HF lathe chisels

[Ruben]

Hi everybody,
a question for the penturners, i got a small lathe the other day to get started in pen turning.
I've been looking for all the supplies i need to get started like pen mandrel, glues, sanding paper, bushings for every different type of pen...
So today i was buying some stuff at HF and i saw their lathe chisels, what do you guys think of the HSS set that they sell? actually they have one around $50 and another one around $80. i think i could get the $50 one for around $40 with a 20%coupon. Any feedback?
Thank you in advance

[Cochese]

I bought the really cheap ones for practice and for sharpening practice.

My next set will be the Bodgers from Highland.

[Bill in Buena Park]

I have the 50 dollar hss set and the really cheap set and use both frequently. The hss setholds a good edge and I use it for pen turning but you have to be careful not to nick the bushings as the hss will cut them. The cheap set works ok but requires more frequent sharpening.

[LCHIEN]

got a lot of 25% coupons in rthe mail... let me know if you want me to scan one

[Ruben]

Thank you for all the replies!
I think I will get the $50 set. I was reading the reviews and some people love them and some hate them. You all know HF stuff is hit or miss. I just bought a sump pump today from them, and after maybe 10 seconds of pumping it doesn't start anymore, so I went online and I bought a replacement for the old flotec that is been running strong for more than 5 years, after I bought it used at a yard sale :-)

I was also checking the sets Amazon offer, and I see they are some kits from PSI that are shorter, what are those use for? Are those a better option for pens since they are smaller?

got a lot of 25% coupons in rthe mail... let me know if you want me to scan one

thank you for the offer! Actually I found a 25% off in the last paper, and a free clamp coupon also ;-) they are pretty bad, but for that price I can't complain ;-)

[lrr]

I have a really old HSS set of lathe tools from Harbor Freight, bought maybe 10 years ago. The lathe purchase I planned back then never happened, so they sat unused until a couple years ago. They are actually pretty decent. A benefit of a cheaper set is that I've used them to learn how to sharpen lathe tools. I'd be a little more nervous learning to sharpen on a $100 skew or gouge. But a set I bought on sale for $40? No worries.

I learned to make pens using this full sized set of tools. I bought a small Robert Sorby SpindleMaster, but do not use it much, since I prefer the full sized tools. I guess it all depends on what you learn on. If I ever got into doing small boxes or thigns l;ike ornaments, the smaller sized tools might prove desirable, but not for the things I am doing now, like peppermills.

Last year I bought the Woodchuck Pen Pro carbide tipped turning tool. Google them, and maybe give them a try, as well. I bought mine without the handle and turned my own. Really great for making big sawdust piles fast! Each carbide insert has four faces, and you jsut roate them to get a new cuttign edge. I am still using the first face.

I've been turning about 3 years. Mostly pens. Done some pizza cutters, which are fun, and folks that have received them as gifts love them. I buy the ones from Rockler. A bit expensive, but very high quality. And Rockler does put them on sale periodically. Wine stoppers are also fun. Avoid the chrome ones -- acids in red wine will ruin them over time. I only buy stainless steel stoppers. There are some very nice ones to be found on the internet, and not just from the typical shops you'd go to, like Rockler or Woodcraft. Most of the 3rd party items I've bought I found thru the penturners.org forum.

Have fun!

[Ruben]

I have a really old HSS set of lathe tools from Harbor Freight, bought maybe 10 years ago. The lathe purchase I planned back then never happened, so they sat unused until a couple years ago. They are actually pretty decent. A benefit of a cheaper set is that I've used them to learn how to sharpen lathe tools. I'd be a little more nervous learning to sharpen on a $100 skew or gouge. But a set I bought on sale for $40? No worries.

I learned to make pens using this full sized set of tools. I bought a small Robert Sorby SpindleMaster, but do not use it much, since I prefer the full sized tools. I guess it all depends on what you learn on. If I ever got into doing small boxes or thigns l;ike ornaments, the smaller sized tools might prove desirable, but not for the things I am doing now, like peppermills.

Last year I bought the Woodchuck Pen Pro carbide tipped turning tool. Google them, and maybe give them a try, as well. I bought mine without the handle and turned my own. Really great for making big sawdust piles fast! Each carbide insert has four faces, and you jsut roate them to get a new cuttign edge. I am still using the first face.

I've been turning about 3 years. Mostly pens. Done some pizza cutters, which are fun, and folks that have received them as gifts love them. I buy the ones from Rockler. A bit expensive, but very high quality. And Rockler does put them on sale periodically. Wine stoppers are also fun. Avoid the chrome ones -- acids in red wine will ruin them over time. I only buy stainless steel stoppers. There are some very nice ones to be found on the internet, and not just from the typical shops you'd go to, like Rockler or Woodcraft. Most of the 3rd party items I've bought I found thru the penturners.org forum.

Have fun!

Thank you Lee, great advice!
my wife already order the pen mandrel, wood finish starter kit and some mesh pads, now i have to get the tools, pen kits, blanks and we are in business!

[lrr]

Thank you Lee, great advice!
my wife already order the pen mandrel, wood finish starter kit and some mesh pads, now i have to get the tools, pen kits, blanks and we are in business!

Glad to offer up some advice, and hope you could make it through all my typos!

It seems I can never find really unique blanks at the local woodworking stores, but I've found a lot of cool acrylics at Exotic Blanks (link below). Some of my greatest exotic wood blanks (burls, spalted wood -- pecan, oak, maple) I found via classified ads on penturners.org.

http://www.exoticblanks.com/acrylic-resin-blanks/

[dbhost]

I got the 8 pc Benjamin's Best HSS set from Penn State Industries, my neighbor has the HF HSS 8 pc set. Aside from one chisel being different, and the name stamped on it, I can't really tell the difference. Both of them will fly across the shop when you do something stupid and get a nasty catch...

[Ruben]

Glad to offer up some advice, and hope you could make it through all my typos!

It seems I can never find really unique blanks at the local woodworking stores, but I've found a lot of cool acrylics at Exotic Blanks (link below). Some of my greatest exotic wood blanks (burls, spalted wood -- pecan, oak, maple) I found via classified ads on penturners.org.

http://www.exoticblanks.com/acrylic-resin-blanks/

I'll take a look at the link, thanks Lee. there is also a lot of blanks on ebay, worth to check there if you haven't.

I got the 8 pc Benjamin's Best HSS set from Penn State Industries, my neighbor has the HF HSS 8 pc set. Aside from one chisel being different, and the name stamped on it, I can't really tell the difference.

yeah, i heard somewhere that they are the same product, coming from the same factory overseas.

Both of them will fly across the shop when you do something stupid and get a nasty catch...

I dont think my HF mini lathe will be strong enough to do that

[lrr]

I always wear a face shield when on the lathe. I worked with a guy that turned alabaster bowls. One flew apart and broke his jaw. Scary!

I've not had anything fly from my lathe -- wood or a tool, but I've had a few catches with a skew that scared the you know what out of me.

[dbhost]

I dont think my HF mini lathe will be strong enough to do that

Not sure which HF lathe you have, but mine, the #34706 will rip a skew out of your hand and fling it pretty hard...

[Ruben]

Not sure which HF lathe you have, but mine, the #34706 will rip a skew out of your hand and fling it pretty hard...

mine is the small one 8x12 mini lathe, it stall pretty easily. Listed as a 1/3 hp, but I think that is being optimistic

[LCHIEN]

mine is the small one 8x12 mini lathe, it stall pretty easily. Listed as a 1/3 hp, but I think that is being optimistic

Harbor Freight horses.

[jdon]

harbor freight horses.

That's hilarious!