Carbide inserts from Captain Eddie...

[Joe Kieve]

I'm about ready to take the plunge into carbide by making my own tools, mainly for pens. Went Captian Eddie's website and the carbide inserts he sells are very reasonably priced. Two questions:

1. Have you made your own carbide lathe tools?
2. Are you pleased with Captain Eddie's carbide inserts?

Thanks in advance for your comments/suggestions.

joe

[dean griffith]

I have his tools and use them all the time. Very reasonably priced and they work great. Would buy them again!

[Jeff Gilfor]

I have two EWT mid-sized tools (rougher and finisher), and liked how they work in some applications.
Made a couple of my own tools. Relatively easy if you can drill and tap a hole and grind a flat on the end of a metal bar.
I have a Harrison Specialties carbide finishing shear scraper, which I like very much. Made a larger version for myself. I also made two swan neck carbide insert hollowing tools.
I purchased a tool from Eddie, plus have bought some of his inserts as replacements for my tools.
Bottom line is, his inserts are reasonably priced and save you from trying to figure out which industrial version works for woodturning.
His actual tool however, and this is just my personal opinion, is not finished as well as I would have expected. The machined end, where the insert sits, was not straight. I had to do some minor modification for my purposes.

[Rob Wachala Jr]

I purchased two bars and inserts from Eddie probably about a year or so ago. I have had no issues with the carbide inserts, or the smaller bar for the small round insert. However, the larger size bar that is used for the square insert I have had a similar problem as Jeff. Where the top bar was cut down to fit the insert was not square and is quite a bit larger than the actual insert. When you go to tighten down the insert it moves and ends up not being square to the end of the bar. This makes it so I can't get a nice even cut going across the wood. I've tried putting the tool up against the inside of the tail stock butted up against the tool rest to try and keep in in place but that not working. I've ended up not using that tool very often because of this issue, which is unfortunate.

[Michael Mills]

I heard that this place is where some sellers buy from and resale. I do not know.
I purchased some and they seem fine but I have not used them enough or used any other brand as a comparison.
They are made in Germany.
http://www.pmctool.com/product.php?productID=2250

Ten pack for $19.

[allen thunem]

another place to look for carbide is this place
http://globaltooling.bizhosting.com/products/carbide-insert-knives.html

[allen thunem]

and here is aplace to get round cutters like are used in the hunter tools
http://www.carbidedepot.com/wood-turning.htm

[Michael Tucker]

I have the EWT Mid-Sized Finisher and EWT Easy Pen Turner and really love them. I have a question though regarding which inserts to buy from Captain Eddie as replacements. The Mid-Sized Finisher takes the EWT Ci3 cutter and the Easy Pen Turner takes the EWT Ci2 R2 2" radius cutter. Which Captain Eddie cutters correspond to those? Also, do the screws that he provides screw into the holes of the EWT tools?

Thanks,
Mike

[Dan Hintz]

His actual tool however, and this is just my personal opinion, is not finished as well as I would have expected. The machined end, where the insert sits, was not straight. I had to do some minor modification for my purposes.


When you go to tighten down the insert it moves and ends up not being square to the end of the bar. This makes it so I can't get a nice even cut going across the wood.

Agree with the above. I have resorted to "pre-twisting" the insert so tightening the screw causes the insert to be square (as possible). Not ideal, and if I had to do again would probably spend a bit extra to get a properly tooled bar.

[Dennis Nagle]

Is the bar any type of special steel?

[Jeremy Hamaker]

I have his carbide cutters and they've worked well. I have a couple of Eddie's bars too. They don't appear to be anything but square (or round) steel bar stock. I don't mean this as any knock against the Capt. (I'm personally a big fan!), but if you have any experience at all with grinding metal and tapping screw holes, you would be better off economically by making your own. This way you can set up your own angles, and clearances on the back edge. Once I got a bit better shop space and a couple grinding tools, I did a bit of reshaping myself on the bars that I received. Going forward I will buy only cutters (either from Capt. Eddie or one of the places linked here). I will make my own bar stock shafts and continue to turn my own handles. The bars he sells I see more in the spirit of providing an economical platform for those who aren't in a position to machine their own.
I think it was really creative of Easy Wood Tools to do what they've been doing, but knowing where to source cutters, how to grind bar stock, and turn handles, means I won't ever be buying one of their tools...
As far as the carbide cutters rotating, a tip Capt. Eddie gives is to put a drop of CA on the tool, place the cutter in the spot and orientation you want, let it dry a bit, and then screw it down. Haven't tried that myself.
I have done the method where I place the cutter at an angle, and then tension it with the screw rotation into the correct final angle. That works, but it sometimes takes me a couple attempts.

[Joe Kieve]

Guys...thank you so much for your input. You've convinced me to get some bar stock and some of Captain Eddie's cutters and making my own tools. Can't wait to get started.
Thanks again.

joe

[Steve Rost]

Eddie uses a different screw thread than EWT

[robert baccus]

Our turning group has been making these tools for several years. One friend figured out you could make a perfect fit for the cutter by placing some JB weld on the flat and very lightly screwing down on your waxed cutter. Let harden and you should have a true blade base like forever.

[Michael Koga]

Eddie's cutters are great, and reasonable priced. A couple got nicked during shipping and he replaced them with no hassles.

