Make Your Own WoodTurning Tools

How to Make Your
Own Woodturning Tools

What does a broken 1/2″ drill bit, a cold chisel, a 1/2 x 1/2″ pc of steel from home depot, a 1/2″ pc of round bar from home depot and carbide cutting bits (carbide inserts) have in common?

Well, properly shaped and machined …then add a nice wood handle and you have all the tools you need to turn just about anything. On top of that once you figure out how to use these materials to make your own turning tools you have the basis to make just about any type of turning tool you might need.

Al Furtado Shows You How to
Make Your Own Woodturning Tools
make your own carbide insert woodturing tools
All makes simple carbide insert woodturing tools.
grind a cold steel chisel for bowl gouge
Monster bowl gouge from an old cold steel chisel!

My Desire to Buy Every
Woodturning Tool Available!

For me, its easy to get caught up in a Sorby tool catalog or just searching on Amazon or Ebay for woodturning tools and I get lost for hours ….thinking “man, I need 1/4″ bowl gouge, 3/8″ bowl gouge, 1/2″ bowl gouge, 5/8″ bowl gouge, 3/4″ bowl gouge and a 1″ bowl gouge all with a fingernail grind …..then I need that same set with a standard grind and I need the same sizes in a spindle gouge both standard and fingernail grind ….oh ya, I need a parting tool ….how about a couple of different sizes of parting tools. Yep, I need a full set of scrapers and then I need some of those skew gouges for perfect finishes I see the masters making, can’t forget a roughing gouge….I mean, 1/2″ 3/4″ 1″ and at least 1 1/2” maybe bigger….I need all these, right?

Woodturning Is Addictive

I know you know what I mean. This hobby of woodturning is more addictive than crack cocaine! You think more tools, the best tools will make you a better turner …maybe so, but who has the cash for all these pieces of hardware because we haven’t even started talking about the wood lathe you have and the woodlathe you want to get, not to mention all the wood lathe accessories you’re gonna need!

Make Your Own Woodturning Tools

Well, one of the things that really got me excited was making your own woodturning tools, that’s right you can be a DIY woodturning tool maker 🙂 I think there is actually a subculture out there of guys making their own tools out of anything from old screwdrivers, files to auto or truck leafsprings.

The problem for me is that I’m not a metal guy. I can draw a house, building or shoppoing center and I can build that same drawing doing everything myself …..but I never learned how to work with metal. The closest I ever came to working with metal was aluminum siding, electrical wire and rebar for concrete….. well, ok, nails for my nail guy and screws for the screw gun 🙂

Been Sick, No Money for Expensive Woodturning Tools

Truth is I’ve been very sick for quite a while. When you’re sick you can’t work, I hate sitting or laying around so by “The Grace of God” I discovered wooodturning. Not too physical. I could find a low cost wood lathe at Harbor Freight and I could also find a cheap set of Chinese turning tools at Harbor Freight. That’s how I started.

I read as much as I could online and watched a ton of youtube videos. I learned much from Cap’n Eddie and too many others to mention. So, I thought I would share some of my journey in these pages.

My Woodturning Tools Were Junk!

The one thing I quickly found out was that my turning tools were really bad. I hand sharpened them till I totally screwed them up. Then the first investment was a Oneway Wolverine Sharpening System. I learned to sharpen my turning tools properly starting at that point.

Next, once I figured my tools really were junk and I needed something better. I stumbled on some DIY woodturning tool makers.

That’s when I discovered the many different ways of making your own woodturning tools. In these pages I hope to bring some of these methods to you. Some I will have tried, others I will just pass along because I’m just too sick to try everything I see but plan on doing it or trying these DIY tool building methods soon, however, you need to know now how to make some of this stuff.

I finally did learn that I could regrind the cheap tools that I had into a more useful grind or simply something that actually worked.

Started Making My
Own Woodturning Tools

Since I did not have much money I figured I could buy a piece of 1/2 x 1/2″ steel and a piece of 3/8 x 3/8″ steel from online metals, I could get some carbide cutters for a couple bucks a piece and then figure out how to grind a small platform for the cutter, tap the steel to attach the carbide cutter and make a wooden handle. My first attempt turned out pretty good, in fact, its one of my go to tools when I’m working with a tricky piece of wood.

