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Homemade Carbide

by Bruceputman

I purchased a Carbide Insert Lathe Tool which can be seen in the top of the photo and decided that I wanted to make a better one using hard and Stainless Steal

Homemade Carbide Wood Lathe Tool: Page 1 Step 1: Parts List for Tool

There are not a lot of parts needed to make a nice 3. Description: 11 x 11 x 2 R50 Carbide Insert 6.5% Wood Lathe Tool colbolt Purchased: eBay Putm-Bruc seller - Drop me a note 1. Description: Nut, Type Compression, Tube Size if you would like to buy some 3/4 In., Tube Outside Dia. 3/4 In., Thread Size 1-18, Model #: N/A Thread Connection, Material of Construction Brass Price: $ 4.95 ea Purchased: www.zoro.com Model #: G3942032 4. Description: 8-32 Flush Head Stainless Steal Price: $1.53 ea screw Purchased: Denault Hardware 2. Description: 0.375" T-304 Annealed Stainless Model #: N/A Rod, Random Length (10"-12") Price: $ 0.33 ea Purchased: www.onlinemetals.com Model #: N/A 5. Description: Wood ( Wild Almond and Iron Wood ) Price: $ 3.78 ea Purchased: eBay

Model #: N/A Purchased: www.HarborFreight.com Price: $20 for both Model #: N/A Price: $3.99 set 6. Description: Rubber Washer 9.5 x 17.5 x 4 mm

Homemade Carbide Wood Lathe Tool: Page 2 Homemade Carbide Wood Lathe Tool: Page 3 Homemade Carbide Wood Lathe Tool: Page 4 Step 2: That I Used for This Project, These Can Be Replaced by Others.

Photo 1: Jet Mini Lathe - Woodcraft Photo 15: Wire wheel - Home Depot Photos 2-3: Powermatic (1971) - Craigslist Photo 16: Lathe Caliper - Woodcraft Photo 4: 12" Ridgid Miter - Home Depot Photo 17: Large adjustable Wrench 1 1/2" Capacity - Photo 5: Shop fox Press - Amazon Lowes Photo 6: Jet 12" Disc - Woodcraft Photo 18: 2 Jorgensen Clamps - Woodcraft Photo 7: Jet parallel 12" or larger - Woodcraft Photo 19: Gorilla Glue - Woodcraft Photo 8: Files.. Course, Medium and Fine - Photo 20: Tap Magic - Anazon Woodcraft Photo 21: Medium CA Glue - Woodcraft Photo 9: with tool to apply it - Woodcraft Photo 22: Thin CA Glue - Woodcraft Photo 10: Tap Handel with 8-32 tap - Lowes Photo 23: EEE Ultra Shine - Woodcraft Photo 11: Grinder - Sears Photo 24: Gloves and scissors - Lowes Photo 12: Metal vice and hand held disc grinder - Photo 25: Wax paper - Vons Harbor Freight Photo 26: - Woodcraft Photo 13: 3/8" - Woodcraft Photo 27: 6 inch scale - Woodcraft Photo 14: Plastic - Woodcraft

Homemade Carbide Wood Lathe Tool: Page 5 Homemade Carbide Wood Lathe Tool: Page 6 Homemade Carbide Wood Lathe Tool: Page 7 Homemade Carbide Wood Lathe Tool: Page 8 Homemade Carbide Wood Lathe Tool: Page 9 Step 3: Cutting Wood to Size

I cut the wood into 1 1/2" x 1 1/2" x 6 " pieces using my 1971 Powermatic Bandsaw and Ridgid 12" Chop saw.

