Beginners turning tools

[John Bouthiette]

Hi Everyone,

I just recently picked up a used Craftsman 12" lathe very inexpensively. I have not done any turning since high school, and am excited to get a chance to try it again. The lathe came with a few tools, but I do not have a 3/4" gouge which I thought might be very useful.

Any other recommendations? Are there any brands I should stay away from? I expect to buy a "basic" set so I have a set of decent tools to start learning again. I welcome any and all recommendations, thanks in advance!

[Rick Huelsbeck]

They have a decent set of HSS tools that has a 3/4 gouge for about $50. I have a set and am very happy with them.

[Jerome Hanby]

The set that comes with a Shopsmith aren't terrible. You might find a cheap set of those on the Bay or CL.

[Bruce Pennell]

John welcome and a quick warning, that will be a very expensive lathe by the time your done. Chucks, face plates, tools, more tools, big bandsaw, chainsaw, sharpening station, sandpaper, finishing products, beal buffing set-up.....ect.... say good bye to your money now....good luck
PS what type of work are you planning on, spindle or bowl? I just picked up Ci1 tool (http://www.easywoodtools.com/ci1.htm) love it, great for roughing and no sharpening. Watch his video's, nice tool.

[robert hainstock]

I hope you won't get trapped into the "spindle" set. These usually come in sets of six or eight, and are too short and not of much use for anything other tan spindle work. Take a hard look at the "Benjamens best " line at PSI they are a super value for the money. As to specific tools, you have to decide what you want to turn, and then read the descriptions in the catalogs. Another great value tool is the Doug Thompson line. They heve the best steel available at seriously reduced prices from every one else of the same quality. Welcome to the vortex, and you now know why we all it that if you didn't already. :eek::):)
Bob

[Bernie Weishapl]

John this is the first set I got for around $60 2 yrs ago. I still use all of them today. Real nice set.

http://www.pennstateind.com/store/lchss8.html

[Dennis Puskar]

John I ditto what Bernie says.

Dennis

[John Bouthiette]

All,

I would like to thank you for your input, it is very valuable.

As far as what type of turing I would like to take on, that remains to be seen. I have plans to turn some spindles that I will split for the front of a display cabinet I am working on currently. Bowl turning certainly looks like it could be fun and a challenge, and I am definitely interested in learning both!

[Ron Ainge]

If yo have a Harbor Frieght in your area I would recommend that you purchase there HSS turning set. It has about 8 tools in it and it is a great beginner set. The only problem with that set is that it does not have a bowl gouge in it and so for turning the inside of a bowl it not in your best interest. You can do it with those tool but it is easier with a bowl gouge that you can pick up at either Craft Supply USA. Woodcraft or Rocklers.

I would also recommend that you check to see if there is a wood turning club in your area and join it. then you can find out where there are classed available in your area that you may want to take.

Best Whishes

[David Wilhelm]

I'll 2nd the Harbor Freight set BUT check out Thompson Lathe tools for you bowl gouge and other tools. Doug can be found here shoot him an email and ask him a few questions.

[Doug Jones from Oregon]

Lathe tools are great, but as I learned today, nothing beats a good sharpening station to make them even better...

I turned years ago and just starting back in, I decided to do it right. Bought the woodturners sharpening system from my local woodcraft store and sharpened my skew chisel and for the first time I can remember, it worked! Took awhile to grind down my previous sharpening disasters but now I get beautiful ribbons of waste material.

Have fun, I am.

doug

[Colin Wollerman]

Hey Guys, I am in the same boat as John only my cheap lathe is a ShopSmith. I know my work will be limited on this but I thought I would pick up some tools and give it a go. I want to make a couple lamp bases (upside down bowls) out of some Koa or Teak that I have.

The price of the set Bernie linked too seems like a great deal...Question;
Why are the same type sets at, say, Woodcraft or even sears so much more $$$? Is the steel that much better? Why the disparity ?

Thanks
Colin

[Gordon Seto]

Ask the hand tools forum, why they paid so much for a Lie-Nielsen or Veritas hand plane over a Groz, which Woodcraft carries as well.

