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Spear point tool

John Torchick

John Torchick

Joined
Jan 24, 2010
Messages
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Location
Cleveland, Tennessee
OK, I still have the starter set from HF with the red handles. There are six tools in the set but the one I'm not sure of for turning applications is the spear point. It is, obviously, pointed with a bevel on each side of the point. What types of cuts or whatever is it used for? Again, thanks for your help.
 
It sounds to me like you are describing a parting tool or a beading tool. I have a homemade tool that I call a spear pointed tool, but it was made using a ¼" diameter round bar. Does it look like this parting tool?

11022_830h_standard_parting_300.jpg
 
IMG_1008.JPG
See 6th tool from right. Edit "left"

I believe what is being talked about is a scraper. Flat on top sides have about a 70 degree bevel about 1/2" wide coming to a point. I repurposed mine into a rounded negative rake scraper. For light work as it is only about 1/4" thick.
 
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There are several variations of spear pointed scraper type tools. That one has a fairly short bevel/wing. The point can be used for making lines similar to the ones you make prior to burning a line in. The ones that are more swept back are used for shear scraping, and you can go from right to left, or left to right with them. I had one of those and converted it into a negative rake scraper.

robo hippy
 
I have one of those from a Delta Carbon Steel set that dates back to the 1950's. I sometimes use it when removing the nib at the tailstock when initially roughing the bottom of a bowl when between centers. I have an old Delta book, Getting the most out of your lathe, on my iPad and snapped a couple of uses as a scraper. Will try to load them. Have to send them to my computer and resize and then load. IMG_4770 (Small).PNG
IMG_4771 (Small) (Small).PNG
 
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I have one. My good friend who was a production turner used his a lot. He would sometimes use it as a shear scraper, using one side for one direction on a bowl and the other side for the other direction. One thing he did I've never seen anyone do, is when making goblets he would use the flat side (what we would call the top) and use that as a bevel and cut the bottom of the goblet in a concave arc pretty much the same way I use the toe of a skew for that purpose. Of course many people simply push it into the wood to make a V cut. My friend Randy would also use it flat side down to do a planing cut on spindles. He more or less used it like a skew but then would always tell me he couldn't use the skew.
 
Mike Brazeau said:
I have one of those from a Delta Carbon Steel set that dates back to the 1950's. I sometimes use it when removing the nib at the tailstock when initially roughing the bottom of a bowl when between centers. I have an old Delta book, Getting the most out of your lathe, on my iPad and snapped a couple of uses as a scraper. Will try to load them. Have to send them to my computer and resize and then load. View attachment 23026
View attachment 23028
Click to expand...

Wearing a white shirt and necktie while turning? I must be a slob. 😀

Years ago at work a coworker got his necktie caught in an industrial strength paper shredder that could shred a phone book in one gulp, but luckily for him it stalled at the knot in the tie. The copiers, faxes, shredders, and coffee maker were all in the same room. A couple secretaries came into the room to get coffee, but he was too embarrassed to let them know of his predicament so he pretended to be working on the shredder. When one of the guys came into the room, he asked for a pair of scissors so that he could cut himself free. The coworker took his time looking for a pair of scissors and finally borrowed a pair from one of the secretaries. He said that he needed the scissors to cut Bob loose from the shredder.
 
Mike, that is really old. Dad is smoking a pipe and Mom is in a dress and apron.
William, I can't count over five. 😎

Edit: Found some good info with a search on the internet. Thanks to all for your replies. Seems like a good tool to have.
 
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Certainly a comprehensive write-up on what is possible on the lathe. Manufacturers today just don't do "how-tos" well if at all. I had an old delta which I sold approx. 15 years ago.
 
John Torchick said:
Mike, that is really old. Dad is smoking a pipe and Mom is in a dress and apron.
William, I can't count over five. 😎

Edit: Found some good info with a search on the internet. Thanks to all for your replies. Seems like a good tool to have.
Click to expand...

Yes,it is quite hoot but an excellent technical presentation. No safety protection, possibly safety glasses, smoking pipe and cigarettes! Good reference piece for those that do not own a chuck yet. This tool can be pretty catchy but is handy to have once in a while.
 
Mike Brazeau said:
I just had a look as to where I had found the old Delta book. It really is a well written piece and there are a couple of other references to the diamond point tool. http://vintagemachinery.org/pubs/detail.aspx?id=5377 There is a link to the pdf. I have an old Rockwell Delta Homecraft which I have not used for years but refuse to part with...yet!
Click to expand...

Thanks for that link Mike. That is a very interesting piece of information. All the latest stuff. It is amazing how much is there for the time it was printed (a year after I was born) . I would recommend every at least page thru if you do not read all of it.
 
Bill Boehme said:
Wearing a white shirt and necktie while turning? I must be a slob. 😀

Years ago at work a coworker got his necktie caught in an industrial strength paper shredder that could shred a phone book in one gulp, but luckily for him it stalled at the knot in the tie. The copiers, faxes, shredders, and coffee maker were all in the same room. A couple secretaries came into the room to get coffee, but he was too embarrassed to let them know of his predicament so he pretended to be working on the shredder. When one of the guys came into the room, he asked for a pair of scissors so that he could cut himself free. The coworker took his time looking for a pair of scissors and finally borrowed a pair from one of the secretaries. He said that he needed the scissors to cut Bob loose from the shredder.
Click to expand...
If that happens nowadays, Bob would be all over the internet, everyone would have taken a picture of him, lol
 
The only use I have for a spear point scraper is producing detail grooves on bowls and platters.....and the only way a detail groove will look anywhere near acceptable, is to have a surface that is as close to geometrically perfect as possible. It's all about surface preparation......which essentially means as little sanding as possible. As little sanding as possible essentially means finding methods to produce cleanly cut surfaces with your gouges, and other types of scrapers.

-----odie-----
 
I'm with you Odie. I have a 3 point tool and a spear point tool. I cut almost all of my V cuts using 2 cuts with the toe of the skew. Those don't need sanding. The other two tools leave a slightly torn edge on the sides. Doesn't look that bad but just isn't the same as a freshly cut surface.
 
john lucas said:
I'm with you Odie. I have a 3 point tool and a spear point tool. I cut almost all of my V cuts using 2 cuts with the toe of the skew. Those don't need sanding. The other two tools leave a slightly torn edge on the sides. Doesn't look that bad but just isn't the same as a freshly cut surface.
Click to expand...

I Like cutting grooves with a 3 point tool. I use it much like a skew cutting from each side toward the bottom center. Sometimes using skew I miss getting a clean bottom center which I have not yet missed with a point tool. If I'm a tiny bit off with the skew the cut will be left or right from the cut from the other side. Correcting the mismatch makes a deeper wider groove. The point tool sort of finds bottom center all by itself.
 
Mike, I was raised on a dairy farm in central Ohio. Need a real big spear point and a real big tractor to do what you suggest. I 'll stick to wood turning. Much easier.
 
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