This video explains everything you need to know about how to make a carbide lathe tool, and has well over a hundred thousand views. These have exploded in popularity recently and for good reason. A carbide lathe tool makes it very easy for anyone to learn lathe turning. These tools function essentially as a scraper, but with the range of inserts available they are extraordinarily versatile.
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You can make your own carbide lathe tool for a lot less than buying one, and since you already have the tools you need in your shop, it makes the most sense to make it yourself. Enjoy.
Updated 2023
How to Make a Carbide lathe Tool
The benefit to making a carbide lathe tool is that the price is much lower. Several carbide lathe tools can be made for the same price as one from a store. If you own a lathe (which you should if you are making tools for it) this is something you can make yourself easily.
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The inserts can be found online, or you can buy the inserts for the tools that are sold in woodworking stores. Either way, you will have what you need to make the tool in your shop. The steel for the bar came from Amazon, though this can be found locally.
This video shows how to make a carbide lathe tool, and it is easy to follow and learn from. Select your inserts first, then build the tool. Finally, give the tool a nice hand applied oil finish.
A great finish for this tool is Tru-Oil. My Finishing With Tru-Oil article explains the process and steps. If you would rather watch a video, my Tru-Oil Finishing Video does just that.
Lastly, my 10 Step Guide to Wood Finishing shows beginners how to finish wood. This explains how to use easy wipe on finishes to create a great look. Wipe on finishes make an expert finisher out of anyone, and are easy to learn how to apply.
Are Carbide Lathe Tools Worth It?
Carbide lathe tools are definitely worth it. Especially when you consider that making them yourself will save you hundreds of dollars over buying them from a store. This is a huge advantage of the diy carbide lathe tool, and you are in full control.
Since making these carbide tools yourself is so inexpensive, you really get all of the benefit of the tool without the cost. You can also make several of them with different carbide tips for different purposes. This meaks you can get a whole set for the sae price or less than a single tool.
When you take into account the number of tools you can make for the same cost as one from the store, and that you can make them in the exact size you need, and with the exact carbide inserts you want, the answer is super clear. Carbide lathe tools are definitely worth it.
How do You Sharpen a Carbide Metal Lathe Tool
The best part about carbide, and specifically when it comes to how to make a carbide lathe tool, there is no sharpening involved. Carbide inserts are meant to be thrown away after they dull, and replaced with new.
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Rather than having to sharpen your lathe tools, when you use carbide, you simply remove the old insert, and add a new one. You can also rotate or turn around the insert in most cases to expose a fresh side before throwing at away, and that will give the carbide tool new life.
However, when you are all out of fresh edges, the inserts are very inexpensive, so just replace it. If you are new to woodworking, this can be a huge benefit, because you may not have the mony for new sharpening equipment. Using carbide lathe tools saves you that extra expense, which you can either save or use on another tool for your shop.
See Also: 11 Easy Tips on How to Make Carbide Tip Wood Turning Tools
Where to Get Carbide Lathe Tool Cutting Heads
Amazon is th eking when it comes to getting nearly anything, and you canfind a lot of different inserts for carbide lathe tools on their site. Make sure that you are specifically looking at inserts for woodworking tools, not carbide inserts for metal. Most of the listings will say for carbide inserts for wood turning, or carbide inserts for woodworking, and those are the ones you want.
The big difference between carbide inserts for metal and carbide inserts for wood is that the ones for wood have a sharper cutting angle. Metal inserts don’t have a very sharp edge, and they don’t work as well on wood. Carbide lathe tool inserts for wood are much sharper, and once you see a couple of them, you will easily be able to spot the difference.
Amazon also has a lot of different options for cuter shapes. I recommend a square, square with a slight radius, round, and diamond for your first set. This is enough for you to make four tools, and they will do the majority of what you need to do on the lathe.
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Saving Money on Carbide Lathe Tool Inserts
To save money on inserts for yout handmade carbide lathe tools, I recommend buying a bulk pack of inserts. This way, you get a deal, and you always have a new cutter head ready in the event that you need a new one.
Most of the bulk deals on Amazon for carbide inserts for woodworking tools are in packs of ten, and unless you are doing production work, this is going to last a hobby woodworker a very long time. Make sure that you change the cutter direction or rotate the cutters between changes to get the most use from them, but after that just go back into your pack of ten and put a new one on the tool when needed.
Save these in a place where you won’t lose them, and where you keep lathe related tools. This way, when you do need one, you can find them. As a hobby wood turner, you won’t need new ones that often, and it’s a pain to tear apart your shop to find something that you misplaced.
Carbide Lathe Tool Making Tips and Tricks
Here are some great tips for making your own carbide lathe tools:
- Square shafted carbide tools sit better on the tool rest than round shafted tools.
- Get you carbide cutter or carbide insert online so you can get a deal on a bulk package.
- Wood turning tools and carbide turning tools are the same thing, one just has a carbide insert at the end.
- Carefully handle your inserts as the cutting edge is fragile.
- The learning curve on woodturning tools with a carbide tip is far less than traditional tools.
If you have any question on making your own set of tools after seeing the video, please Contact Me and I’ll be glad to help. happy building.
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