The fact is that the importance of the tools will always be there whether it is the shop, home, or office. So, everyone should have a kit that has tools that will make your work easier and faster.
There are many materials in which these tools are available in the shops. Apart from this, the handles are also made of different materials.
These handles are made up of steel, wood, plastic, etc. You can buy the one that suits your pocket, style, and comfort. Do not buy in hurry and take your time and view a few Best wood lathe tools and after that decide to buy it.
How To Choose The Best Wood Lathe Tools?
Apart from wood being used in making furniture, it is also used in making different types of tools that can be used to do various types of work.
Important points that are mentioned below will help you in deciding tools that are right for you:
1. Wood should be good quality – The wood that has been used in making the lathe should be of good quality. If the finish of the handle is not good you will not feel comfortable using it. Do no compromises on the quality at any cost whatsoever.
2. View a few sites – You can always go through a few sites that are selling wood lathe tools. By doing this you get some idea about the price, offers, and varieties that are offered on each website. Do comparisons in terms of price, shipping, warranty, brand name, discounts, etc.
If you do not do comparisons you might end up buying a lathe tool that is not worth the price paid for it. The best way would be to shortlist a few sites that are offering a lot of variety at compatible rates.
3. See tools included in the kit – Each kit is different from the other as the number of lathe tools will vary. It is upon you to choose the kit that you think will be of utmost help to you. Each kit comprises of big and small tools to perform different work.
4. Brand research – A company that is selling the best wood lathe tools should be in the business for a few years. If the company is selling for at least three to four years will be a good one. There are different companies selling it and different models are being sold.
So, the sooner you do the research on the brand name the better it would be for you. After all, you will be spending a good amount of money to buy it and proper research is a must.
5. Customer reviews – If you are buying it from an online site then you should not forget to read the customer reviews. These reviews of great help to you and will help you in selecting the right one for your usage.
Do not fall for the ones that are cheap and have all the features in it. Instead, read a few reviews that have been written by people who have already purchased it and used it.
Reading reviews will surely make a lot of difference and will give an in-depth picture of the quality, price, and utility of the lathe.
6. Warranty of the tool – Whenever you will place the order you need to buy from the website that offers a warranty. In case if you do not find the warranty you can contact the customer service and ask if the warranty is there on the tools or not.
7. Read the description of the lathe – The best way to gather all the information is to properly go through the description. Every detail about the tools is clearly specified in the description which gives an overall idea about the tools.
You will get to know the dimensions, weight, materials used, manufacturer, warranty period, etc. Sometimes additional information is also provided like shipping terms and date first available.
8. Choose the practical kit – Some people are not sure what they should buy when it comes to tools. So, for them, it is a piece of advice that they should not go on the look of the tool but should understand the practical usage and utility of it.
Keep all the points in mind before buying wood lathe tools.
What are the best wood lathe tools?
1. PSI Woodworking LCHSS8 Best Wood Lathe Tools
This ideal package contains 8 pieces of chisel set, perfect for woodturning projects, turning pens pepper mills, and spindles bowls.
The best wood lathe tools are in dimensions of 16 25″ in length. The chisels have a high-speed blade of about 6.25″. The handles are fitted with a hardwood 10″ in length.
The chisel sets are contained in a package with a total weight of 7.25 pounds. The package includes a set of 8 chisels made from M2 high-speed steel.
Each chisel measures 16 25″ in length with a 6 25″ M2 High-Speed Steel blade and a 10″ hardwood turned handles.
This package comes with a set of non-battery powered chisels and with a two years warranty.
Set includes a parting tool, spear scraper, bowl gouge, roughing gouge, round nose scraper, spindle gouge, and two skew chisels. This set is perfect for woodworkers and turners.
2. HSS Woodworking Lathe Chisel
The perfect set of tools for woodwork and turning. The blades are made of M2 High-speed steel. The blades are approximately 5-1/4″ long, the steel guarantees numerous years of use.
The set is made of hardwood handles, which makes them the perfect combination for turning hardwood trees.
