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Beall's turning scrapers?

G

Glen Perye

Joined
Oct 7, 2012
Messages
22
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Location
Macomb county Michigan
While reading the latest issue of the AAW's American woodturner. I found the ad for the modular tip scraper for mini beads and coves. They have 8 different profiles on 4 bits. It looks like a system that can be modified for any cutting profile by grinding HSS tool bits.
I am wondering what others think of them?
 
Certainly can. YOu just need to find out the size or simply make your own tool to whatever size you want. You can buy 3" lengths of HSS from most metal supply houses as cheap as .75 a bar. I have it from 3/16 to 1/2" for my metal lathe. It is hard. You can't drill it but you can grind it pretty easily. This is the same material that many people use for the cutter in their hollowing tools.
 
I have one, and I am not yet convinced. To be fair, the only serious attempt I made to use it was with a wood that splinters easily, which not terribly successful with the beading cutters. I have used it on a few handles and the like and it produced acceptable results there.
 
And here's the photo that I botched attaching the first time. You'll have to expand it to see the beads.
 

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If you make your own for beading start the cut from under the workpiece and lift the cutter into the cut. This way the "wings" of the cutter actually cut instead of scrap. Then when you get very close to the top of the bead wiggle it slightly back and forth. This will usually give you a bead with the least tearout. Also do it in multiple passes taking fairly light cuts.
If you use it to cut coves cut from the top of the cove to the middle on one side and then do the same on the other side. this will scrape downhill with the grain and give you a better finish. Here is a video showing the scraping action as well as other tips on turning coves.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSybPNw4F1o&feature=g-crec-u
 
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