keithh999 Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 I have a couple questions on lathe tooling....is it more economical (long term) to purchase carbide insert style bits or try and stick with HSS tooling that can be ground inhouse?? My 9" southbend rocker holder has a 1/4-5/16" capacity for tooling...can this be upgraded to a larger size holder (since i have tons of larger sized tooling..up to 1/2") If the consensus is to stick with HSS tooling what kind of grinder stone should i get and where and at what RPM should they be ground at??? If the consensus goes to carbide tooling what should i get?...MSC has thousands of numbers that mean about zero to me and have no way of deciphering the gobbledygook in the catalog and i dont really know any machinists to ask...as i stated above i am limited to 5/16" tooling and trying to figure out the carbides and holders is making me gaga...LOL any help with these questions would be greatly appreciated!!!! thanks in advance guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trying-it Posted March 5, 2008 Share Posted March 5, 2008 For now, see if this link opens from the mscdirect.com site; it shows a totally different approach to tool holding in a lathe (your size lathe included).MSC Item Detail Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HWooldridge Posted March 5, 2008 Share Posted March 5, 2008 HSS is fine for most home use in a non-production environment and common materials. I grind bits on a belt grinder with 120g belt and they work fine. IMHO, a better investment for any lathe is to buy an Aloris equivalent quick-change post and holders. The old rocker style is OK on some work so don't throw it away, but most of the quick change units are robust and will really help your productivity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the_sandy_creek_forge Posted March 6, 2008 Share Posted March 6, 2008 Hey Keith, Let me frame this with a disclaimer *I am in no way a machinist. I just happen to utilize a small lathe and a metal shaper to make jigs, dies, etc. for my blacksmithing work* I started out on the lathe with some of the cheapo brazed carbide bits from HF and a set of the cheap indexable ones from grizzly (all 3/8") Then when I got my shaper, I discovered HSS bits. I personally prefer the HSS for everything that I do now. I can get a pretty decent finish, but my tool grinding skills do need some work. One of these days I'm gonna meet with the local high-school shop teacher to get some pointers, just haven't had the time yet. Right now I grind my bits on a regular old 6 inch bench grinder and then touch them up with a medium grit pocket stone to make everything nice and smooth. Making an adjustable work-rest and setting up a dedicated grinder for grinding tooling is also on my list. I also like HSS because, If you keep an eye on ebay, you can sometimes get a large lot of gently used tooling for a decent price. -Aaron @ the SCF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted March 6, 2008 Share Posted March 6, 2008 Generally speaking I find HSS more useful and verasatile as you can grind cutting edges, forms etc to suit your requirements, Carbide tools are more prone to chipping, and difficult to regrind, you need special grade wheels and diamond laps to do them properly. They also require higher speeds to cut efficiently, and either none or copious amounts of coolant when cutting. I am not familiar with your make or model of lathe, but generally speaking, any size of tool can be used so long as it is set to cut at centre height, and securely held. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aametalmaster Posted March 8, 2008 Share Posted March 8, 2008 Looks like you need one of my square tool blocks. Then you can use any cutter you want from any size HSS to 1/2" sq shank carbide jobs. I used my lantern post once just to make my square block then it went in the drawer...Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saintjohnbarleycorn Posted March 10, 2008 Share Posted March 10, 2008 I am also a very beginner, I went with the quick change tool post, and with it came some carbide bits. It was nice to actually see the tool cutting nicely, as opposed to me trying to grind the hss steel ones. BUT I will learn to grind them and use them, I suppose you will find out what works best for you, in the end. Believe me there is a whole lot to learn, as mentioned the speeds which I don't have any handle on as of yet, but it is a great learning experience! good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keithh999 Posted March 10, 2008 Author Share Posted March 10, 2008 well since you mentioned it Bob i think ill have to make one of those tool posts...ive got to make a new angle plate for the milling attachment i just bought locally for $75....i have to bridgeport milling machines at work so that shouldnt be a problem. and then ill be able to use any or all of the oversized tooling we have at the shop. guess ill have to put a pic or two under "it followed me home" LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aametalmaster Posted March 13, 2008 Share Posted March 13, 2008 Keith, Here is a few more pics of making my block. Pic 1 scribing center line with dead center Pic 2 t nut turned from round stock and the ears cut off to fit into the compound slot Pic 3 t nut slid into slot. It also has a 5/8" 4130 stud threaded into it. The square block is recessed to fit over the stem sticking up...Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arftist Posted May 6, 2008 Share Posted May 6, 2008 The nine inch south bend is a very popular lathe these days among hobbists. It is a slow turner and therefore hss tools are appropriate. Grinding single point tools is not that difficult. Rough with a hand held grinder, finnish on belt sander or bench grinder, hone on hand stone. If you have a lathe, and don't know how to grind tools buy a book about lathes or general machine shop practice. The clearence angles can be set using the table angle adjustment one the bench grinder or belt sander. I personaly use all three style tool holders shown, depending on the nature of the job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metalmaster1766 Posted May 6, 2008 Share Posted May 6, 2008 i was gonna say almost this same thing carbide tooling is great, when used at hi speeds, HSS is more versatile, i like the quick change tool post because setting a lantern type tool post with each tool change can get rather bothersome, i still use one all the time, mainly depends on the job im doing, i use whatever i can for HSS bits as well, broken taps, center drills, some drill bits, i just make a tool holder to hold a round HSS broken tap and sharpen to do the job another thing about a lathe is its versatility as well, with a bit of experience and imagination you can machine all sorts of parts Ron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
11echo Posted May 27, 2008 Share Posted May 27, 2008 I'm a hobbyist type machinist and I'd have to say I would have both! I live near the oil fields here in middle Calif. and I see alot of "sucker rod" (the rod you see on derks pumping oil out of the ground) as scrap. It's pretty good steel but on the tough side. You can cut it with HSS, but it'll dull the tooling semi quick, so I have carbide tool too to deal with it. I just find it more versatile to have both on hand to deal with what ever I use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arftist Posted June 1, 2008 Share Posted June 1, 2008 11echo, If you aneal that sucker rod, you will probably find that it machines very well, with just hss tool bits. One way to aneal is to place your stock in your forge when you are done for the day. get it hot then shut the forge off and retreive the stock the next morning. No wasted gas or effort this way. I also sometimes aneal the same way in a woodstove. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
11echo Posted June 2, 2008 Share Posted June 2, 2008 Forge!?? ...Forge what's that!?? *G* ...I WISH!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swamptroll Posted October 28, 2008 Share Posted October 28, 2008 The type of tooling you would use is dependent on the material. HSS will work on most steel in the soft form, carbide for hard and tough alloys. HSS can be ground to a sharper tool. We never went finer than a 60 grit wheel for grinding them, less heat problems and faster stock removal. The best holder by far is the Aloris equivalent quick-change post and holder. You can set up a few different tools on advance and just do a quick change. Hope it helps a little Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meancoyote Posted October 29, 2008 Share Posted October 29, 2008 I use HSS the most, but I like to use carbide too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R W Posted November 24, 2008 Share Posted November 24, 2008 Have an SB10L and have found HSS OK, cabide tips maybe better on a modern lathe. Purchased a OMNI-POST from Omni Post - The quick change tool post system for your lathe! and have found it excellent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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