Question? That I'm Sure Has Been Beat To Death

Reeltor, Thanks that is good info.

Phil, I don't have anything special in mind. My wife's uncle gave me this lathe his father bought it new the serial # is 1964
I have been kinda slow about getting some tooling just looking and trying to educate my self a little. I know their are so many gadgets that look like the cats meow till you really get to using them and figure out that my old trusty was easier and faster. I'm just kinda looking for info so I don't have a bunch of not so useful tooling laying around. I will be doing the typical repair type stuff I'd love to make tooling like mark f does and I hope to but I'm at the age (47) that I have just enough extra time and money to Pizz ya off :bang head: I'm sure most of ya'll can relate.
 
As you dont have anything specific at the moment I would be inclined to just get some HSS blanks and try grinding some shapes. Have a look here http://www.hobby-machinist.com/threads/how-to-grind-a-hss-turning-tool.52581/#post-438949 and then start making some chips. Like you say, things may look good but until you try you probably wont know. So dont fork out for expensive tooling you may not need. Carbide has its place, but so does HSS

Cheers Phil
 
The best way to buy stuff you don't need is to buy before you need it. Learning turning with carbide inserts can be expensive. I bought a cheap set to write off as a learning expense.

Why not make an inventory of everything you already have. Imagine what your most likely first turning job will be and we might be of more help.

Re the size of tools, I would start with the largest the tool holder can handle, for rigidity.
 
Danny,

Do you have a lantern tool post and some HSS holders? Any HSS tool bits/blanks?
Mike
 
Thanks Phil that's what I was planning on doing.

Reeltor I do have a ton of hss that was with the lathe but no holders and the bevel washer for the Lantern post is fubared. I even have a ton of brazed carbide lathe bits that came with the mill.

I think I worded my ? wrongly I'm not worried about grinding toolbits.

I am however worried about parting stuff off I don't understand the difference between the parting blades and holders. It seems like higher quality may be better here or a specific style with this smaller machine.

And was mostly asking, if you were to be in the market for a set of insert tool holders considering the price of inserts and interchangabality between turning and boring what would you suggest.

Again thanks to all for the quick replys

Danny
 
Tozguy,
Thanks those look great looks like one tool goes a long way

Thanks
 
For a Monkey Ward lathe, carbide tooling would be a waste of money, period. As to tool bit size, the bigger the bit, the more time and burnt and abraded fingers there will be to grind them to shape. If I wanted to add a QCTP to the lathe, as I recently did, on a old 9" belt drive Monarch, I bought a Chinese AXA copy, about the cheapest one listed on e bay, and found the quality adequate; the price for the set about $140, as opposed to genuine Aloris at close to one thousand. If I was still in business, not retired, I would have bought the Aloris. On this lathe, which turned out to be in excellent condition in spite of its age, I thought the money better spent on getting castings made for a steady and follow rest, and large and small faceplates.
 
About the only reason that HSS inserts are used in industry is when used on smaller diameters in a gang tool setup, such as in a turret lathe; the large diameters are cut with carbide bits, while the smaller diameters are cut with HSS; the carbide bits do not hold up well at low cutting speeds, so the HSS bits are used where the cutting speed is within the range for HSS, and yes, if you think carbide is expensive, price the HSS counterparts; the bottom line is that amateurs should learn to grind their own HSS bits, both for economy and experience. The South Bend publication "How to run a lathe" has info on the subject and may be a big help to the beginner.
 
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