[Jerome Hanby]

I think it's because Woodcraft, Rockler, and similar places feel they represent a certain level of quality. While they do sell some less expensive chisels, the fit and finish is clearly better than typical HF tools.

That said, I've always thought that HF was a good source for figuring out what you want. I bought a set of their ultra cheap bench chisels a while back just to use for experimenting/practicing sharpening methods. If I completely ruin one of those on the grinder, no big loss.

There is a set of Shopsmith Chisels on the bay currently at about $10 with about a week to go...


Hey Guys, I am in the same boat as John only my cheap lathe is a ShopSmith. I know my work will be limited on this but I thought I would pick up some tools and give it a go. I want to make a couple lamp bases (upside down bowls) out of some Koa or Teak that I have.

The price of the set Bernie linked too seems like a great deal...Question;
Why are the same type sets at, say, Woodcraft or even sears so much more $$$? Is the steel that much better? Why the disparity ?

Thanks
Colin

[Bob Hallowell]

Why I agree th hf chisel's fit an finish leave something to be desired I will say I own both set of the m2 steel. I have even made nice new longer handles for some. While I have bought high quaility bowl tools they are all I use for for spindle work.

Bob

[John Strait]

Bob,
Do you think there is enough difference in the two HF sets to warrant getting the red handled set? I already have the white ash handled set and am debating getting the red set.

thanks,
john

[Gordon Seto]

IMO, I can't say one is better than the other. Some say the steel in red handle set is beefier. That is not true. I have both sets. They don't have tight quality control. Some tools in the white set are slightly thicker and some are thinner. I found no difference in edge holding capability. I guess these tools were not coming from the high tech factories. It all depends on the experience of that particular tool maker.

[Bob Hallowell]

Bob,
Do you think there is enough difference in the two HF sets to warrant getting the red handled set? I already have the white ash handled set and am debating getting the red set.

thanks,
john

My red set is thicker, I owned the light set first and bought the red so I could regrind some of the tools. The red set comes with a nice spindle gouge but the roughing gouges are really different then the norm. I use them as a skew sometimes. I like having both as I use a wide varity of different grinds. PLus they are cheap and they are HSS.

Bob

[Colin Wollerman]

Sorry guys, I just got up. It is 6:30 in Hawaii Alooo(yawn)ha:o
Thanks for the replies. I know enough about tooling to know that steel quality can make a difference. One thing I can't stand:mad: is when I buy a tool only to find it does not do what it is suppose to do. So your feedback is very much appreciated.
I have a buddy who is a professional turner, that is he makes money at it. He makes those super thin Koa bowls. He is building a lathe right now to turn 48"!!! bowls. Says he wears full motocross gear when making these big pieces...wow.
Anyway, He suggest three tools to start with;
5/8" Bowl Gouge
3/8 Detail Gouge
Part off tool
Suggest going with Glaser or Taylor
Problem is these three tools will cost twice as much as a beginner set of eight!
Not sure what to do here...
C

[Gordon Seto]

Anyway, He suggest three tools to start with;
5/8" Bowl Gouge
3/8 Detail Gouge
Part off tool
Suggest going with Glaser or Taylor


There is an affordable alternative to the Glaser.
thompsonlathetools.com (http://www.thompsonlathetools.com/)

They are basically the same A-11 steel and cryogenic heat treatment, except they come unhandled. You either have to use a removable handle or make your own handle.
Bill Grumbine did couple 2 day demo for us. He did various projects, all he used was one Thompson 5/8" V bowl gouge and a detail gouge and a parting tool.
The only difference between a Jerry Glaser bowl gouge and Thompson V bowl gouge is the flute on the Thompson is slightly open up. It doesn't clog.
Even at such a high price, Glaser tool has long back order. I ordered a Glaser screw chuck in January from Highland Hardware, they are still waiting for shipment.
Ask your buddy for opinion.

[Colin Wollerman]

Thanks Gordon,
That's a pretty cool site. I like the idea of making the handles...I still don't know what I am going to do but at least I am armed with some good insight.
Cheers,
Colin

[Robert Finke]

Hello all, new to turning and SMC.
I will be getting my first lathe in about a month or so, and looking for some tools. I noticed this thread is about 10 years old and I was wondering if you all have any updates on tool recommendations.