Homemade Carbide Wood Lathe Tool: Page 10 Homemade Carbide Wood Lathe Tool: Page 11 Homemade Carbide Wood Lathe Tool: Page 12 Homemade Carbide Wood Lathe Tool: Page 13 Step 4: Gluing the Wood Together

I use gorilla glue to glue the 2 sections together. This requires wetting the surfaces with water befor gluing.. I use parallel clamps to assure the parts stay square to one another and place wax paper on the clamp where the glue joint is to eliminate the need to scrape glue off the clamp

Homemade Carbide Wood Lathe Tool: Page 14 Homemade Carbide Wood Lathe Tool: Page 15 Homemade Carbide Wood Lathe Tool: Page 16 Homemade Carbide Wood Lathe Tool: Page 17 Step 5: Prepping the 3/8" X 3/8" Stainless Bar

For the Stainless bar, I needed at least 10", so when I purchased them I choose random lengths from 10 to 12 inches. As you can see from the photo, mine were cut to 11 inches. As the ends we're rough cut, I used a file to smooth them.

Homemade Carbide Wood Lathe Tool: Page 18 Homemade Carbide Wood Lathe Tool: Page 19 Step 6: - Learning - Drilling

I must say I learned a lot about 304 SS.. When I drilled the 6-32 tap hole I drilled through the I started out drilling the holes for a 6-32 tap.. what I material too slow. The good news it just work hardens found is 304 SS work hardens fairly easily. in a local area, so drilling out for an 8-32 tap I drilled I read that when you drill SS you need keep the through quickly while sucking air over the metal with speed slow, 200 - 300 RPM, and use cooling fluid, oil a shop vacuum. and press hard. Photos 1-8 are drilling the SS for a 6-32 tap You drill wood at approx. 1500 RPM's and you don't Photo 9 is a broken 6-32 tap drive the drill by pressing too hard, plus you pull the Photos 10-12 are drilling the SS for a 8-32 tap bit out frequently to remove wood chips.

Homemade Carbide Wood Lathe Tool: Page 20 Homemade Carbide Wood Lathe Tool: Page 21 Homemade Carbide Wood Lathe Tool: Page 22 Step 7: Tapping the SS Bar With a 8-32 Tap

Prior to Tapping, I used a countersink to help with starting the tap and also giving room for the screw. I used tap magic on the tap and assured I removed metal chips as I cut.

Homemade Carbide Wood Lathe Tool: Page 23 Homemade Carbide Wood Lathe Tool: Page 24 Step 8: Marking and Grinding to Place the Carbide Insert Flush With the Top of the SS

Photos 1-7 are showing how I marked the SS to Grind for the carbide insert Photos 8-9 show clamping a piece of to the SS to Grind it.. This did 2 things, one it produced a stop for Grinding and two allows me to hold the SS as it gets very hot. Photos 10-12 show Grinding Photos 13-17 show the ground SS before it is filed. Photos 18-19 show the final cut, that has been filed and fitted with a carbide insert.

Homemade Carbide Wood Lathe Tool: Page 25 Homemade Carbide Wood Lathe Tool: Page 26 Homemade Carbide Wood Lathe Tool: Page 27 Homemade Carbide Wood Lathe Tool: Page 28 Step 9: Cutting the SS to Length

Measuring the Wood Turning Tool, it had 4 1/2" from the handle out. As I wanted 4 to 5 inches remaining in the handle I decided to cut the 304 SS to 9 inches. I used a hand grinder and a vice to cut each piece to 9" I then ground the end I cut in a bench grinder.

Homemade Carbide Wood Lathe Tool: Page 29 Step 10: Trimming the Glued Wood

Using the bandsaw, I trim off the foam from the gorilla glue and cut the corners off which I find is easier than doing it on the Lathe Photos 3-7 show the trimming of the corners and results

Homemade Carbide Wood Lathe Tool: Page 30 Homemade Carbide Wood Lathe Tool: Page 31 Homemade Carbide Wood Lathe Tool: Page 32 Step 11: Marking the Centers, Tapping in the Spur Center and Mounting to the Lathe

I first mark an X for the center of the piece, photo 1.. note that this could have been done before the last step in cutting the corners off, but since I have a lot of extra wood for turning I was not that concerned to getting it exact. Photo 2 shows the spur center tapped in with a hammer. You can also make your X and then cut it on the bandsaw. Photos 3-4 show the spindle mounted on the Lathe

Step 12: Measuring the Compression Nut Diameter and Depth and Marking on the Spindle, Turning for the Nut to Be Threaded On.

