Woodturning Tools - Five Reasons To Make Your Own

Woodturning Tools - Five Reasons To Make Your Own

Most woodturners start out with a basic lathe and a beginner's set of woodturning tools. Soon the vast array of tools in the catalogues begin to look enticing and the idea of acquiring a greater variety grows on most turners. Even with the depth of choice available in the woodworking catalogues there are still reasons to make your own.

First there is the chance to tailor a tool to the turner's hands. Woodturning tools are made to fit most which is another way saying they fit a few people and the rest adjust accordingly. While this really works quite well, the way in which tools are made to fit an individual is generally by making the handle in such a way that it rests comfortably in one's hand. Woodturners have all that is necessary to make a handle. In fact for many turners the first foray into tool making is to buy the tools unhandled and then turn the handles to a custom fit.

Second is the realization that these are not difficult tools to make. It surprises most turners to realize that all woodturning tools are comprised of that handle, a shaft and a cutting or scraping edge. This is true whether the tool is a gouge, parting tool, skew or scraper as well as all members of the variety of hollowing and other specialty tools on the market. Steel is cheap and available at this point in history. Many tools can be made from cast off high speed steel planer blades and the like. Shafts are easily make from cold rolled steel. The basic skills required are drilling holes, grinding, cutting and tapping holes for set screws. All these skills are common to the home shop

Third is the savings in time between making the tool and buying it. This may sound strange, but to buy a tool requires either purchasing it online and waiting for it to come which may be weeks or going to the store which for most will require at least an hour's travel time and the rather enjoyable time spent browsing before buying. Many tools can be made in a fraction of the time and that is time spent in the shop, not in the car.

Fourth is the cost savings. For example a hollowing tool may easily cost seventy five to one hundred dollars. A piece of five eighths cold rolled steel will likely cost a couple of dollars. The cutting tip called a tool bit used by the metal turning trade about two dollars, will be held in place with a couple of fifty cent set screws and the handle will be made from scrap wood. The total cost should be around five dollars

Fifth is simply the fun and satisfaction of not only making the tools but also using them to turn the next project. There is pleasure in using a pen, spatula or bowl that is made by your hands and that is compounded by making them with tools made yourself

Woodturning is undertaken usually for the joy of the art and craft. Tool making can be an extension of the process and a pleasure in its own right.