[Gary Baler]

John, I couldn't stay out of this. The last thing I would do is buy a set. You will have tools that are never used. The cheapest way to go imho is to buy a few good tools. For bowl turning I would want a quality 3/8" bowl gouge, a parting tool and perhaps a round nosed scraper. There are many posts re: the fine tools out there. The other main need for bowls or spindles is a sharpening jig. Again, look at the posts. You don't NEED A 3/4" bowl gouge.

I seldom turn spindles ... so don't use those tools.
By far the cheapest way to go is to take a lesson or two. If money matters, that will be the best investment of $ and time you make. I expect to save a new turner hundreds/thousands of dollars. If money is no object, have fun and experiment.

[John K Jordan]

... I couldn't stay out of this. The last thing I would do is buy a set. You will have tools that are never used. The cheapest way to go imho is to buy a few good tools. For bowl turning I would want a quality 3/8" bowl gouge, a parting tool and perhaps a round nosed scraper. There are many posts re: the fine tools out there. The other main need for bowls or spindles is a sharpening jig. Again, look at the posts. You don't NEED A 3/4" bowl gouge.
I seldom turn spindles ... so don't use those tools.
By far the cheapest way to go is to take a lesson or two. ...

Contributing to this old thread revival, I have a broader take on this. When I started turning I bought a very cheap set of Craftsman tools and still use most of them. They are excellent HSS, the gouges are forged Continental type (preferred for some things), the diamond parting tool is one of my most used today (I even found a second one so one is always sharp), I reground the scrapers to special-purpose shapes, and I've ground the skew to a "beginner's grind". They don't sell this original set anymore, AFAIK, or I'd buy another one. (Like I need more tools with way over a dozen spindle gouges, 10 bowl gouges, maybe a dozen skews, a drawer full of Hunter tools, ... yikes!!!)

A cheap set of tools will let the new turner experiment on a budget without major limitations, and more importantly, learn to sharpen without wasting a lot of expensive steel.

If it turns out some tools are never used, they can often be reground into something else, auctioned off, or simply given away. I have a box with a few dozen cheap tools I've acquired just to give away to beginners who need them or want to practice sharpening.

I would add that the type of tools to get depends on what one will doing with the lathe, and a beginner often has no idea. For someone starting out it I think it would be a shame to eliminate spindle turning tools and possibly a huge aspect of turning. In fact, a list of experts recommend to learn spindle turning FIRST - it will teach you the fine tool control that will let you turn anything, including bowls. It doesn't necessarily work the same way. I know excellent bowl turners who couldn't turn a delicate finial if they had to. I've even met people who are even afraid of the skew! (A couple of experienced bowl turners have even come here for skew lessons.) Of course, this is not universal but one observation: most of the better turners I know personally are adept at spindles as well as nearly everything else.

To the list of bowl gouge, parting tool, and round-nose scraper I would add
- a 3/8" spindle gouge,
- a roughing gouge, a 3/4" spindle gouge,
- and perhaps a good negative-rake scraper (but that is easily made)

I do agree that very few people NEED a 3/4" bowl gouge, although some think they do! :) And although I learned from books, I think everyone would agree a few lessons are a great investment. (And free lessons are even cheaper - my shop is open.)

JKJ

[David Bassett]

Hello all, new to turning and SMC.
I will be getting my first lathe in about a month or so, and looking for some tools. I noticed this thread is about 10 years old and I was wondering if you all have any updates on tool recommendations.

I've been down several of these avenues as I started. The best advice, I think, is to find a class or mentor and buy exactly what you use in the class exercises. There's enough to learn at first that learning to adapt to variations in tools too is best postponed.

One thing you need to do is learn to sharpen. Again match your instructor, but barring that get a One-Way Wolverine Jig and simple bench grinder. Why? Because 99% of the instruction I've found references settings on this jig. (There are several other systems, with persuasive arguments as to their superiority, but they just don't show up in instructions! Switch later, if you switch, once you're comfortable and have mastered the basics done the common way.)