Now I measure thr brass compression nut thread diameter and depth. I use a Lathe caliper for the diameter and a 6 inch scale for the depth. Photos 2-3 I mark the depth on the spindle where I turned it round on the end. Photo 4 turning the spindle to diameter Photo 5 checking with a caliper Photos 6-7 I used a large adjustable wrench to thread the brass compression nut on the wood spindle.

Homemade Carbide Wood Lathe Tool: Page 33 Homemade Carbide Wood Lathe Tool: Page 34 Step 13: Using a Course, Medium and Fine File on the Brass Fitting

With the brass compression nut threaded on the spindle, I use a file to remove the flats on the nut as shown in the photos Once it is round, I use a med. then fine file to smooth and polish the brass. Note that I have dust collection hose just under the brass compression nut to remove the brass dust while filing.

Homemade Carbide Wood Lathe Tool: Page 35 Homemade Carbide Wood Lathe Tool: Page 36 Homemade Carbide Wood Lathe Tool: Page 37 Step 14: Finish Turning the Spindle and Applying CA Glue for the Finish. Polishing With EEE Ultra Shine

As I do a lot of pen turning, I am used to applying CA glue ( AKA Super glue ) to pens.. why not the tool that will turn the pens.. Photos 1-5 show turning the spindle Photos 6-8 show the spindle with CA glue.. To understand how to apply CA glue, refer to my instructable on making a pen. Once the CA is applied and sanded, I use EEE UNITA shine to polish the finish.

Homemade Carbide Wood Lathe Tool: Page 38 Homemade Carbide Wood Lathe Tool: Page 39 Step 15: Drilling for the SS Bar in the Spindle, Cutting, Sanding and Finishing the Spindle End

As my Lathe is a mini Lathe I there is not enough Photo 4 shows the end after cutting on the bandsaw room to mount a drill on it, so I used my drill press to Photo 5 sanding on my 12" disc sander drill a 3/8 hole 5" deep Photo 6 ready for finish I could have used a parting tool to remove the end of Photos 7-8 applying thin CA on the end... as this is a the spindle but did want to take a chance of denting bit messy photo 8 shows with cap on. the brass or wood so I cut it on my bandsaw, photo 3.

Homemade Carbide Wood Lathe Tool: Page 40 Step 16: Using a 3/8 Chisel to Square the 3/8 Drilled Hole

If you have a metal Lathe you can replace this with turning the SS bar round on the end that goes into the handle

Homemade Carbide Wood Lathe Tool: Page 41 Homemade Carbide Wood Lathe Tool: Page 42 Step 17: Hand Grind the 304 SS to Better Fit in the Handle

Photos 1-2 show the Grinding of the bottom end of the 304 SS bar to assure I don't crack the wood while hammering it into the handle Photos 3-4 shows installing the SS bar. Note that I added CA glue into the sides of the hole befor pushing and hammering in. That last step was to slide the rubber washer over the 304 SS bar.

Homemade Carbide Wood Lathe Tool: Page 43 Homemade Carbide Wood Lathe Tool: Page 44 Step 18: Lightly Smooth the Surface of the 304 SS

I mounted a wire wheel on my drill press to lightly smooth the surface of the 304 SS

Step 19: First Tool Completed.

I completed the first tool. I will complete the other 4 and add photos once done. If you are interested in buying the carbide inserts or one of the tools, please shoot me a note. I plan to auction off 3 to 4 of the tools and will be selling the inserts for the remainder of this year depending on demand.

Homemade Carbide Wood Lathe Tool: Page 45 Homemade Carbide Wood Lathe Tool: Page 46