My CARBIDE Woodturning Tool
How to make your own carbide insert woodturning tool
My first homemade woodturning tool was a carbide insert turning tool taking both square and circle shaped carbide inserts and it cuts like a dream, great for the times you might be a little apprehensive about sticking that new bowl gouge into an irregular spinning piece of wood!

I made a square and circular carbide scraper using 5/8″ carbide square and circular cutters. You can find them online but you should make sure they are for cutting wood. The square cutters are fairly cheap and you can even get a 4 sided radius carbide cutters, they are a little less likely to grab, but grab they do!

I watched a guy called Travis on youtube make a set of carbide tipped woodturning tools and just copied him. They are pretty rough but they really work well.

Made A Parting Tool for Woodturning

I did make a 1/16″ parting tool from a reciprocating saw blade with a metal handle. That was fun, I learned a bunch and use the tool all the time. It’s very satisfying to make your own tools!

diy parting tool for woodturning
I made a very effective parting tool from a recirocating saw blade …expoxied between two pieces of wood. Works great for cutting and designing. I used brass rod for the rivets and pinged them to expand the brass….. solid as a rock 🙂

However…..

Didn’t Know Anything About Metal

Then I wanted to make a 1 1/2″ wide scraper so I picked up a piece of steel from home depot and ground down an edge on the steel, I didn’t have a handle yet but I wanted to try the tool out. It ended up burning the wood more than cutting, I tried different angles ….same thing, just wouldn’t cut. I was stumped, thought I would be cranking out all kinds of turning tools …but remember when I said I didn’t know anything about metal 🙂

Turns out there are a whole bunch of different types of steel. And then you have the hardening process, have to heat it in a special oven, air cool it or oil cool it, heat it again to get a temper ….I almost put an end to my woodturning tool making adventures!

Sorry, I got a little long winded talking about making your own woodturning tools ….only because I know you might like doing that type of thing and you might be in the same position I was in regarding not having enough cash to have all to good tools you’d really like to have!

 

Enter Al Furtado.

I’m not sure how long Al has been turning, but I know he really enjoys it and he enjoys sharing his projects and his tools!!! Al seems to be a frugal guy or maybe he’s just strapped for cash like a lot of us…..so, he makes do with what he has and he makes a lot of his own woodturning tools and accessories.

Al made a type of bowl gouge that is perfect for himself from a 1/2″ drill bit that was broken. He played around until he got the grind correct and now it is his “go to” tool when turning bowls. The big secret is the metal that the drill bit is made from, it is already hardened and when shapened it keeps a nice sharp edge for a long time. You don’t have to heat treat it.

Woodturning bowl gouge from an old 1/2" drill bit
Woodturning bowl gouge from an old 1/2″ drill bit
Make Your Own Bowl Gouge from Steel cold Chisel
Make Your Own Bowl Gouge from Steel cold Chisel
Find your own shape for your custom bowl gouges
Profiles of custom made woodturning bowl gouges
DIY hollower with Home Depot Steel
Al makes his own hollowing tool with home depot steel and carbide insert cutter

Al takes a common sense approach to making woodturning tools that will save you a ton of money. In the video below he shows you some of his favorite tools and how he made them from either old, broken or leftover tools that are made with hadened steel and all you need to do is put an edge on the tool and make a handle for it.

The video quality isn’t the best but if the content doesn’t get your creative juices flowing …..then nothing will!

Enjoy

My shop made wood turning tools By Al Furtado

Al’s tools are not the prettiest, but they work and you can do exactly what he did. I can testify that the carbide cutters work like a dream and I look forward to making some gouges from old drill bits and cold chisels ….as far as that is concerned ….go down to Harbor Freight and get some of their tools and bits …they are all hardened steel and should work just as Al has show us.

Thanks Al !!!!

Turning Handles for Your WoodTurning Tools

Turning Handles for Your WoodTurning Tools

I know you want to see how to make your own woodturning handles but first I need to rant!

Well, my garage roof still isn’t on, first problems with the insurance….never use State Farm, next is problems with the county for the building permit. Seems as though you need more detail and info these days and if you are in a flood plain….. you are screwed…. I’m in a flood plain ….looks like I am getting screwed!

