I received an email announcing the return of Stuart Batty Tools, which may be of general interest.
I think the last one he was in limited production; only some tools available, and a target-date when the rest would be available. Looks like that is now, and it is full production.Isn’t this the 10th SB iteration?
Preordering? I sure wouldn't take that bet. I would have major reservations ordering from a tool line that has come and gone a couple times. The tool design has always seemed gimmicky to me, but hobby woodturners have always been one amazing tool away from being highly skilled.I think the last one he was in limited production; only some tools available, and a target-date when the rest would be available. Looks like that is now, and it is full production.
ETA spoke too soon.... full production still to come, but pre-ordering available now.
It looks like from the image that the tip is silver soldered to the shaft, something akin to the Woodcut tools. The other laminated tools, hmm well, dunno it looks like they held together by CSK Allen screws?? An interesting method but I have some reservations about itI've been waiting to see more details on his 15V bowl gouges. So, his website describes them as 'laminated'. Does anyone know if that is a 15V sleeve that forms the flute, which is laminated to a SS 'substrate'? If so, that is a new development. Some hollowing tools have been made this way (ie. cutting metal tips welded to bars), but no gouges with a sleeve like that have gone into production, as far as I know,
Of course, Woodcut have been doing replaceable gouge tips for some time, but they are a solid M2 tips that attaches to the end of a shaft.
On the performance of 15V™, they are claiming:
* Up to 7 times longer edge life than M2
* Up to 5 times longer edge life than M42
What they haven't given is its edge life performance compared to 10V. My testing showed that 15V is only a bit better than 10V, which is its nearest rival...
Anyway, it is always good to see new developments and other options becoming available.
Huh? what about drill bits? Tap & Die Sets - Much else including hacksaw blades , all made from HSS - Just have a look at any tool and die maker offering HSS tooling... Not sure where your info comes from it being "almost never" used for cutting tools...That goes against everything I’ve read but I’ll have to take your word on it, but it does make you wonder why HSS is almost never used for cutting tools.
Huh? It’s funny, I use taps and dies (many are not HSS) and drill bits a lot but don’t immediately think of them as cutting tools. They are of course but when folks talk about cutting tools I immediately think about knives and chisels etc, where HSS is rarely used. Knife makers in particular are very keen (pun intended) on getting the sharpest edge possible for their products and use appropriate steels with a fine grain structure to achieve it.Huh? what about drill bits? Tap & Die Sets - Much else including hacksaw blades , all made from HSS - Just have a look at any tool and die maker offering HSS tooling... Not sure where your info comes from it being "almost never" used for cutting tools...
Agreed on several points. I’m always willing to give new things a try. We’d all be driving Model T’s otherwise.The problem with sharpening High Speed Steels is and always been the sharpening media. High carbon steel can be cut effectively with Hard Arkansas stones these same stones will barely touch M2 much less A11 or CPM 10V.
When metallurgy technology changes sharpening technology must change to keep pace.
Why we cling to the old ways and sayings and are so reluctant to try new things is a mystery to me.
HSS is not that expensive but it’s not about the cost anyway for people like knife makers. It’s more about getting a sharp edge. I’m well aware about HSS being able to cut when red hot as I use a metal lathe every week, but we hardly need that turning wood do we? The important part of HSS for wood turners is its wear resistance. I’ve spoken to a couple of turners that always make the final finishing cuts with a high carbon scraper because of its keen edge.It's simple why hss ist used for standard curring tools. It's more expensive and you don't need the heat resistance of hss so why spend the money. Hss is designed to cut steel and can handle red hot temperatures without damage. You simply don't need that in a scalpelnorvchefs knife.
Why is it sad? I have a large rack of tools and they all get the job done. You suggest we buy all the new tools coming out just because it is a new idea? I'd wager to say that most of us don't NEED more tools. I'd also suggest these aren't new tools any longer. When did they first come out? 15 years ago? What's sad for Batty is that his 40/40 grind idea sold so much better than his high tech looking tools. How many Batty tools do you have Bill?Sadly, seeing folks dismissing new ideas without even trying them is becoming all too often these days so not unexpected.
