sure there are vids out there, but when you can’t talk with the person making the video, you have no way to troubleshoot or ask questions.

 

[WobblyHand]

@mikey has a knack for explaining things. He's very patient with us beginners. If you follow his instructions for grinding the 3 tools (buried in the early part of this humongous thread), you, too, can make some tools. That's how you can start. It's not that hard, really. There is a document that Mikey wrote (in this thread) which tells you step by step what to do. It really works.

I don't have a shop that has a lot of stuff, it's really quite minimal. I've never ground tooling before. But I read the document and thought, hey, I can try that! (At that point, I didn't think I could actually do it.) In all seriousness, it's just you, a grinder and a piece of tool steel. You can try. The result might not be perfect, but that's ok. It could be ugly, it doesn't matter. It is a start, and an important step.

Then show us what you have. @mikey and others can guide you and refine your technique. The journey to tool nirvana starts with a single step . Not laughing at you, just my horrible allusion.