Lathe tooling

[Munkul]

I don't have anything but carbide tooling. I have a couple old HSS tools I'm keeping for just in case i need a special form tool, but for general turning... carbide inserts all the way. Especially if you've got some money to put into it and you intend to make it pay for jobs.

The critical thing is inserts. You can get negative rake inserts that perform beautifully on light cuts, just the same as you can get positive rake inserts that perform terribly... and vice versa.
Same with interupted cuts. I've had horrible square interrupted cuts in EN24 steel that just about shake the lathe... but didn't break the insert... because i was using the right insert.
Nose radius is a kind of good indicator. Grade is another.
My favourite two external tools are a CNMG and a DCMT. The CNMG I have all sorts of inserts for, from specific roughing inserts, down to extremely delicate finishing inserts.
The DCMT I have finishing inserts for steel and also for aluminium.

Cheap inserts are a waste of money. My favoured approach is to search on ebay for NOS inserts from Kennametal, mitsubishi, quality brands etc, and work out what sort of work they would be best suited to. When I was still learning all this stuff, I made mistakes, but i also ended up with a load of roughing inserts which are great for farmer-y type jobs.

Don't anyone ever tell you you need speed to run carbide... you don't, you just need the right depth and feed

 

[addjunkie]

Don't anyone ever tell you you need speed to run carbide... you don't, you just need the right depth and feed

And the confidence to use them!

 

[doubleboost]

 

[Munkul]

And the confidence to use them!

Absolutely. It's always hard if you use a load of crappy EN1-EN3 steel, I find it difficult to get an immaculate finish... I only have one or two inserts that can do it, and coolant is a must.

It's strange, I found the opposite on the mill. The faster I ran the spindle, the better the finish and the less vibration. Coolant doesn't seem to make much difference. 63mm facemill with Korloy inserts likes 1500rpm minimum...
But milling carbide really is totally different to lathe carbide.

 

[addjunkie]

In reality though you dont always need an imaculate finish, I think quite often in the amateur world we worry too much.

And if its jointing surfaces the sometimes a record finish is adequate

 

[Laurie Tedcastle]

Just to clarify. They haven't manufactured their own for quite a while unfortunately. It was Jenny's son that did the manufacturing and maintained the website. Without any notice (the way Jenny told me) he decided to stop. Sold all the machines and the computers.

Laurie

Addition: Jenny will be exhibiting at the NEC Classic Car Show on stand AJ30

Laurie

 

[Kram]

Can I suggest these as a good value starter set:

Set of 16 mm CCMT Glanze Mini Indexable Turning Tools

Set of 16 mm CCMT Glanze Indexable Turning Tools Glanze from Chronos, with Free UK delivery and great worldwide delivery rates. Chronos Engineering tools.

www.glanze.co.uk

First thing to do is remove all the inserts they give you, throw them in the bin and buy a box of brand name 04 radius inserts (CCMT 060204). Also buy a box of aluminium-specific inserts (they will start CCGT and be silver in colour, and sharp).

Once you have explored and exceeded the limitations of these items, you will have learnt enough to choose better next time.

Hooow much??!?
You can get a more useful 12mm shank set of the same quality for 30 quids. Theres nothing wrong with most chinese holders, tho this style of parting holder is a bit poo

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Weytoll-Turning-Carbide-Insert-Wrench/dp/B09DGH16HB/

 

[ukracer]

Addition: Jenny will be exhibiting at the NEC Classic Car Show on stand AJ30

Laurie

What is she exhibiting if they don't make their own tools?
It's a shame the son did not allow them to get someone else to take over.
I would be interested in what machines he used especially if there were loads of computers they must have been cnc machines I guess.

 

[Turbo]

I bought all my insert tooling from banggood based on @doubleboost 's review above & I haven't used a hss tool since!

 

[Laurie Tedcastle]

What is she exhibiting if they don't make their own tools?
It's a shame the son did not allow them to get someone else to take over.
I would be interested in what machines he used especially if there were loads of computers they must have been cnc machines I guess.

