Thread: Metalwork question: making your own tools

i have only shaped them with a carbide grinder , never had to sharpen them after that , there quite corse steel ( grainy ) dimond hone should work ,but i dont own one

ive only used them as scrapers ,

I've read some, but not all of these posts about cutters. Thought I'd post a pic of some of my cutters.
All of them are the square-shaped cutters that come in 2.5" lengths. Some of mine are 1/8x1/8", 3/16x3/16", and 1/4x1/4". Don't know which I've got in the pic, tho', been a long time since I looked at it.
I've sharpened some along the left side, and some along the right side, along with the tip; some different shapes. All of them cut, if you angle the cutter (I sight along the allen set screws to know how they're turned), and scrape, if you don't.
Hope this doesn't cause heartburn...

Ern,

re tungsten carbide, sharpening is done with a green wheel and they are about the same price as the whites one. As it is a bit hard to get the knife type edge, I like to give mine a positive rack to the top angle, anywhere from 3' and up depending on how game you are. Up and over 5' it gets a bit hairy especially with the grunt your Stubby has ...you need a loooooooooooong handle

Other wise on green timber its for ever and a day between grinds, on dry not quite as long lasting but still a viable tool to your collection.
Not the best on finishes. But as a rough out tool its very good, it'll take all you've got then some. Stall the lathe, rip the job out of the chuck, bend the tool bar, break the tool rest... etc ... not for those with a heart condition

Thanks Hughie.

Sounds a bit ominous! Good thing there's blanket insulation overhead ;-}

By 3', do you mean three degrees rake?

By 3', do you mean three degrees rake

Ern, yes, around three degrees, its not an exact science. I usually try and have the tip fixed to a removable piece this allows me to swing it around for different approaches, also in case I have over done the angle/ top rake. Another aspect is that you can have several different shapes for different purposes.

http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...ad.php?t=42769

I will be interested to hear from those who own the Rolly Munro cutter with the TCT, as all the tips I have are more or less flat. Rolly is quite thorough so I suspect it will be a very good tool.