On Sat, 12 Mar 2016 15:25:09 -0800 (PST)
Bill Leonhardt wrote:

original owners. I am trying to identify whether they have good
steel and are worth keeping for my future turning aspirations. In
the future, I expect to turn some furniture parts, a few bowls, but
turning will not be the main part of my woodworking efforts.

keep them sharp and use them

the material is not relevant

On 3/12/2016 6:32 PM, Electric Comet wrote:
On Sat, 12 Mar 2016 15:25:09 -0800 (PST)
Bill Leonhardt wrote:

original owners. I am trying to identify whether they have good
steel and are worth keeping for my future turning aspirations. In
the future, I expect to turn some furniture parts, a few bowls, but
turning will not be the main part of my woodworking efforts.

keep them sharp and use them

the material is not relevant


That's my thought as well.

I'm no expert but from what I have read, seen and experimented with, one
could use a sharpened piece of steel with good results.

I have a cheap beginner set which I keep sharpened and they do a very
good job.