Carbide Wood Turning Challenge

I have been challenged by an old mate to wood turn a pen using only a carbide, so lets see how this one goes.
Huw's channel: / @woodenitbenice
www.youtube.co...
Irish Woodturning Facebook Group: / 2203346810023108
Wood turning can be a dangerous hobby. My videos show my methods of turning and if you do not feel comfortable with my methods please do not copy them but rather use a method you feel comfortable using. Your safety is your responsibility as is the safety in your workshop. Enjoy the videos, hopefully something inspires you or helps you along the way. Irish woodturning is a craft that is dying out and should be preserved so that the tradition of Wood turning in Ireland stays alive and well.
Shay.
#bbturning, Irish woodturning, Irish wood turning, Wood turning Ireland, Ireland Wood turning

[@stevioclark]

Thanks for falling on the grenade to spare the rest of us traditional tool guys. Very good job and a good sport too. Thanks

[@BBTurning]

I think I will be sticking to traditional tools Stevio. Shay

[@toddcorey3190]

Still haven’t tried my temu kit, but the case is hanging on the wall with the rest of the chisels. We’ll make the 2 piece pen kits and mainly just use my 1” flat chisel for the whole thing. Cheers Shay

[@BBTurning]

I don't think you will be disappointed Todd. Shay

[@lilwaves9670]

I'm not really a carbide guy, kind of like you I use them for certain things. But with pens I do like to make my final shape with a square carbide. I find that using the square Edge with a negative rake carbide will leave a easy to sand finish. And the slow cutting makes the final shaping easy. Great show thanks

[@BBTurning]

I must look into getting some negative rake carbides to try out. Shay

[@WoodenItBeNice]

Brilliant, loved this one Shay. I only use a round negative rake carbide tip when turning pens with carbides. I did try the square tip to start with but had the same results in the "grabbing" I have to say that using the SRG and Skew does give me more pleasure with the end result but when I'm batching pens I find carbides quicker for me. Perhaps I should practice more with the traditional tools when making pens. Thanks so much for the shout out Shay, really appreciated. Take care mate. Cheers, Huw PS I would have said welcome to the dark side but for some reason I don't think this will become a common occurrence.

[@BBTurning]

Cheers Huw, no it won't be a regular thing but I will try it with a round carbide though. Shay

[@WoodenItBeNice]

@@BBTurning 👍👍👍👍 Please let me know how you get on.

[@DougMilleratWoodSpunRound]

Great pen and a great video. I’m with you on “traditional” tools, but have learned carbides as well. Nothing at all wrong with the way you turned this pen. The one thing you might have done differently, and it’s a relatively new idea with carbides, is to turn the cutter up on an angle, giving more of a skew presentation. Even presenting the cutter flat, you can slide along sideways cutting as you go. In other words, you don’t have to plow straight in all the time. With that one tool, I would suggest roughing it down nearly to size plowing straight in, and the finish with 2-3 passes sliding along sideways, either allowing the leading corner to lead the way or turning up the trailing side and presenting the skewed edge to the surface. Beautiful pen masterfully done.

[@BBTurning]

Thanks for the tips Doug, I will try them out. Shay

[@WoodWizardrybyColin]

That was really nicely done Welcome to the dark side lol. I think it would have been a bit less bitey if you had used the round carbide a bit aswell thats a really nice looking pen kit too all in all for a carbide virgin WELL DONE

[@BBTurning]

Thanks Colin, I don't think I will be staying on the darkside though mate. Shay

[@kevat9kcreations]

looks good to me dude

[@BBTurning]

Thanks. Shay

[@RichKind24]

Thanks for the video. I’ve been watching a few videos by Glenn Teagle who recommends to not use carbides like a scraper. His technique is to roll the cutter over 45 degrees and to angle the handle back so that you use the small bevel on the cutter. This supposedly means the carbide cuts rather than scrapes and you don’t get the tear out issues. Not tried it myself as I don’t have carbides, but have been watching Glenn’s videos to see if they’re worth a try.

