Which steel for wood turning?

[twm.bwen]

Hi there, I think I know this already but what's the best steel for wood turning tools, and if you can, could you order them.
Special Grade Alloy Steel
Carbon Steel
HSS
Thanks
Tom

 

[marshman]

when I've wanted a certain grade of steel bar (round) I've gone to local engineering shops
and brought off cuts but flat bar is harder to procure of the right carbon grade
(they don't make many grades now) often involved recycling something.
can't besure but I think you want carbon content 0.7%

 

[TicklyT]

I have found a convenient material is silver steel. I've made quite a few tools for metal turning.It's usually available in 13" lengths.

Why 13"? I havent got a clue!

I've used diameters from about 3mm to 1 1/2" at various times for various tools.

As a general rule, carbon steel tools can be made, shaped and heat treated relatively easily in a home workshop, and honed to a finer edge than HSS, but when in use HSS will hold it's edge better than carbon steel.

For flat stock, how about annealing old scrap files ?

Someone like Chronos or Reeves may be able to help you out.
http://www.chronos.ltd.uk/
http://www.ajreeves.com/

 

[marshman]

For flat stock, how about annealing old scrap files ?

1.% carbon might be to hard could break, wood turning tools are
normally quite long.

 

[TicklyT]

For flat stock, how about annealing old scrap files ?

1.% carbon might be to hard could break, wood turning tools are
normally quite long.

Two good points I hadn't considered there.

Most metalworking lathe tools only need to be three or four inches long.

Old files do make nice scrapers for metalworking, but, of course, there's no 'shock' loads on them.