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Flea mkt find

john lucas

AAW Forum Expert
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Rarely do I find turning related things at the flea mkt. Today was an exception. I found 2 antique turning tools. They look like green wood turning tools. One is a hook tool and I'm not sure what the other one is but looks like it would take a fine shaving if sharpened well. There aren't any names or identification on them.
The other find was thread chasing tools. I got these for $1 each. There are 3 matched pairs. The others are missing their mate but I will probably be able to make a match. I now have sizes from 11TPI to 36. I can't imagine using the 36 tpi for wood. I've used 20 and that's a pretty fine thread.
 

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Looks like a great deal John. Could you take a close up pic of the working end? Also what is the length, they look really long.
Brian
 
Brian I'll try to do it tonight when I get home from work. They are very long. I will have to measure but I would say at least 36" (but then you know how men exaggerate size).
 
Here is a closeup of the tip. The long one is the hook tool and is 34" long. I don't know what the shorter one is but has a curve and a bevel on 2 angles on the backside. It looks like it could be used with the curve to the left or the right, riding the proper bevel on the backside.
 

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Looks like a hook tool to me. The other one possibly a scraper? That was a great find. Let us know how they perform. Wish I'd find things like that. Maybe I need to move back to Tn. Myrtle Beach is lacking in so many things. Especially anything related to Woodturning. :cool2:
 
I suppose it could be a scraper but I don't think so. I would think you would put an entirely different shape on a scraper. My thoughts are it cuts in areas where you can't reach with a hook or possibly to give fewer tool marks on the outside of bowls than a hook tool would leave.
 
Think of them as gouges with the edge 90 degrees out. That's how either will be best employed. The long handles, as you are no doubt aware, are generally cradled under the armpit, because the edge cuts up into the advancing wood, and can put some good pressure on to your arm if you take a big bite. I have also seen the more conventional type worked against a pin and rest cutting across grain like a normal gouge. Don't think the broad sweep could be worked that way.
 
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