Carbide tools for wood turning

2025-09-07

Making my own tools

I obtained some HRC61~63 steel rods and made my own carbide wood turning tools.

As the rods are 12mm with a round profile instead of square, presentation of the carbide cutters at various angles, not just 90° is enabled. +My thinking was that I needed some beefy handles to provide leverage and facilitate control..

The handles are made of Ash, and came from the winter woodpile. A more noble end than being thrown in the woodburner.

First impressions are good, specially the round cutter. It looks like these tools are shapers, and position themselves between +the roughing gouge and finition.

Note that you'll need a hss+cobalt drill bit to make a hole in the hardened steel shafts.

Shafts: Linear bearing shafts, 12mm x 600mm

Carbide inserts:
15mm round
+15mm square

I might get some diamond shaped carbide cutters too, but I have some home made hss tools that do roughly the same job.

See here and here +for more of my home made lathe tools

#woodturning #tools #homemade