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Aluminum lathe tooling (how it's holding up)

2K views 15 replies 11 participants last post by  JoeinGa 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
I think it was RickM who asked me how the aluminum tooling I used to make my carbide tool was holding up. So I took a few photos today. Took some with a black background and some with a lighter color.

Looking back at my blogs I see I made the first tools in March so it's been almost a year of using them. As you can see, the bars are doing well.

Because the aluminum is a soft metal, I fully expected there would be some wear from sliding (and banging) on the tool rest, and maybe a ding or 2, because I have do get more than my share of "catches" on pretty much everything I turn. But these are not getting too beat up at all.

So anybody considering using aluminum to make your own, you can see what I did starting here…
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http://lumberjocks.com/JoeinGa/blog/52914
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And here's the pics of how the tools are holding up.
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Automotive tire Automotive lighting Automotive parking light Grille Rim

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Natural material Wood Composite material Rectangle Auto part

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Automotive tire Font Automotive exterior Synthetic rubber Monochrome

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Automotive tire Font Automotive exterior Automotive wheel system Auto part
 

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#5 ·
Very inspirational Joe, I missed your first post, but went back and looked at it after seeing this. I"ve often thought that the price for the carbide turning tools was ridiculous. Your pioneering efforts will become my model.
 
#6 ·
Thanks Paul, Rick, and Jerry. Your comments are always welcome and I appreciate the feedback.

Mark, you know what? You're right. I have turned more things, but sometimes I get so bogged down in all the "keyboard work" it takes to post the projects that I get frustrated and dont bother. It's actually quite time consuming to take all the pics, then pick out just which few to use, and then there's the re-sizing, and editing, before you can even start the writing of the descriptions.

So yeah, I do need to do some catching up…. I'll rectify that … Thanks for the kick in the ass Mark, I needed that for the inspiration :)
 
#7 ·
Thanks Paul, Rick, and Jerry. Your comments are always welcome and I appreciate the feedback.

Mark, you know what? You re right. I have turned more things, but sometimes I get so bogged down in all the "keyboard work" it takes to post the projects that I get frustrated and dont bother. It s actually quite time consuming to take all the pics, then pick out just which few to use, and then there s the re-sizing, and editing, before you can even start the writing of the descriptions.

So yeah, I do need to do some catching up…. I ll rectify that … Thanks for the kick in the ass Mark, I needed that for the inspiration :)

- JoeinGa
Joe, Let me say a HUGE AUSSIE THANK YOU for the extra time and effort to do the photos and notes on LJ's as I for one do very much appreciate that folk like yourself share there time, knowledge and know-how with other like myself and of course many other…THANK YOU!!
 
#8 ·
No kick in the ass needed Joe, just keep on trucking buddy. I received so few comments on my last couple of posts I had to take stock of the diminishing returns per effort. I don't really think I'll post much more than a howdy and encouragement to those I see doing good work from now on. I'm too old for silly competition issues. Some people post mediocre work and receive 20 to 30 generic replies within minutes. That's fine if that is what lumberjocks is all about. I encourage you and many others because you deserve it. goodon'ya Joe.
 
#9 ·
Joe,
As Paul pointed out, Easy Wood Tools use aluminum for their tools and they hold up well. Any time you can make a tool, save a few buck and it works as intended- you are ahead of the game.

Nice job.
 
#11 ·
No Dave, the I wondered if the tool banging and jarring on the toolrest might loosen the screw that holds the bit, but there I haven't had any loosen yet.

I'm currently making a curved end tool to get down into the curved sides of bowls easier. I'll post something on it when I get it done.
 
#12 · (Edited by Moderator)
Thanks for the tip, Joe. Do you have an affordable place to get some standard tips? Or do you just get them from Easy Wood or some place like it? I wonder if some of the metal working carbide tips might work? Probably not the right angle maybe. I've got three easy wood tools but haven't even tried them yet. I've had them for a couple of weeks.

helluvawreck aka Charles
http://woodworkingexpo.wordpress.com
 
#16 ·
I buy mine from AZCarbide, fast shipping and great service. For awhile Capt Eddie was in the hospital and wasn t shipping orders but I think his daughter took over and last I heard they are shipping again.

- Rick M.
Yes, he is back to work and I noticed he has raised his prices a bit.
 
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