Woodturning Handle Videos

I still work in my garage/shop but its a mess and I’m pretty embarassed the way it looks. So, I don’t shoot too many videos from my shop, although I wanted to do a video on making your own woodturning handle. Maybe I will until then, watch these videos on how to make your own woodturning handles from a piece of scrap wood, or your favorite wood on your own lathe with a little glue and ingenuity.

Metal for Making Your
Own WoodTurning Tools

Most woodturners make their own scrapers, skews and parting tools. If you don’t have the metal to do that, consider Online Metals…. I found them to be very helpful, fast and affordable.

Anyway, in my journey of learning woodturning I have stumbled upon guys making their own tools. Even if I had more money than I could spend I still would like to make my own tools!Make your own handles for your wood turing tools

I don’t have more money than I can spend, in fact, sickness has left me pretty destitute…. that is broke. So I pay attention when someone shows me how to build efficient and effective tools for cheap.

Cap’n Eddie Shows Us How to Turn
Our Own WoodTurning Tool Handles

Cap’n Eddie is one of the guys I have learned so much from over the last year. How to build carbide tools, how to make scrapers, how to make a handfull of different jigs that would cost hundreds if not thousands of dollars.

Help Out Captain Eddie…Buy His WoodTurning Supplies and Tools

You might already know that Cap’n Eddie had some health problems, a brain tumor I believe and it seemed as though he was coming back quickly, but recently it looks like the poor boy is having a tough time. I can emphathize with him because I’ve been sick so long myself. Good health is something you never appreciate until you become sick and can’t do what you have all your life….it’s a terrible thing. But Cap’n Eddie seems like a fighter …he keeps pluging along ….so buy his stuff if you can and more importantly pray and ask the Lord to heal him and let Eddie teach us for a few more years!

Visit his site at: www.eddiecastelin.com

Anyway…. if you need some carbide cutters and some of the other tools he sells I would ask you to visit his site and buy stuff from him…. let’s help the guy out …he has given so much to the woodturning commnity especially on youtube.

Make your own wood turning tools Below you will find 2 videos on how to turn a handle for the tools you make. Both videos will give you some great tips and ideas so that you can make your own. These are 5 years or more old, the video quality is not that good but you can still get the idea and learn from Eddie how he does things.

Check how to build handles for your woodturing tools.

I found a great article on building handles, if you are going to make your own woodturning handles you would be wise to check out Learn How To Make Your Own Handles for Wood Turning Tools http://woodturninglearn.net/articles/forgottenhandle.htm

And one more quick video on how to make a handle for your woodturning tools.

I’m going to have to do another post on making handles for your woodturning tools. There are many methods to consider and you might want to take a piece from all these methods and create your own woodturning handle. Until then, you have enough information on how to make a woodturning handle!

More On Making Woodturning Handles

I watched another tutorial on how to make woodturning handles and was blown away. I had to include it today instead of another post. Watch this video all the way thru and then check out the notes below. I know you’ll pick up some awesome tips and design ideas for your tools. I really enjoy this teaching from The Sonoran Woodshop

Here are some comments and important links he mentions from the tutorial. This guy has done great camera work, great woodturning handle design and construction.

At this point I had enought info to scrap together some scrapers first, and you can bet they will have some awesome handles. Maybe I’ll do a video of my maiden attemp at turning and fittng my first handle …..should be a learning experience for us all!

Here’s some useful links from his handle turning video description:

A great way to save a few dollars on your next turning tool purchase is to buy your tools un-handled and make your own. I came up with a design that works really well. It includes set screws which allow you to remove the tool from the handle if needed.

PARTS:
Ferrule: I use 1″ copper pipe (which is the inside diameter) for all of my turning tools. The only exception is my Spindle Roughing Gouge (SRG) which uses 1-1/8″ copper pipe.
Set Screws: I use 5/16-24 set screws for all of my tool handles. The lengths vary based on the tool handle wall thickness.

TOOLS WITHOUT HANDLES:
Please keep in mind I have no affiliation with any of these companies. I posted the tool steel used by each company for reference, but the reality is that they are essentially the same.

I currently use Thompson Lathe Tools. They use CPM10V (A-11) a powder metal tool steel.

http://thompsonlathetools.com

Peachtree Woodworking Supply sells Robert Sorby unhandled tools. They use M2 tool steel.

http://www.ptreeusa.com/turning_tools…

Carter and Son sells unhanded tools. They use M42 tool steel.

http://carterandsontoolworks.com

D-Way Tools also sells unhanded tools. They use M42 tool steel.

http://d-waytools.com

 

I thought it important to add some of the comments from his video on turning wood handles for your woodturning tools. Some great comments along with good ideas.

