Have EWT carbide - worth going to HSS traditional?

Only problem see with Tormek is extra expense for jigs and wheels. Tormek now sells a set up so can sharpen on a dry grinder too! Only you can answer whether if worth time and money to learn how to sharpen and use bowl, spindle and other turning tools.

1. There is a learning curve to using turning tools and only way to get proficient is practice, patience, and persistence.

2. You know what happens when you assume. Dull tools, rushing the cut, too slow to fast lathe speed, and wood species all affect the cut. Oh and do not forget tool rest height, stance, grip, and body movement too!

3. Go back to #1 and think about PPP

Good Luck!

-- Bill

HSS and carbide both have their place.

I use carbides for roughing, and I don’t think there is a better hollowing tool than the carbides from Hunter ( http://huntertoolsystems.com/ ).

On the other hand, I can’t imagine trying to use carbides to do the spheres, tiny beads and coves I do on things like coffee scoops, ornaments and shawl pins. I have been turning for going on five years now, and feel that I get cleaner cuts, less tear-out, and far better results with HSS gouges and skews than I could ever get with anybody’s carbide tools.

Wildwood is right … the only way to get comfortable with HSS tools is PPP. Every cut should be a practice cut.

As for sharpening systems … you can pretty much start a fist fight over which is best. They all work … it just comes down to which system you are most comfortable and proficient with, and gives you the best results. For example, I have a Wolverine that does a great job on my gouges and scrapers, but I can’t get a decent edge with it on my skews (I use a belt sander and diamond hones on my skews). Other guys get great results on their skews with the Wolverine. Go figure!

-- Gerry -- "I don't plan to ever really grow up ... I'm just going to learn how to act in public!"

1. Speed – My carbide is faster at roughing out of round or square blanks because I can plunge straight in and hog off wood, but once it’s round or close, the gouge is faster and leaves a better surface.
2. Cut Quality – No contest, traditional tools win hands down.
3. Flexibility – No contest, traditional tools have a wider range of sizes and shapes

-- Rick M, http://thewoodknack.blogspot.com/

Thank you Bill, Gerry and Rick.
My key takeaways: keep roughing with the carbide but go for hss when it comes to finish work or intricate work.
Sounds like I should make do with just the carbide for now but keep my eyes peeled for sales… and stock up on cheap poplar for practice.
-Dima

ps – I completely agree with the PPP paradigm for any tool :)

I’d say it’s really a matter of preference. I’ve got a full assortment of EWT as well as traditional HSS tools and honestly, I wouldn’t give up one for the other.

For me, I tend to use a roughing gouge to get things to round and the rest of the work is EWT. There are still some cuts that I can’t get with the round or square cutter, where I’ll whip out a bowl or spindle gouge, or something specialized like a beading tool. I’m actually fairly happy with the finish off of the round cutters. Very rarely do I go to a skew to clean things up but I still do use scrapers.

The one area that EWT has completely replaced all my HSS tools is with hollowing. The 3 hollowers are absolutely fantastic and are far better than any HSS hollower I had.

Keep in mind, this isn’t a knock against the EWTs, I really do like them, they’re just not a 100% replacement for traditional tools.