Any recomendations on a parting tool?

[Bill Wyko]

:)They have the Crown tools in stock. It doesn't seem like there would be too much difference from one to another but I could be wrong. That's where you come in:D I know I'll get the right one if I ask you all.

[Mark Rios]

Parting is such sweet sorrow.

[Gordon Seto]

What do you want it for? and what you already have? You may get different suggestions.

[Jim King]

I use a machete filed to a point. As you cann see it is about time for a new one. I just grind off the sharpness and grind on the point. It does a good job on hard woods of any type. I have another made out of a chain saw bar. It works very well but the kerf is wider.

[Harvey M. Taylor]

There are wide ones,quarter-inch, sixteenth in. wide ones, and several in between, then there is the diamond shaped ones. They are made for reducing friction as only the point of the blade on each side touches the work. as is said on this forum quite frequently, it depends what you will be using the tool for. I have 6 of varying thicknesses. Confused yet? Max

[Tom Sherman]

Bill with the type of turning you do (segmented) mainly I would suggest that you have a 3/16 to 1/4 straight or diamond and a thin 1/16 for you arsenal. I like the wide bodied thin parting tools for final parting. If you split rings the thin tools waste less material.

[Dennis Peacock]

How about an old butcher knife. ;) :D

[David Walser]

:)They have the Crown tools in stock. It doesn't seem like there would be too much difference from one to another but I could be wrong. That's where you come in:D I know I'll get the right one if I ask you all.

Bill,

I have Crown's narrow parting tool. I also have a diamond parting tool from Hamlet and "spear point" parting tool (like the diamond parting tool without the diamond profile). The narrow parting tool cut's a 1/16" kerf (3/32" when you take into account the need to widen the kerf to prevent heat build up). The other two cut a 3/16" kerf.

I find I use the narrow parting tool for almost all my parting needs. The tool is stiff enough that it can easily part off a large spindle or bowl. Sometimes, the width (or height) of the blade may prevent your using it to undercut a goblet or box. Other than those situations, I like using it for parting.

The other parting tools are better for turning a tenon or for making a cut to show the depth of a cove or some such. I usually use my skew for cutting tenons. Some turners like parting tools for turning beads. Again, I use my skew for that. So, except for laying out a spindle, I generally reach for my Crown narrow parting tool.

[Paul Engle]

Bill,
I use a tapered hss tool used by machine shops , they come in various widths and heights and lengths. Check with any machine tooling supplier in your area, a 1/8 x 1/2 x 6 inches is less than 10$ ( tapered so it will not rub) and put 2 inches in the handle and away you got a 56$ fancy cutoff.

['Tam' Porter]

Hi. I'm new to this forum, but you may like to try this idea. I have been using a used machine hacksaw blade for a few years now as a thin parting tool.

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd153/wood2turn/UKwood/odd%20post/01/th_ptool.jpg (http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd153/wood2turn/UKwood/odd%20post/01/ptool.jpg) http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd153/wood2turn/UKwood/odd%20post/01/th_ptooltip.jpg (http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd153/wood2turn/UKwood/odd%20post/01/ptooltip.jpg)

You can pick up these blades for nowt' from any engineering shop as they chuck them away. Grind the teeth off, then shape the end similar to the thin parting tools on sale. A blade will last you for years.

[Bill Stevener]

Most of the time I use an razor knife. :)

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m109/nicebill/100_0352.jpg

I do like the Crown tools, however I like the R S parting tool the best, look at it closely, great tool.

[Bill Wyko]

1/8" for parting or getting into tight places.

[Gordon Seto]

The 1/8" is pretty much standard.
For thin parting, I like the 832H 1/16" from:
http://www.robert-sorby.co.uk/parting.htm
This one leaves a cleaner cut than most.
If I don't need the clean cut, I would use a home made kind. The 832 H has a small flute that I want to preserve.

[Jim Becker]

I use three of them. I have a "standard" diamond parting too....I guess it's about 3/16" wide or so. I have a 1/8" wide straight one that came with a Benjamin's Best three piece pen turning kit years ago...and it's my favorite. Small and great for details work. (Parting tools are not just for "parting") and a very thin parting tool.

But I also have a specially ground 1/4" spindle gouge (a David Ellsworth idea) that I often use for parting off, especially with "no reverse" turnings. It does a great undercut and works well with both face plate and end grain orientations.

[Bill Wyko]

Jim, you are right. I do use it for quite a few different cuts. I think 1/8th to 3/16th would be right for the use. I'll have to look into Pauls way too. Thanks everyone.

[Bill Wyko]

Well, I got a 3/16 crown parting tool today. I'll have to test drive it this weekend.:D