I did buy 2 square cutter bars which I have no problems with. But after looking at them, and since I already have the proper tools (grinders, drill bits, taps) I went to a metal supply store and brought some bar stock. Easy to make if you're comfortable working with metal.

[Jeff Gilfor]

Really doesn't take any special skills to make 'em (even I can do it). All you need is some bar stock from the local hardware store, an angle grinder with cutoff and grinding wheels, a drill, drill bit and tap for the size screw you want (I think 10-24 works great for most applications). Takes far longer to make the wooden handle than the metal part.

BTW, I've purchased those cup-like cutters from carbide depot (like the Hunter tools), and made my tool so that the cup is angled slightly back towards the handle. It makes beautiful final shear cuts! I put one on a swan neck hollower I made, and it finishes the inside of vessels very nicely too.

[Peter Blair]

Hey Jeff I have a few cutters on order from Eddy. Can you be a little more specific about the ones you got from Carbide Depot. The site is a little confusing to me as far as what angle and diameters go?

[James Combs]

I initially purchased a set of the midi EW tools but then I decide to make my own. This full size EW style round finisher (http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?158714-Homemade-Version-of-Ci0-Carbide-Tipped-Gouge-Scraper&highlight=) was my first one, it uses the EW larger round carbide. I then decide to try a larger square carbide with a radius edge, this one from Global Tooling (http://globaltooling.bizhosting.com/products/carbide-insert-knives.html)(10th one down-can't beat the price), I now have two of them that use the same size carbide, one in the EW midi size and one full size. I have found that the radius-ed carbide is also a good finisher so I rarely use the round one anymore.

Edit: The first one I made from 1/2" square cold rolled from a local metal supply. The rest I ordered some 1/2" 304 stainless from Amazon in 8" lengths and use it. I didn't like having to polish off the black coating on the cold rolled to give it a finished look.

[Tom Wilson66]

Our turning group has been making these tools for several years. One friend figured out you could make a perfect fit for the cutter by placing some JB weld on the flat and very lightly screwing down on your waxed cutter. Let harden and you should have a true blade base like forever.

That's pure genius!

[Jeff Gilfor]

The following link is for the standard, positive rake, flat top, woodturning inserts. Choose your size.
http://www.carbidedepot.com/wood-turning.aspx

This is the parts number for the inserts that are cup-like on top, and provide a nice shear cut:
RCGT1204M0FX CU313
Just look it up on thier site.

Jeff

[Peter Blair]

Thanks Jeff!

[John Keeton]

The following link is for the standard, positive rake, flat top, woodturning inserts. Choose your size.
http://www.carbidedepot.com/wood-turning.aspx

This is the parts number for the inserts that are cup-like on top, and provide a nice shear cut:
RCGT1204M0FX CU313
Just look it up on thier site.

JeffIn speaking with Jeff (from Carbide Depot), he stated they do not carry a flat top round cutter and that all of their round cutters are cupped like the Hunter tool.

[Peter Blair]

John, now I am really confused, this does happen quite easily to me!
Are you saying that the RCGT1204MOFX CU313 are cupped like the Hunter Tools?

[John Keeton]

Pete, I actually ordered some of the inserts, but by mistake got the 8mm when I meant to get the 12mm. They are RCGT0803M0 FX CU313, from the same page (http://www.carbidedepot.com/wood-turning.aspx)as the RCGT1204MO FX CU313, with the only difference being the size. They are cupped just like the Hunter cutters and are not fully countersunk for a screw as are the EWT and similar cutters.

[Doug Ladendorf]

BTW, I've purchased those cup-like cutters from carbide depot (like the Hunter tools), and made my tool so that the cup is angled slightly back towards the handle. It makes beautiful final shear cuts! I put one on a swan neck hollower I made, and it finishes the inside of vessels very nicely too.

Jeff, would it be possible to post a photo of the mounted cutter on this tool? Also, I have heard the Hunter tools are difficult to get the hang of. How do you find using these are different from the EWT-type tool?

[Roger Chandler]

Pete, I actually ordered some of the inserts, but by mistake got the 8mm when I meant to get the 12mm. They are RCGT0803M0 FX CU313, from the same page (http://www.carbidedepot.com/wood-turning.aspx)as the RCGT1204MO FX CU313, with the only difference being the size. They are cupped just like the Hunter cutters and are not fully countersunk for a screw as are the EWT and similar cutters.

John.......when ordering these, do you order 1 pack that has 5 cutters or does it mean order 5 at a time as a minimum? It says sold in packs of 5, but in the quantity when put in the cart it has 5 listed..........not sure if I would get 25 of these if I clicked on to order? :confused: I have been wanting to replace the cutter on my Hunter tool and my Monster carbide cutter tip, so this sounds ideal if the 12mm are the right size?

[John Keeton]

Roger, when I entered 5, I ended up with just 5 in my cart. If you mess up, you can edit your cart so it shouldn't be an issue. I don't own a Hunter tool, so I can't advise on the correct size.

[Bill White]

Capt. Eddie's bars may not be the prettiest, but I've just ordered 2 with round and rounded square cutters. After all, the cutter is what is important. I've made my square cutter tool with good results.
He's a great advocate for our craft, and I support his efforts.
Lookin' forward to having my new Capt. Eddie tools.
Bill