Thread: CTC blank HSS

I ordered some 150mm long square HSS tool blanks in a couple of different sizes last week, but it hasn't arrived as yet, so can't comment on the quality as I have not had any from them before.
The postage charge was poisonous though, way higher than I have ever been charged by them before. Cost more than the total cost of the items ordered.

Alan.

I bought a couple of mixed lots of 6, 8 and 10mm square and round HSS from him, he used to list them on Ebay.

Use them regularly, they are fine.

Just checked and he has nothing listed on Ebay either as CTC Tools or his alter ego Anytools.

I have a fair amount of CTC HSS on hand.... It is fair quality.... Not as hard as the old stuff I have here that is made in Sweden and UK...

In general it is what you would expect for the price....

In regards to CTC postage.... They send via express now... Takes only two to three days to make it to Australia and will be delivered by courier... Cannot remember if it is Toll or TNT....

I was disappointed. I found Ozmestore's HSS held up better and was better sized and finished. But I haven't bought any from either for a while - maybe a year - so your mileage may vary.

The only bit i have used was the bit that came with a boring bar. Compared to the WKE45, Vasco supreme and SKF stuff i have it is crap. Buy decent stuff and you will not regret it. I bought 20 of bits of 1/4" square on ebay a while ago-good old brands all unused, $25 i think. For Swedish WKE45 my local shop charges about $9 for 1/4" x 2 1/2" , $30 for 1/2" x 3" i think...

Cheers,
Ew

As RC says, postage is now express - it says 'insured airmail' on their email confirmation and my last order was delivered by Toll in about 2 to 3 days if I remember correctly.
Only problem was that Toll delivered it to the correct street address but in the wrong suburb. Luckily the lady there worked out my phone number from the paperwork and rang me. I picked it up myself as it was only about 15 minutes drive away.
It's now over a week since my latest order so I'm beginning to wonder where it's gone this time.

Big Shed 'Just checked and he has nothing listed on Ebay either as CTC Tools or his alter ego Anytools.'

CTC abandoned ebay some time ago, maybe 2 or 3 years? Presumably their business/brand had grown to the stage where they could safely wave goodbye to ebay and their fees.

Originally Posted by OLCDOG

It's now over a week since my latest order so I'm beginning to wonder where it's gone this time.

It can take them a week or two or three to get the order ready to send...

My last order got sent from China not Hong Kong... I think CTC may not have an actual store where everything is stocked, but rather possibly only stocks the popular stuff... The slower selling stuff they get from elsewhere...

I bought some a couple of years ago from CTC, and I've found it to be useless on most of the steel I have. Just doesn't hold an edge, seems to crumble away in very short order, requiring a complete reprofile. Fine on aluminium, but that's not much help if you don't have carbide tooling to take care of steel. Probably the only thing I've ever got from CTC that I've ever been disappointed with.

personally, I'm going at some stage to try and get my hands on some sort of cobalt HSS from one of the many known brands that have been mentioned on here in the past. I do have one stick of Sutton HSS (m42? Can't remember offhand) in my fly cutter on the mill, and that seems to be much better - but at something like $35 for the one piece, I'm not keen to buy some more...

I have bought some C05 grade ( 5% cobolt ) 3/8" square blanks from the usa ebay seller , it performs quite well - so far . It comes packed in plastic sleeved packaging . Unfortunately he doesn't have rounds , only square . The round stuff is ideal for making little boring bars .

The forum members opinions re the CTC HSS blank tooling is varied , some for and some against

I have seen Dormer drill blanks on ebay but the prices are scary .

What size do you need Mike?

Ew

Originally Posted by morrisman

The forum members opinions re the CTC HSS blank tooling is varied , some for and some against

I count 1 yay, 3 nays and one indifferent. Hardly a ringing endorsement.

Originally Posted by Bryan

I count 1 yay, 3 nays and one indifferent. Hardly a ringing endorsement.

Seems to me it is a bit of a crap shoot.

No probs with the CTC stuff, but bought some from ozmestore and that was rubbish, yet someone else reckons that was OK.

I use the CTC stuff regularly on 303 and 304 SS and it works fine.

Originally Posted by Ueee

What size do you need Mike?

Ew

Hi Ewan

I am reading the Harold Hall mini boring bar project page http://www.homews.co.uk/page237.html

I will see how the CTC round blanks perform ........ Fred has had a good run from them so I will give them a try .

Mike