On Wed, 29 Oct 2008 08:36:04 +0100, "Steve Lusardi"
wrote:
snip
When it comes to
HSS, always choose a cobalt alloy like M35 or M42. They perform much better
with all materials.
snip
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Even here there are differences of opinion. High cobalt tooling
is much more expensive, harder to grind, and more brittle than
plain M2. While it does offer longer life and allow higher
speeds this is seldom a consideration for the typical home/hobby
shop. Unless you are wearing more tooling out than you break, M2
is the way to go.

A good combination for the typical home shop lathe is a small [4
X 36 / 6 ] belt/disk sander with "blue" belts and disks, and M2
tool bits. Enco typically has 1/4 square M2 bits on sale for 10$
or less in quantities of 10. Grinding your own tool bits allows
you to put the much greater back/side rake the typical home shop
lathe is "happier" with on the tools.


Unka' George [George McDuffee]
-------------------------------------------
He that will not apply new remedies,
must expect new evils:
for Time is the greatest innovator: and
if Time, of course, alter things to the worse,
and wisdom and counsel shall not alter them to the better,
what shall be the end?

Francis Bacon (1561-1626), English philosopher, essayist, statesman.
Essays, "Of Innovations" (1597-1625).