For you folks using carbide lathe tools, which cutter sizes for square, diamond and circle do you find most useful? It would be great to have various sizes, but I'm looking to start with one of each type. Also, what is the advantage to a radius square cutter vs. a square cutter?
I think I'll use them for a combination of spindle and small bowl turning.
For what it's worth, here is what I am planning on ordering:
Thanks, Gerry. Wouldn't it be pretty difficult to cut a tenon with a radius though? I'm not opposed to getting both, and I probably will. I'm just trying to understand all the pros/cons.
Probably … but I am an HSS guy anyway, so I have never tried doing a tenon with carbide tools. All I have ever used my carbides for was roughing, and haven't even done that since last summer when I learned how to do Ellsworth's roughing and shearing cuts.
How I use mine-
Square: great for roughing abrasive or very hard woods, good for squaring off ends or making long flats. Slower than a roughing gouge.
Diamond: I use this for finding centers and in combination with parting tools in very hard or abrasive woods, also sometimes in starting beads.
Radius: Cuts a little faster than square but is prone to catching, especially if you plunge.
Round: Marginally useful for coves in very hard or abrasive woods. I sometimes use this for removing bark.
I don't think the size matters except match it to your tool size. So you don't want a 5/8" cutter on a 3/8" bar. I order my cutters from AZCarbide.com and have been very pleased all around.
In case anyone else comes along looking for this info, I just found this nice comparison guide at azcarbide.com. This answers my question about the sizing pretty well.
I just got my first order from AZ. Ordered online last Friday, they we in my mailbox today.
I made my own tools using 5/8" aluminum barstock. I narrow the tips down and had been using the 14mm cutters up till now. This time I ordered the 15mm cutters.
How is the aluminum holding up sliding against the steel tool rest? That was the only thing that held me back from using AL, fear a groove would wear into them.
I made my own tools using 5/8" aluminum barstock.
- JoeinGa
How is the aluminum holding up sliding against the steel tool rest? That was the only thing that held me back from using AL, fear a groove would wear into them.
Actually holding up very well Rick. No real big digs or gouging, just getting pretty marred up and scratched, but they slide back and forth just fine. I'll try to remember to get a pic to show.
My go to tool for tenons is a square, not radius square. I make sure to cut only 1 surface at a time, bad things can happen, at least to me. A 1" skew flat on it's side works pretty good,too.
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