Noticeable by whom? Spider-Man?Even free hand grinding on a plated CBN wheel will be noticeable because of the out of roundness.
A few 1/100ths play, like 2/100ths or 3/100ths?? .020" to .030" play (run out) is pretty bad. I think you've made my case.Throw a dial gauge on any CBN wheel mounted properly on a decent grinder and there might be a few 1/100ths of play?
HSS (M2) can be sharpened nicely with composite aluminum oxide wheels. Get a very soft wheel designed for tool grinding, not a cheap white wheel from the third world grinder makers.
You have now heard of one in this group that has had issues with a perfectly manufactured CBN wheel.I think you're barking up the wrong tree with this group, Doug. I have never heard of anyone having issues with CBN roundness. When was the last time you used a CBN wheel? If it was 15 years ago, I'd say perhaps things have changed.
Really John, hundredths? I would like to see a video of a CBN wheel showing it having 1/32" runout. The grinder would be walking around the shop with that kind of vibration!Throw a dial gauge on any CBN wheel mounted properly on a decent grinder and there might be a few 1/100ths of play? I’m cutting wood (and resin), not trying to shave an ant’s toenail. (I know ants don’t have toenails, just roll with it, it’s past my bedtime.)
You have now heard of one in this group that has had issues with a perfectly manufactured CBN wheel.
A CBN must run true to avoid both sharpening and wear issues on both the tool and the wheel. That means the grinder shaft and connecting hardware must be precise to maintain zero runout. I had a grinder that worked beautifully with stone wheels because they were able to be trued to compensate for runout etc. Put a cbn wheel on, even with machined and spherical washers to compensate, I was not be able to true it up.
Most of the cheapo grinders out there today, their shafts and connections are not engineered out of the box for the accuracy required to get CBN wheels running true. Some can be fiddled with, others not. `
Fat thumbs…. Should be another 0 on thereReally John, hundredths? I would like to see a video of a CBN wheel showing it having 1/32" runout. The grinder would be walking around the shop with that kind of vibration!
Woodturners and their grinding is interesting. Typically woodturners agonize over every detail on their choice of lathes, the motor type, the variable speed drive type, rotating headstock, etc, etc, striving for the best. Yet they rush out to Woodcraft for a piece crap grinder.
You have now heard of one in this group that has had issues with a perfectly manufactured CBN wheel.
Most of the cheapo grinders out there today, their shafts and connections are not engineered out of the box for the accuracy required to get CBN wheels running true.
A couple of my club members had old deltas and they excepted CBNs without adjustment.My Delta 1HP grinder has serviced me for 25 years. First with Aluminum Oxide (which did a good job but did require service at regular intervals), then a 180 grit CBN wheel from Austria (left side) followed by a 80 grit CBN wheel from here in the states (right side). That 180 grit CBN looks like the day it was bought and it has sharpened my gouges perfectly for at least 15 years or better (a guess). I would be surprised if there was more than .0001 runout (will put a last word indicator on it and see).
Agreed, you will find cut-throat razors are made from old school high carbon steel for one good reason, the keen edge from fine-grained HCS. This grain issue was one that kept Tungsten Carbide out of wood working for a season as it was refined to what we see today. I actually have a couple of HCS gouges I keep for those really difficult lumps of woodBill you are incorrect in your statement that hss will not sharpen as keen as carbon steel. I did tests yearszago and studied the tools under an electron microscope. I sharpened high carbon steel, Hss steel and a11 particle metal. All 3 were sharpened to far higher grits than we ever do on turning tools. They all tested to be the same sharpness on a commercial tester. When viewed under the electron microscope at extremely high magnification there was no real difference. All tested sharper than utility razor blades but because they were sharpened at 23 degrees could not match double edge blades. The polished edge however had the same size mountains as the double edge razors.
I am not a fan of his tools. I wonder why his NRSs are so huge? Silver soldered 15V? No thanks.
robo hippy