Turning Tool Steels

[john lucas]

Jamie There are several factors that affect how long a tool holds an edge. Hardness is often confused with the toughness of the structure of the steel, which also includes things such as the material going into the steel and the grain alignment. Cryogenics helps align the grain as well as how it's hardened. Very confusing and involved process. The Thompson tools being particle metal can hold more Vanadium than cast steels. That's one of the reasons they hold an edge longer. Doug has them hardened correctly. He did increase the actual hardness to Rockwell 62 which should hold an edge longer. If you get a tool too hard the edge becomes brittle and won't hold up as long. Doug worked on that problem and found he could go that far and not lose any quality. Wish I knew more about m42 but just haven't done the research.

 

[Zach LaPerriere]

The advantage to the steel in the D-Way tools is not simply in the hardness (M42) but in the way they are processed. The tempering goes throughout the steel, and the tool is hung, not laid down on a surface. Sorry I can't give a more technical description than that, but my experience has been that they hold an edge longer and sharpen more consistently as the tool wears down, than the M2 steels I've used (Sorby, BB, etc.). Dave sharpens each tool by hand before shipping, if there's anything wrong with the tool, it doesn't ship, and when it's received by the customer it is s.h.a.r.p.

Jamie is right. Dave is a prince of a gentleman. His heart is in every tool, his dedication is exactly 100%. His 50+ years of metalworking experience are in every particle of his tools. I haven't tried M42 from anyone else, so there is every chance that Dave's is better.

 

[john lucas]

I have no doubt Dave's tools are excellent based on all I've read. I am saving my money for a beading tool. I make my own but have used one of his and they are excellent. I don't have the tooling to make one of those and can't heat treat HSS. I tried grinding my own HSS but simply don't have the tools to do it. I made one using a 1/4" piece of HSS and dremel cutter jury rigged in my metal lathe. I succeeded but it was such a hassle I won't do another one.

 

[Jamie Straw]

I have no doubt Dave's tools are excellent based on all I've read. I am saving my money for a beading tool. I make my own but have used one of his and they are excellent. I don't have the tooling to make one of those and can't heat treat HSS. I tried grinding my own HSS but simply don't have the tools to do it. I made one using a 1/4" piece of HSS and dremel cutter jury rigged in my metal lathe. I succeeded but it was such a hassle I won't do another one.

His beading tools are so sweet! I only have two, but plan to add on over the next year.Of all the tools he makes, the ones I would take to the grave would be the beading tools, the big skew (OMG, nice tool!) and probably the spindle gouge. And of course, his CBN's are the original thing, and the best. Not that I can afford them, LOL, but they are the best.

 

[Jamie Straw]

Well, since we've drifted onto the D-way spur of this railroad, I'll serve up a link to his latest gouge -- bad as# woodeater, he calls it. A 3/4"U-shaped bowl gouge with 5/8" tang. I don't (yet) turn bowls big enough to warrant one, but I have laid hands on one at the last Sawdust Session. It's a brute!
http://d-waytools.com/3-4-bowl-gouge-u-shaped-12-x-760-with-5-8-tang/

 

[robo hippy]

I have an order in for some 1 inch wide scraper blanks that are 5/32 thick rather than his standard 1/4 inch. I prefer a bit thicker. Hope to have them in a week or two. I asked Dave to send one of the new U gouges along with the order. Not sure when I will get around to putting it to use though... Going to be down for a bit, Doctor said time to get the prostate excavated.... Pre-emptive strike....

robo hippy

 

[Bill Boehme]

Oh, I hope that everything goes well. I've never heard about that surgical procedure.

I hope it isn't the kind of excavation that involves a backhoe.

 

[robo hippy]

I think they do more robotic type work now.... I had too many years in concrete construction.....

robo hippy