I’m a beginner turner, about a year or so. Been a carpenter/contractor/architect all my life and I can build just about anything. I know wood inside and out…. but steel is new to me. I appreciate your list of tool providers along with the type of steel they use. Is there anyway you could rate either the provider or the steel type. I want to purchase some good tools, tired of the chinese …although they got me started. I figure if you can turn something with a chinese tool you should be able to make some great progress with good tools. I was looking at D-way, not familiar with Thompson. Would really appreciate a lesson in quality suppliers and what type of steel would be the best, second best and so on. Subscribed to your channel…. looking forward to seeing what you do. Thanks Scott

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The Sonoran Woodshop

I think tool steal is one of those things that if you ask 10 different turners you’ll get 11 different answers. I bought tools from each of the companies listed in the description and they all seem to perform the same. You really can’t go wrong with any of them. I have all Thompson for a couple of reasons. 1) they have a large selection compared to the other companies. 2) the length of their tools are longer so you get more steal for the same price as the other tools (check out this link and you’ll see what I’m talking about) https://www.instagram.com/p/BN5GvSthcwC/?taken-by=scottseganti&hl=en

Carl Jacobson

Man great job on the video!! I shared it on my website too!

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The Sonoran Woodshop

Thanks Carl… very much appreciated!

The Wood Whisperer

Awesome video dude! Nice explanations and great visuals. Can’t wait to see the next one!

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The Sonoran Woodshop

Thanks Marc… much appreciated!

Brian Sinclair

Great video. One new subscriber.

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Jack Maravola

Very nice. Thank you for sharing your technique Scott….!

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Bklyn James

Oh Yeah, please more videos.

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Bklyn James

Impressive… Very Impressive. On point with the whole process, and left me with no questions. You nailed it.

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The Sonoran Woodshop

Thank you for the kind words and feedback.

Mike Porter

Your approach to making videos produces a fine product. As to the content of this one, I don’t have the tapping tool or the pipe cutter or the router table, however if I was to do several handles it would be worthwhile to buy them. One advantage of your design is that the tool can be removed for sharpening which I favor. Have you taken the tool out many times? I wonder how the threading on the pipe wall or the wood holds up to frequent removal and reinsertion of the tool tang. I’m guessing you leave the handle on for your sharpening. Thanks again for a helpful video.

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The Sonoran Woodshop

Thanks for you comments Mike. It’s rare for me to remove the tool from the handle, but I do like having the flexibility. Handles with set screws are popular for people who need to travel with their tools. Students taking a turning class or instructors teaching may want to bring their own tools, so removing the tool makes it easier to pack. Another benefit is that eventually we make enough trips to the grinding wheel that the tool steal will need to be replaced, so you can save a few dollars by not buying or remaking another handle. As far as the threads holding up with repeated use… I haven’t had any give out yet. I’ve only tapped soft maple so I can’t speak about how other wood species will hold up, but as long as it’s a hardwood… I’m sure it would be fine. I have been extremely impressed in how well tapping wood works.

Jeffrey M. Myers

When can I buy this On Amazon! Great job Scott

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SkunkTreeCarvings

ya…im going to like your channel.

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Don Zeno

Great video. Keep ’em coming.

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Apoph1s

Nice video. Great instructional detail. Where do you get your handle-less tools?

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The Sonoran Woodshop

Please keep in mind I have no affiliation with any of these companies. I posted the tool steel used by each company for reference, but the reality is that they are essentially the same. I currently use Thompson Lathe Tools. They use CPM10V (A-11) a powder metal tool steel. http://thompsonlathetools.com Peachtree Woodworking Supply sells Robert Sorby unhandled tools. They use M2 tool steel. http://www.ptreeusa.com/turning_tools_unhandled.htm Carter and Son sells unhanded tools. They use M42 tool steel. http://carterandsontoolworks.com D-Way Tools also sells unhanded tools. They use M42 tool steel. http://d-waytools.com

Sandra Jacobson

Nice video! Easy to understand. Looking forward to more of your work.