This best carbide cutter for woodturning is made up of 8 turning tools such as Parting Tool, Scraper, Skew Chisel, Round Nose Scraper, Bowl Gouge, Spindle Gouge, Spear Scraper, and Roughing Gouge.
These best carbide cutters for woodturning are fitted with fully to advance their performance during turning. They can be regularly sharpened according to the needs of the user.
The tools should, however, only be sharpened at a preferred grind angle before they are used for the first time.
This best wood lathe tools guarantees quality, value, simplicity, and durability. The set has a total weight of 5.2 pounds hence are light to carry since they are made of hardwood and steel. The set is not battery powered.
3. YoungSun 12 Piece Wood Carving Tools
The wood carving tools are made from high carbon heat, which is used to treat the cutter head. The handles are made comfortable using great walnut wood.
This set consists of a shear scraper, inner arc cutter, triangular knife, machete, two flat knives with different sizes, two bevel knife with different sizes, three arc knife with different size, and an external arc cutter.
This package has a total weight of 3.15 pounds. The dominant material used to make the tools is wood.
4. Simple Woodturning Tools Carbide Lathe Turning Tool
This simple woodturning tools is made up of 3 Carbide Lathe Turning Tools. The tools include Hollower, Detailer & Rougher, each having a different color. Each tool is 26.5″ in length and handles measure 17″ in length.
This pack is suitable for different skill levels, beginners included. No sharpening is needed before the initial; use. The tools should be kept on the floor, i.e., parallel to the floor.
The best wood lathe tools are made from high-speed aluminum materials. These tools have multiple sharp edges that give you the advantage to turn them several times without sharpening.
5. Simple Woodturning Tools – Pack of 3 Full Size Carbide Tools
This simple woodturning tool is made up of stainless steel tools. The tools available in this set include detailer, rougher, and shear cutter. Each of the listed tools come in a package of three other more tools,
The shear cutter package consists of a round shaft, saucer-shaped carbide cutter, screw, and Torx wrench to produce an excellent finish on the wood you are working on.
The rougher package is made up of a square shaft, Radius Square Carbide Cutter, Screw, and Torx wrench. This set provides you with excellent roughing and profiling.
The detailer is made of a square shaft, diamond carbide cutter, screw, and Torx wrench. This set offers a subtle and detailed finish to your woodwork activities.
All the set contain tools made of aluminum machine handles of 17″, the handles are designed to offer maximum comfort and a perfect balance.
Some of the tools are multi-sided to allow for rotation of the blades. The tools have an overall length of 12″.
6.IMOTECHOM 8-Pieces HSS Wood Turning Tools
This carbide wood lathe tool is made up of the following tools: Gouge, Roughing Gouge, Spindle Gouge, Skew Chisel, Skew Chisel, Spear Scraper, Round Nose Scraper, and Parting Tool.
The chisel heads are already sharpened hence no need to sharpen before use. The tools are made of a 6.3″ blade made from high-speed carbon steel, which guarantees durability and quality.
The handles are made from a 10″ wood, which enhances comfort during use.
These best wood lathe tools are contained in a wooden case with double layer panels, thickened hinges, and enlarged in size to keep the tools safe and in perfect condition.
The tools are not battery-powered, and the entire wooden package case weighs 7.3 pounds. All the tools are made from high-speed steel.
7. Wood Turning tool Carbide Tipped Working Lathe Tools
The set is made up of three pieces of wood finishing tools such as finisher, rougher and detailer, Carbide Insert Cutters and Allen Key
The tools have a length of 15.71″, 9.84″ handles, and 5.91″ blades. These tools are made from high carbon steel, wood, and tungsten carbide.
They are designed to be kept off the floor. The set is already sharpened hence no need for sharpening during first-time use.
The set is perfect for any level of skills ranging from beginners to pro levels. The tools are not battery powered and measure a total weight of 3.52 ounces.
8.Simple Woodturning Tools Carbide Wood Lathe Tools
This carbide wood lathe tool consists of hollower, rougher, and detailer. The set can be used for any skill levels and are designed to make your work enjoyable and straightforward.
The tools are already sharpened have a rotatable carbide cutter, which enables you to rotate the blades without the need to sharpen.
