Replies

1. 
   ErnieConover | Jan 28, 2007 07:01am | #1

   Quality is the key word here. I am not optimistic about you finding high quality old turning tools at a good price on ebay. They may be cheap but good is another question. While very good turning tools were made by a variety of American manufacturers the depression saws thousands of cheap turning tools that are commingled with the good ones. In my experience the chances of any of these good or bad tools having been overheated during grinding and their temper drawn is better than 50%. I just spent an enjoyable morning handling a set of little used Buck Brothers Spindle Gouges from around 1900. They all required re-hardening and drawing to pale straw yellow as they had no temper. I used them in a demonstration at Colonial Williamsburg for the Furniture Conference. They were indistinguishable from ones that would have been used in the 17th Century, the period we were studying.

   The second half of the 20th Century saw the English dominate the turning tool market. Sorby, Ashley Isles, Henry Taylor and Marples all made good tools. In the 1980s high speed steel started to be employed in turning tools to good effect. HSS is so superior that I no longer recommend buying anything but HSS tools.

   The point I am making here is that a beginner does not possess the knowledge to tell from photos if a tool is good or bad. If it is carbon steel the chances are better than 50% the tool has been over heated during grinding and the temper drawn. Unless you possess the skill to heat treat if it is soft, it is useless. I recommend just biting the bullet and buying the tools new. If you do buy at auction only buy HSS.

   You might take a look at my Fine Woodworking article on gouges at: http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/FWNPDF/011123070.pdf. You might also pick up a copy of The Lathe Book published by Taunton. I give a lot of information of tools, metallurgy and sharpening. These would both make you a savvier bidder. You might also take a look at my Q&A column un under Tool Steel Blank Sourcing for a simple description of heat treating in the small shop.

   With best regards,
   Ernie Conover

1. 
   Joe Sullivan | Apr 10, 2007 05:23am | #2

   Ernie:

   I searched this column for Tool Steel Blank Sourcing and didn't find it.  Is that somewhere else?

   As a follow-on., suppose you have in hand a hypothetical flea market chisel. How do you tell if the temper is shot?  Is there a simple hardness test?

   Joe

1. 
   ErnieConover | Apr 10, 2007 09:05pm | #3

   It is right there under Tool Steel Blank Sourcing.

1. 
   Joe Sullivan | Apr 10, 2007 09:21pm | #4

   By golly, Ernie, so it is.  I used the search function and didn't find it.  When I used the eyeball search function, it was plainas day.  Please be kind in the conclusions you draw as to my apparent IQ.

   Joe

1. 
   ErnieConover | Apr 11, 2007 02:35pm | #5

   Finding things if half the problem. The article will also answer all the questions on steel and heat treat.Regards,
   Ernie Conover