My husband and I are working with a former member's wife to sell his tools since he is no longer able to turn. We brought all the tools home and while pricing we found this odd tool. We can't identify it by name or its use and at least 3 other turners have no idea how it would be used. looking for some assistance. The handle says it is a Sorby but a search of the Sorby site does not show it.
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Odd Tool Found - Name? Use?
- Thread starter Barbara LaPrease
- Start date
I don't think Sorby would release a tool where the wood in the handle didn't totally surround the steel.
My guess would be that he repurposed a handle and was in the process of making something custom.
My guess would be that he repurposed a handle and was in the process of making something custom.
It sort of looks like a bedan, on an angle. Maybe a tool intended to cut a dovetail tenon? Probably a work in progress like espeigel said.
I've owned a box scraper with exactly that profile but with a different grind at the end.
The flat facing left on pic (2) was the top side of the tool.
The flat facing left on pic (2) was the top side of the tool.
I read “Shopsmith” on the handle, not Sorby.
Shopsmith by Sorby
Odie
Panning for Montana gold, with Betsy, the mule!
Way back when I started turning on a Shopsmith, I bought a Sorby gouge directly from Shopsmith. It had a handle that said Shopsmith.
I'm making a guess on that one. It looks like an attempt to have a shear scrape with the bottom edge flat to the tool rest.
-----odie-----
Pretty sure it is a bedan.
One of my lathe tools has a diamond shaped cutting angle similar to the one shown, the handle is marked from the house of woodturning. There are several angles you can use this tool to reach into tight spots and shear scrape on the bottom recess on bowls etc.
It is one of three tools in the Shopsmith pen making set. “It is not a bedan. I bought that set when I had a Shopsmith many, many years ago. The set also included a thin parting tool and a small roughing gouge. They no longer sell that set, I still have mine. I used it as a scraper. You could also use the point for groove lines. I believe at one time Sorby had the same design.
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This is the three piece pen turning set from Shopsmith.
Apparently the mystery has been solved. But, interesting to note diamond shaped tools are used in metal spinning to trim the work.
notice how the wood in the handle fits (fairly) snuggly around the metal of the tool.
I still think that the originally posted picture was not a "factory original"
I have been helping the widow of a keen wood turner with disposing of his tools and there is a similar tool that nobody here in Calgary has been able to identify, or fathom out what it's used for.
The handle is labelled “Home of Woodturning”, which I think has gone out of business, and the shank has the “Sheffield” label.
After an internet search, I found something called a "Splay Tool" in the Crown Tools catalogue. However, they haven't bothered to reply to my inquiry. If it is for sheer scraping, I have better tools than this.
The handle is labelled “Home of Woodturning”, which I think has gone out of business, and the shank has the “Sheffield” label.
After an internet search, I found something called a "Splay Tool" in the Crown Tools catalogue. However, they haven't bothered to reply to my inquiry. If it is for sheer scraping, I have better tools than this.
Attachments
Can't really tell from the pictures, but it looks like a bedan tool. The bedan is generally wider at the top and narrower at the bottom. This one looks to have an angled bevel rather than square across. I have seen them used for turning beads and some detail on spindles.
robo hippy
robo hippy
No,it's not a bedan. A bedan has a trapezoidal cross section and can be used for beads as well as a wide parting tool. This has a distinct diamond shape.
It looks like a Crown Splay Tool ... https://www.amazon.com/Crown-Hand-Tools-8-Inch-Splay/dp/B07K549FF6.
Amazon listing says: "The #271FW 3/8" Splay Tool from Crown is a relatively new hybrid type turning tool that can be used as a skew chisel, box scraper, a shear scraper, or for detail work on spindles. The 3/8" (10mm) wide blade is made from M2 High Speed Steel (HSS) and hardened to Rockwell 62-64. Tool is approximately 14-1/4" long overall with an 8-1/2" long stained Beech handle. Sheffield, England."
Amazon listing says: "The #271FW 3/8" Splay Tool from Crown is a relatively new hybrid type turning tool that can be used as a skew chisel, box scraper, a shear scraper, or for detail work on spindles. The 3/8" (10mm) wide blade is made from M2 High Speed Steel (HSS) and hardened to Rockwell 62-64. Tool is approximately 14-1/4" long overall with an 8-1/2" long stained Beech handle. Sheffield, England."
Thanks for the link! However, I asked Crown if there were instructions on using it or a link to a magazine article but after a month, they haven't replied. I've tried using it but have yet to see the logic behind its design.
I tried using it as a sheer scraper but I have a couple of sheer scrapers that work much, much better. I have also made scores of boxes and can't see how it could be superior to other box-making tools that I have.
I tried using it as a sheer scraper but I have a couple of sheer scrapers that work much, much better. I have also made scores of boxes and can't see how it could be superior to other box-making tools that I have.
A bedan can also have a rectangular cross-section -- see Escoulen bedans.
With respect to bedans, there are two types. The French bedan has straight sides (as you look at it from the end, the tool shaft is square). The English bedan, on the other hand, has sloped sides (as you look at it from the end, the tool shaft is trapezoidal). Both of my English bedans were made by Crown.
Of course you are both right! I was showing my English origin
I have both types, made by Henry Taylor, although the French style is listed as a beading tool in the Lee Valley Tools catalogue.