Thread: Chinese HSS tool steel???

Originally Posted by Stustoys

WKE 45 is the type of HSS not the seller.
If its the same seller I've used he doesnt have any listed ATM. (doesnt seem to have sold any for 4+ months)

Stuart

Thanks for that Stuart, I thought that was the sellers handle, why didn't I think of that. I told you I was a "newbie" at this.
Kryn

I've found that Chinese HSS is of dubious quality, like most of their products, sort of like frozen berries, - you just can't be sure of what you are getting.

It's a bit like their other steel. I use to make fuel tanks, made up a tank from black sheet steel, pressure testing the welded joints and had leaks about 10- 20 mill from the joints, . Brushed on the testing solution on the rest of the tank, it was everywhere. The sheet was porous as anything. . I changed metal after that went to cold rolled.
Kryn

What is the tool steel from Mcjings like?

I honestly don't know Mark, but as most, if not all their stuff comes from China, ?????????? It would be OK to machine ally I'd think.
I'll wait and see if anyone comes back with a positive reply to that one.
Kryn

Originally Posted by KBs PensNmore

I honestly don't know Mark, but as most, if not all their stuff comes from China, ?????????? It would be OK to machine ally I'd think.
I'll wait and see if anyone comes back with a positive reply to that one.
Kryn

The Chinese do indeed manufacture a tool steel that they call HSS-Al or sometimes M2-Al. In theory this should be their equivalent of Hss-Co, just as tough but cheaper to make. It contains a small amount of Aluminium to replace the expensive Cobalt.

But in practice it all comes down to process control and quality assurance, and there appears to be huge variation in the end product. Some Chinese M2-Al milling cutters are indeed just good for cutting Aluminium - some other are actually surprisingly good even in stainless and at about 1/3 to 1/4 the price of good brand name HSS-Co cutters. Same with HSS-Al lathe tools or drills. It is the luck of the draw. You get what you pay for, if you want or need predictable results you have to pay for the privilege.

Originally Posted by KBs PensNmore

I honestly don't know Mark, but as most, if not all their stuff comes from China, ?????????? It would be OK to machine ally I'd think.
I'll wait and see if anyone comes back with a positive reply to that one.
Kryn

Pottering around the shed today, found a couple of chisels I made from tool steel from Mcjings, I had forgotten about.
They didn't like Mulga and hated Turpentine bush, reckon Ali is softer than Turpentine bush.
Bought them at the Adelaide Wood Show the last time I heard they had one there.

Originally Posted by cba_melbourne

d there appears to be huge variation in the end product. Some Chinese M2-Al milling cutters are indeed just good for cutting Aluminium - some other are actually surprisingly good even in stainless and at about 1/3 to 1/4 the price of good brand name HSS-Co cutters. Same with HSS-Al lathe tools or drills. It is the luck of the draw. You get what you pay for,

Originally Posted by cba_melbourne

You get what you pay for,

Wait didn't you just spend a paragraph telling us that isnt the case?

Originally Posted by cba_melbourne

if you want or need predictable results you have to pay for the privilege.

Now that we can agree on. I know I certainly do things in my shed that costs me time but saves me money, things I wouldn't dream of doing if I was working for a living*.

Stuart

*unless I was working for one of my previous employers who was even tighter than I am. Which is likely were some of my bad habits come from.

An update, I purchased some 3/16 P&N HSS bits that I received today, and the cutting was no comparison, like a hot knife through butter instead of a 3 X 2 in the butter. It was the crap HS steel that was the problem, noticed straight away as soon as the P&N hit the wheel, taking a lot longer to sharpen/shape.
Like they say, oils ain't oils, an neither is steel.
Thanks everyone for their comments and help.
Kryn

Hi wm460,
You could not have picked 2 harder woods, for your trial.
Did you try the Sorby or Record, Hamlet, Crown, P&N, & I wood back P&N to do what you wanted to do.
I wood be inclined to think that you wood not find them any better.
In an earlier thread, that I posted, I use McJing HSS Steel, for my Woodturning, but there maybe a difference in the 2 Steels, as the M / HSS is quite good as far as I'm concerned.
Of Course this is only my opinion.

The WKE45 i get is Seco. It is the best i have used by far, although i find it too brittle for using on the shaper, it does not cope with the impacts. I also have old stock of Vasco supreme, Momax and P&N, all of which hold an edge well.