Knowledge You Can Build On — Est. 1998
tool steel
Dennis Taylor (Akron, Ohio)
>can someone direct me at this site for the type of metal I want to make small hollowing tools, like for ornaments & small boxes...there are so many... www.mcmaster.com is the site, they are close to me...tks...dennis
Re: tool steel
Andrew Hilton
>O-1 Drill Rod is what you want. It's tough, holds an edge fairly well but yet still workable to bend, etc. as you want to. You can then heat treat it easily enough when you've gotten your tool the way you want it before using it.
A piece of HSS (High Speed Steel) will stay sharper a bit longer but is infinitely more difficult to work with in making your own tools (unless you simply want a straight bit to put into another tool like many larger hollowing rigs or braze to it)
Just for doing small hollowing for what you mentioned, the 0-1 Drill Rod is quite sufficient.
Making turning tools *LINK*
Russ Fairfield
>Look no farther than the Wood Central archives. This article should help you get started. There are a lot of alternatives. Choose the one that works best for you.
http://www.woodcentral.com/russ/russ10.shtml
Ah! Russ is back !!!
Fred in NC
>
Re: Ah! Russ is back !!!
� Joe Millsap
>if you are trying to make small hollowing tools. I use allen wrenches. I make garage sales and look for the long shaft wrenches. Grind some of the short end off and flatten one side and sharpen it and put it in a handle. You don't have to sharpen them very often.
Re: tool steel
Michael Dameron
>Source for tool steel. Try MSC at mscdirect.com. I make scrapers of various sizes using drill rod and oil quenched high carbon steel. The scrapers are harder than HSS turning tools. Burnishers won't work to freshen a burr, you have to use the grinder. However, the edge lasts much longer. I made two 3/8" thick by 1" bowl scrapers for about $20 last year.
Re: tool steel *LINK*
Wes Bischel
>I pick up drill rod (silver steel) at Enco. They usually have it on sale.
Wes
Enco