She may still have limited stocks of their own produced tooling. Other stuff such as tips, burrs, etc, etc, she has always bought in of course. I'm not sure where she may be sourcing toolholders now, but I've not observed any difference in quality. I'll ask when I see her next.

I've never felt it appropriate to probe into what caused her son's actions.

Laurie

 

[ukracer]

She may still have limited stocks of their own produced tooling. Other stuff such as tips, burrs, etc, etc, she has always bought in of course. I'm not sure where she may be sourcing toolholders now, but I've not observed any difference in quality. I'll ask when I see her next.

I've never felt it appropriate to probe into what caused her son's actions.

Laurie

Would be nice to know.
I understand you not wanting to pry though.
I am now working on the principle if you don't ask you don't get.

 

[Laurie Tedcastle]

Would be nice to know.
I understand you not wanting to pry though.
I am now working on the principle if you don't ask you don't get.

Well if she's not too busy at the time ( & that's rare at shows!) I'll see if I can gently turn the conversation around.

Laurie

 

[Laurie Tedcastle]

Would be nice to know.
I understand you not wanting to pry though.
I am now working on the principle if you don't ask you don't get.

OK so I had a chat to Jenny today at the NEC. Seems her No1 son (who did the machining) just decided he'd had enough of being self employed and went and got himself a well paid job as a technical manager at an engineering firm. It seems he's not so happy with how it's turned out and may be considering going back to being self employed. In which case he may start re-manufacturing for Jenny. Jenny says if it does happen it would be nice to be up and running within 12 months.

Jenny has found some suppliers for some of her toolholders who can produce to her quality standards.

As regards carbide tips, she's hardly raised prices in the last 20 years. So check her Ebay site for your needs.

No2 son used to run the website. Lives in Scotland and has a new young family, but she's hopeful that he will set it up again.

She has one customer who complains she never brings any large toolholders to shows. So today she had several 25mm square ones and 1 that must have been at least 40mm sq. So, for those of you with larger equipment give her a try.

I'm not a salesman! Just like to recommend those who supply quality and good service.

Laurie

 

[ukracer]

OK so I had a chat to Jenny today at the NEC. Seems her No1 son (who did the machining) just decided he'd had enough of being self employed and went and got himself a well paid job as a technical manager at an engineering firm. It seems he's not so happy with how it's turned out and may be considering going back to being self employed. In which case he may start re-manufacturing for Jenny. Jenny says if it does happen it would be nice to be up and running within 12 months.

Jenny has found some suppliers for some of her toolholders who can produce to her quality standards.

As regards carbide tips, she's hardly raised prices in the last 20 years. So check her Ebay site for your needs.

No2 son used to run the website. Lives in Scotland and has a new young family, but she's hopeful that he will set it up again.

She has one customer who complains she never brings any large toolholders to shows. So today she had several 25mm square ones and 1 that must have been at least 40mm sq. So, for those of you with larger equipment give her a try.

I'm not a salesman! Just like to recommend those who supply quality and good service.

Laurie

Many thanks for taking the time to get definitive info for us.

 

[Newlands]

Just received a lathe tool bought on eBay from the lady in question. Very quick delivery, and she added a few extra inserts as well, which was nice of her. Clearly worth adding to my saved sellers list, as no doubt I’ll buy from her again.

 

[fizzy]

Just to clarify. They haven't manufactured their own for quite a while unfortunately. It was Jenny's son that did the manufacturing and maintained the website. Without any notice (the way Jenny told me) he decided to stop. Sold all the machines and the computers.

Laurie

Oh dear that is a shame - they worked hard at it as well.
Hopefully they will start up again.
I was reading an article which said that the bigger British engineering type companies like BAE, JLR, Rolls Royce etc are buying up loads of new CNC machines - they were badly effected by supply problems and are now worried about being so reliant on China. Finally some proper manufacturing heading our way again.