john lucas
AAW Forum Expert
Since I was doing a demo of a platter turned with nothing but Hunter tools I thought it would be interesting for everyone to see my long term test of the cutters. This is a #4 cutter. The first tool I got about 2 years ago or more. I don't use it all the time. Mostly when I'm doing a box interior for the final passes or anytime I have a piece of wood that doesn't want to cut clean. I also bring it out anytime I have someone over to the shop so they can see how it cuts. So it's probably been used quite a bit but not used every day for every cut. In fact it was the one I used in the first Hunter tool demo Oct. 2010 so I had it before that.
Anyway I still can't believe how well it cuts. I had a piece of spalted maple that would not cut clean with my 35 degree detail gouge. I ran this old cutter across it and got a clean cut with no tearout. Then I removed this cutter and used a new one. I could feel the difference, it moved easier, but both left a very clean surface.
Here is a photo of the old cutter next to a new unused cutter so you can see the edge. I discussed this with another turner this weekend and we think the chipped edge is still cutting like a piece of knapped flint. The chipped areas themselves are acting like knives. Don't know if that's true but if you look at that nasty edge it's hard to believe it would do a decent job but it does.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfp2kvhH6Mo
Anyway I still can't believe how well it cuts. I had a piece of spalted maple that would not cut clean with my 35 degree detail gouge. I ran this old cutter across it and got a clean cut with no tearout. Then I removed this cutter and used a new one. I could feel the difference, it moved easier, but both left a very clean surface.
Here is a photo of the old cutter next to a new unused cutter so you can see the edge. I discussed this with another turner this weekend and we think the chipped edge is still cutting like a piece of knapped flint. The chipped areas themselves are acting like knives. Don't know if that's true but if you look at that nasty edge it's hard to believe it would do a decent job but it does.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfp2kvhH6Mo