6 Tools For Turning Beads?

[@jackthompson5092]

Thanks for the instructions Mike.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

You bet

[@jimbalz3017]

I completely concur with your remarks on D-Way beading tools. I recently got some and they're fantastic!

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Yes they are!

[@charleskallay5484]

Once again priceless information

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Thanks, Charles!

[@johnmitchell1614]

Hello MIke, thanks for that. It never even entered my head to use a point tool to form beads. Best regards. 🙃

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Happy to help! It is one of my favorites although I now sharpen with a steeper angle than shown here.

[@jeanlong5965]

Always fun to learn something new.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@WoodScamp]

Good stuff as always Mike, many thanks!

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

My pleasure!

[@scottstubberud1137]

Another excellent video Mike! I see a d-way beading tool or 2 in my future but I will be playing with my point tool soon for a try at beads

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Go for it!

[@MelkeinMaalla]

Thanks for the great video! Especially the ideas on how to make new tools from those reaching the end of their original use and also steel blanks available for metal turning. I have used a couple of other tools not in your video. I have a Sorby small skew that has a round shaft, so it is basically a round bar sharpened as a skew that has no angle in the bevel, I mean the bevel is straight. It is extremely sharp and super difficult to learn for a beginner, but as I understood I must put the sharp long point down I started to love it. The round shank is a dream as you rotate it against the tool rest and just concentrate on the cutting blade that cuts everything like butter. The angle is super sharp. Because of that tool I have considered buying a skew that has an oval shaped shank so I would have a larger tool with the same round action. The other two tools I have are a semiautomatic beading tool 1/4" from Sorby, it is a bit similar to your diy gouge mod but it cuts as if you would turn your gouge mod upside down, so that there is a 45 degree angle below. The bead shape is milled to the point, not running along like in your gouge mod, yours is easier to sharpen, but the Sorby version has a deeper bead shape. That tool is a bit complicated, it really depends on the wood how it works. On apple tree, it cuts like butter, but on very dry birch it tears a bit cross-grain and works better on end grain. Better results in cross-grain if you turn it low, handle upwards, so it scrapes rather than cuts. The other tool I have is also from Sorby which is half of the bead on each side and an extremely sharp point in the middle. also 1/4" and that tool I really love. I do a lot of stuff with it and want to extend the collection as there are three sizes available. That tool is really worth the money, but can easily be done with a round diamond grinder drill bit and on an old tool shank. The U- shape I would not recommend, the sharp round skew and the half bead shape are awesome. The U-shape would probably work like a dream when turning resin, but I don´t do that. In the future will invest on stabilizing equipment - on stabilized wood it probably excels too. It also worked very smooth on apple tree in cross-grain.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts. I have a 1/4" round skew but I seldom find a need to use. I guess I need to turn more finials and play with it some more. I could use a beading tool a bit larger than the 1/8" D way that I have. I may have to break down and buy one at the AAW symposium. Nice to have choices.

[@MelkeinMaalla]

@@MikePeaceWoodturning The round skew was sold as 6 mm so it is 1/4". I rounded the lower end of the cutting edge and bevel slightly and it started behaving better. It is still a bit of a trouble maker if I forget to press it firmly against the tool post, it surely crashes into the lovely bead I just created and because it is so sharp it sinks into wood deep... but paying attention is a skill that you learn the hard way... Because of the round shaft you can really press firm because you rotate it and it rest the same way in the tool rest, round does not change angle. So it is fascinating how by rolling it along the rest it creates the perfect curve despite the straight skew blade. With a left over gouge why not make a bigger one. I do not have left over tool shanks, I started turning 5 months ago. I ordered a 1/8 spindle gouge and when I saw it I could not believe how tiny and fragile it feels, I am not working on a mini lathe and I feel it does not match the scale working on a full size lathe. The U-beading tool and half beading tool are both 1/4 and I will definitely buy the bigger sizes of the half beading tool in the future. Here we don't have such big meeting so thanks for all the makers and companies on KZbin who have enabled isolated people just buy the stuff and start learning the craft.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

@@MelkeinMaallaThanks for sharing. I have never seen a 1/8" spindle gouge and I agree it would be too fragile. I was talked into buy a 1/4" Sorby and it was way too fragile. My advice would be to practice your beads the conventional way with a spindle gouge. Save the beading tools for when you have to make lots of them an identical size. I did play with my 1/4" round skew today. I would not want a larger round one as I believe it would not be an improvement over a conventional skew. Safe turning my friend.

[@MarklTucson]

Thanks for this overview. Haven’t tried using the beading and parting tool for this yet, need to have a go at that. Have used your previous videos on using gouges to make beads; between your videos on this and the video by Kirk at Craft Supplies, I finally got that figured out.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Glad it was helpful, Mark. Look for an opportunity for a hands on lesson with an experienced turner. You cannot get feedback from a video or a book.