How do you determine carbon from HSS? (pic)

[Walt Caza]

Good Day to the Creek,
Well, the tracking number says my lathe should arrive in London, Ontario
early next week. Then a quick drive 2 hours each way to bring her home.
I know that is also where Leo the Ace Turner lives...

When my Uncle passed away a few years ago without a will, they
eventually auctioned his estate.
Butting heads with a butthead, I was outbid for his woodlathe,
which sold for the same price as it was brand new.(shrugs)

I did manage to buy his 8pc turning chisel set as a keepsake of a great guy gone too soon.(50 and out)

I'm sooo excited to finally get my first lathe, that I can barely hold a thought, as I try to get things ready.

My question is:
How can I determine if these chisels are HSS ready to go to work,
or a carbon steel keepsake?
Uncle-Jim's-chisels.jpg

Mr. Lee Valley's sharpening book suggests HSS gives faint red streaks forking at the tips, while high-carbon steel makes a bushy pattern very close to the wheel.
The complicating factor is the high number of alloys in play these days.
I would guess the chisels to be more than a dozen years old, at least.

Thanks for any insight,
hope you get some shop time,
Walt

ps no markings on the shanks at all
(probably not the best sign...)

[John Shuk]

That is the set that harbor freight sells and thay are HSS. It makes a nice set for a user and mine have held up nicely.

[Bill Bolen]

The file test. If a file will scratch it it is not HSS. Softer metal (carbon steel) will not scratch harder metal (HSS)...Bill..

[Russ Sears]

I second the Harbor Freight ID. That even looks like the case that their kit comes in.

[Steve Schlumpf]

Another vote for the Harbor Freight tools! I still have mine and use them all the time. Great little starter set!

Looking forward to seeing your new lathe Walt!

If you have the time - you should get in touch with Leo and see if he is home. A couple hours spent with him would save you months of trying to figure things out on your own!

[Bernie Weishapl]

They sure look like HF tools. I agree with Steve on getting together with Leo. Save you lots of time.

[Steve Mawson]

Walt,
A DVD that I looked at described the difference this way. When grinding carbon steel the sparks come off like a sparkler. HSS sparks do seem to burn up as they come off. Hopefully this description is understandable. Good luck with the new lathe. The tools you have should be a good start.

[Dick Strauss]

Walt,
Let me try to explain another way...HSS will have sparks that fly along a curved line without breaking apart...carbon steel produces sparks that break apart into more sparks as they fly along an arc (kind of like what most fireworks do).

That sure looks like the better HF set as most others have said. It is a good starter set for sure.

There are a couple of woodturning clubs in the Detroit area if there isn't one in Windsor.

[Walt Caza]

Hi All,
Thanks for the helpful responses.
I'm gonna check out the chisels later today, with my fingers crossed...
hoping for HSS!
Gonna do spark test and file test, knowing HF is most likely source.
Sounds like I can spend my early lathe tool budget on bowl gouges. cool

Living 10 min South of the Detroit border means two things...
1 -my dearly departed Uncle Jim likely made a run for the border to buy his chisel set from HF. (no HF in Canada)

2 -since there are no turning clubs here in Windsor, as Dick so kindly suggests, I can try to find a club in lower Michigan.
Thanks Dick, any specific suggestions?

see you in the sawdust,
Walt

[Walt Caza]

Well,
The verdict is in... grinding those 'heirloom' chisels
made a sparkshower like a sparkler on the Fourth of July!
A day late..... and a dollar short. (literally, in both cases)
shucks!
* A tip of the hat to Steve Mawson for his helpful suggestion.

My file cut the chisel shanks pretty easy. (although not-so-buttery)
No joy - No HSS - just a carbon steel keepsake of a great man gone.
shucks all-over-again!
* A tip of the hat to William Bolen for his helpful suggestion.

I guess I can try them for sharpening and early turning practice... humbug.
Is it possible the 8pc set still came from HF?

Soon appearing in this space...
Stay tuned for my yet-another-rookie-asking-about-tooling thread.(sigh)
uggh
Walt

ps Disclaimer: not that there's anything wrong with sparklers...
(I don't need 35 emails from the up-with-sparklers people) hehe

[Dan Forman]

Walt--- Those still might come in handy at times, though won't hold an edge as long, and you will have to be careful when sharpening. The scrapers can be made into unusual shapes for specific uses; if there is a skew, you will be able to get it really sharp for final cuts etc. And of course, you can play with them until you get your good ones---make handles for Thompson gouges.

Dan

[Tom Giacomo]

I have that very same set and they are HSS. Look closely at the blades originally they where stamped HSS, in black ink.

[mike holden]

Walt,
Try detroitareawoodturners dot org
The next meeting is not until September, but I really enjoy the meetings.
There is usually a demonstration, door prizes, lots of recent work being shown (bring a piece to show - its a helpful crowd) and often some nice bits and pieces for sale. Got my chatter tool (in kit form) and get my CA glue there.
Mike

[Kyle Iwamoto]

If you don't want them as a keepsake, use them and sharpen them. That way, when you do buy a good set, you'll be able to sharpen them. CS can get a lot sharper than HSS, in my experience. It just gets dull REALLY fast....

[Walt Caza]

Good Day to the Creek,
I justed wanted to follow-up on this thread and thank all responders.
I am adding this pair of pics to eshew any uncertainty.
The sparks from the heirloom mystery chisels break up and burst like sparklers.
Wish as I may, them puppies is carbon.

I found out a bit of back story.
Turns out my father was with my dearly departed Uncle Jim when they made a run for the border,
and purchased many tools, including these lathe chisels at a big tool sale at a hotel in Michigan that begins with the letter 'H'.
I imagine that is not an auspicious indication of highest tool quality?

As Dan and Kyle suggested, as well as Steve Mawson by pm...
I can get some use of these chisels. They will get nicely sharp, but just not stay there for very long.
Excellent sharpening practice for me.
I plan to grind'em up and use'em up, as my uncle would have wanted.
He was a practical guy, more interested in getting it done, than doing it fancy.
There is no room in my shop for anything not useful.

Aside to Mike H.: Yes, I will try hard to get to the Sept meeting, sounds good.

Also, after I make ugly mudpies for a while, I will try to meet Leo V. for a few pointers.
My skills are sooo lacking, I am just a butcher at this early point in my spinning adventure.
thanks again,
Walt