I can't remember who suggested a similar tool in ME, many years ago. The tool was a cylindrical toolbit ground to half-way with very slight rake back from the cutting edge. In use it is angled across the work and used for shaving cuts just like the one you've linked to. Apparently the 'swarf comes off like cobwebs'.

I must have a try of one or the other design!

Neil

I think the round toolbit you are talking about was described by LC Mason in "using the small lathe" book.

Neil

I was thinking this could be used for fly cutting surface finishes using a round cross-section and mounting the tool at a low, inline angle like a tangential setup. I'll try to have a go at this when it warms up a bit.

Ed.

Edited By Ed Duffner on 06/01/2015 14:37:39

More on the shear tool on this page.

http://conradhoffman.com/advancedsharp.htm

He spent his career teaching high school machine shop…

Hi Jon, Take all the issues you like, the smiley face shows I was poking fun and not meant to be taken too seriously.

With regard to Mr Pete, I wont call him Tubal Cain as it is disrespectful to our one, I did in my first post say you could learn basics from him. That is a sort of praise from me, dogma though has no place once you have learnt how to be safe in a workshop, as it stifles ingenuity and progress.

As for the colonists over the pond, one only has to look at their obesity rates if you want evidence of fantasy being brought to a conclusion by the undertaker. The fantasy is that there are no consequences to their life style choices. I still have great regard for the few Yanks I like to call friends, by the way they are the ones with a sense of humour. even if they will have avoidable health problems as the years go by.

chriStephens

PS never take anything i say too seriously, as I never do.

I ground this one up a few years ago

I seem to think it worked well enough but I gave up with it for reasons I can't remember

I might give it another whirl now the topic has resurfaced.

Paul

Neil… "Apparently the 'swarf comes off like cobwebs'."

I was wondering if this is how steel wool or wire wool is produced. Just a thought… But seing the YouTube clips from Mr Pete with my limited experience, I found that useful to know. I've come across some materials that I could never get a satisfactory finish. I've learnt something useful today!

Regards

John

Looks very similar principle to the skew chisel used in wood turning. Used one of these a couple of times and it frightened the crap out of me. Best used on small diameters where it is easier to get the angle right so that the edge is tangential and the contact / cutting point is near the centre of the cutting edge. Gets more difficult the larger the diameter of the work piece is. If you get it wrong you better be wearing your best rubber pants – and head / eye / hand protection.

Very sharp HSS tools can produce very fine "bum fluff" swarf and smooth finishes if used carefully (I'm thinking that bum fluff is better better than angel hair!), so I suspect you can get similar or possibly even better finishes with carefully prepared "standard" tooling.

With a suitable holder you could use an insert to achieve this type of cutting – and it would use an edge that is rarely used or even thrown away unused once the corners have been blunted or chipped. The inserts for aluminium are often highly polished and would be good for steel in this application.

Murray