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RickTurns

One of the best handle-making videos I’ve seen!

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Janet Brien

Perfection! Thank you!

Steve Brien

Perfect video, super clear and concise instructions, very well paced and shot. I’ve considered using set screws like this and you’ve confirmed that it’s a great feature. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

DRMNZ

Nice work with great attention to detail. Thanks.

1

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Richard Chellette

Awesome video. I made some tool handles myself, but I like how you made the optional to remove or change the tools.

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Scrap wood City

Nice handle. Making the handles makes them pretty unique!

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Joe Pieczynski

Hi Scott. I just stumbled across you channel. Nice work. I enjoyed the video. How about a few constructive suggestions. Make yourself a hardwood or aluminum blank about the size of your tool tang ( the rectangular feature in your handle blank ). Lock it in a vice and slide your new handle onto it when you drill the set screw holes. It will help with the orientation of the holes and keep the spin factor out of the equation. A thicker copper collar would also give you more metal based thread. I invite you to check out my channel if you have a minute. Take care, watch those fingers and keep up the good work.

1

The Sonoran Woodshop

Thanks for your feedback Joe. Constructive suggestions are always welcomed and appreciated. If I’m understanding what you’re saying correctly, there really isn’t a “spin factor’ that you have to contend with here… it’s more about the drill bit sliding off your mark when you start drilling. Clamping the handle in a vise as you suggested would certainly free up a hand, which could help keep the bit on its mark. As far as using a thicker copper ferrule… there really isn’t a need. The main threads are in the wood which is the intent. I have used this method on other projects… you will be extremely surprised at how well taping wood works… at least in hardwoods.

Joe Pieczynski

Hey Scott. Thanks for the reply. My suggestion was not to put the handle in the vise, but a piece of aluminum or hardwood the same size as the rectangular pocket in your handle where the tool would go. Then slide your handle onto that and drill away. You would have parallel, level and rotational all at the same time. It would probably work better if you had a bunch of parts and wanted them all the same. Forgive me, I always think of fixtures first. Nice result you got. thumbs up on this one. Take care.

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David Walser

Thank you for the video. Your presentation was clear and the camera work was well done. I’ve always glued my tools into wooden tool handles. I’ll have to give using set screws a try.

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Louie Cypher

nice work thanks for sharing, more videos please 🙂

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Jim Sollows

I enjoyed the video! Very clear, nice voice over explaining the process. I am currious to know what finish you put on the handle? I look forward to seeing more videos from you!

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The Sonoran Woodshop

Thanks Jim for your comment. I sanded the handle up to 220 grit and applied a tung oil finish. I prefer using a pure oil finish on my handles.

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Joseph Muench

Sweet handle design. Thanks for sharing! Great video! 👌🏼

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Harris Dendromiris

I really enjoy your video pal, since I prefer to make my own handles for my tools and chisels, you give me couple good tips about chisel handles,so go make some more useful videos like this, cheers

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Samuel Smith

Outstanding attention to detail! Never saw set screws on turning tools.

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The Sonoran Woodshop

Thanks Samuel for the comment. I have a few aftermarket metal handles with setscrews. I like having the setscrews and the ability to remove the tool from the handle, but I’m not a fan of how those tools feel in my hand. I’ve drilled and tapped wood in the past with great success, so brought that idea into my handles and it’s worked great. I’ve been overly surprised on how well it works. I haven’t seen anyone else do this either.

Ryan Grondin

Nice Video!! Thanks for sharing!

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Claire Stolee

What suggestions do you have for selecting the wood for the handles?

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The Sonoran Woodshop

There are lots of different woods you can use which vary depending on the part of the world you live in and what you have access to. I prefer closed grain woods (just a personal preference) and use soft maple for all of my handles. Ash is probably the most popular wood used… I’m just not a fan of the open grain. You do want to use a ‘hardwood’ (maple, walnut, ash, hickory, etc.) and stay away from the ‘softwoods’ (fir, pine, cider, redwood, etc.) The most important thing look for when selecting a piece of hardwood is to have straight grain…. especially on the end where the tool enters the handle.

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Wood Frontier

Nice work. It’s great to see more people making woodturning videos. Looking forward to seeing more. I’ve got to make a couple handles as well. -Todd

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Randy Price

Great quality tool as well as video. very professional looking video, looking forward to more.

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