The best wood lathe tools are made from aluminum to guarantee lightweight, durability, and balance.
The handles are made from a soft and comfortable rubber grip to reduce hand cramping.
The tools have a length of 17″. The tools are more durable, stiffer, and less likely to round compared to other tools.
The package weighs 4.7 pounds and is made of aluminum steel materials. The tools are not battery powered.
What Woodturning Tools Should a Beginner Use?
When you decide to invest some money in a lathe and opt to turn your own, then you are surely going to need woodturning tools along with your lathe. As a beginner, you may not be sure of the basic and Best wood lathe tools you will need.
Also, buying any and every tool can seem like a huge investment as a beginner. When you turn a recent catalog, it can be mind-baffling with so many turning tools on offer.
It is very crucial to understand what is needed and essential for the beginner’s purchase. It is also recommended not to purchase boxed tools set or anything just because it’s on sale. So, here you will understand some basic woodturning tools that you require for beginner use.
For the majority of beginners, woodturning tools required are:
- 3/4 inches roughing gouge
- 1/4 inches lady-finger or spindle gouge
- 1-inch skew
- 3/16 inches parting tool
For subsequent purchase
- 1 to 1/4 inches roughing gouge
- 3/8 inches spindle gouge
- 1/4 inches skew
What are these best wood lathe tools, and what are they used for?
Roughing gouge
Roughing out is shape your work with edges being rounded off and offering the blank more stability. It is a heavy woodturning tool that is ideally suited for quick elimination of waste wood.
It’s a flute gouge that is deep and has a ground for cutting wood edges straight across. This is similar to carving and bench gouges.
TIP: It is suggested to cut from high to low sections. Approach the blank in its flattest position possible.
What is it used for?
* Roughing gouge, etches a deep trough off the wood corners, which is spinning.
* The straight edge of the cutting edge carries out the chip severing.
* This way, there’s zero or minimal tear-out off the encircling wood.
* This is an aggressive tool that cuts but processes with control.
* It cuts a thicker chip.
Spindle gouge
Spindle gouge comprises of lighter blades as compared to roughing gouges. They possess standard flutes. They are not generally employed for blank/wood piece rounding, but light work or for finishing. This is a useful tool for placing intricate details such as coves and beads.
TIP-It is suggested not to use spindle gouge on bowls as there’s a danger of tool breaking at the weak point.
What is it used for?
* Spindle gouges are employed to shape the different wood elements, which comprises of a turning.
* It offers an excellent finish to the blank.
* It can offer to round to concave, and cove cutting as straight edges are left with end grain.
Skews
Two bezels form the skew’s cutting edge, which is aligned to the center of the blade. It’s a flat chisel with a ground on the two sides of the blade. It is considered the toughest tool for woodturning. Learning to use appropriately is essential to get good results. It is very versatile.
TIP: Make use of the mid-section of the blade. Prevent using skews on the corners.
What is it used for?
* Skews are used for paring
* It is used for roughing the blank/wood piece.
* It is employed for proper finishing and planning.
Parting tool
Parting tools have dual bezels, too; however, they have ground on the narrow edges of the blade. The alignment of the cutting edge is to the thicker rib, which runs down the center of the blade. The parting tool does not give a smooth finish as it is not meant for that.
TIP: Do not part the blank ultimately. It is suggested to finish the end with a saw
What is it used for?
* The parting tool is employed for the blank division.
* It is employed to split the blank into segments.
* These segments are later shaped using other essential tools.
* It is used for depth establishment.
* It is also used for cutting blank pieces off the lathe.
Others
* BOWL GOUGE- It’s deep fluted than a spindle gouge. It is primarily used for bowl shaping.
* FINGER-NAIL GOUGE- It is a swept-back turner gouge.
* SCRAPER- They are identical to cabinet scrapers.
Bottom line
For a beginner, the Best wood lathe tools are around 5 to 8 tools used for a specific purpose with their own characteristics. Understanding your woodturner tools is an essential part of a beginner, as this will help you get the best out of all the tools.
A basic kit is sufficient to start with woodturning. Once you are comfortable using them, gradually, you can expand your tool kit depending on your needs.