[@BBTurning]

I will have a look at Glen's videos and give it a go. Shay

[@RichKind24]

⁠Shay, apologies, I should also have said how much I appreciate you spending the time and effort to create your videos. I’m a new turner and I always look out for your videos. There are too many Bobs in the world, a few more Shays and we’ll all be better off. Glenn’s videos may help, just thought I’d mention them as I’ve been watching a few lately and he seems to have a good technique. Cheers Shay. Richard.

[@BBTurning]

No need to apologise at all Richard, I appreciate the advice to watch videos on someone who knows a lot more about carbides than I do. Shay

[@anthonygreen9609]

You did a cracking job on that pen. Where did you buy or make the plastic assembly cones. I was thinking of buy a pen press but seeing you r video I would like to copy your method.

[@BBTurning]

A subscriber @brickhousecraftworks sent them to me. I think he got them from pen state but they are easy enough to make. All you need is to turn 2 pieces of hardwood to an mt1,mt2 , whichever you have then get a cheap plastic chopping board , cut 2 2 inch squares and CA them to the turned mt1 or mt2 hardwood pieces. Put each one into you headstock and turn the square plastic round. Shay

[@brokenbranchwoodshop1873]

I only use carbides for my pens but I use the round head. Much easier.

[@BBTurning]

Yup, I am learning that I should have used the round one. I will eventually get the hang of them 😁. Shay

[@brokenbranchwoodshop1873]

@@BBTurning be careful. You’ll really start to like them on small spindle work. lol.

[@jerrydwyer9057]

G'day mate.

[@BBTurning]

Hey Jerry mate. Shay

[@suepetty9225]

Nice pen. Is that a sierra style kit? I learned to turn with carbide. I can't get a finish cut with carbide because most carbide tools, with the exception of Hunter tools, do not have a bevel to ride. They are simply a form of scrapers so I expect alot of sanding.

[@BBTurning]

Yes Sue, it is a Sierra click. I find the same that when I use carbides the finish is rougher. Shay

[@michaelogden5958]

About 2 years ago I succumbed to the hype and bought a few carbide tools from reputable sources. I can use the carbides, but it's just not as satisfying as traditional tool. That's MY take on it, at any rate.

[@BBTurning]

I would tend to agree Michael, I much prefer traditional tools. Shay

[@JLang-bn3hs]

Old dogs CAN learn new tricks! I love carbide because you don’t have to spend time to sharpen. I always start with a small round bit and don’t use the square tip much. I wind up using negative rake to do most of the last bit of turning.

[@BBTurning]

We can indeed learn new tricks but I still prefer my traditional tools, it is just what I am used to. Was it me using the square one at the start that was causing the piece to stop? Shay

[@JLang-bn3hs]

@@BBTurning Yes. The round bit doesn’t grab as big of a bite and doesn’t create as much friction. I actually the the smallest round bit to start most small projects. Then with the negative rake, there is very little sanding. I have the skews and gouges but I have learned how to manage bit placement and angle with the carbide so it is my preferred way. Either way, the fun an the finished product is what matters!

[@BBTurning]

​@JLang-bn3hs cheers, the next time I try carbides I will start with the round one. Shay

[@William_Kenny]

Nicely done shay, like all tools there is a bit of a learning curve,pen looks great, Cheers from will 👍 😊

[@BBTurning]

Cheers Will, yeah it felt strange using it. Shay

[@rwyse1]

Hi most people think that carbide are scrapers wrong if you use the tools as y Traditional tools you will get a fantastic finnish without much sanding Ride the bevel not straight in

[@BBTurning]

Oh, I was under that impression as well. I will give riding the bevil a go, thanks. Shay

[@ronkiskowoodart9680]

Ummm ya…….no. Lol

[@BBTurning]

I am thinking the same Ron. Shay