[TheForge] shapers

[Steve howell]

Bill W. - I sent two interested parties your way on your line-shaft Hendey. I recently purchased a 14" Varnamo (Swedish) shaper after hearing for too long how useful they were for dovetails, etc. It's my first machine tool and I am absolutely in love with it. Worked some stock to make a set of T-nuts for the table today and am eyeing some 4340 chunks for a new set of flat dies for the kuhn. If only I had this thing when I made my first Kinyon in '98. It almost makes me want to build one all over again.

Anyway- a question for the group: Right now I'm using standard 3/8" sq. HSS bits and am wanting to explore the use of different tool shapes for creating radii, etc. I have some A2, D2 and H13 and while these seem like great air hardening steels are they as tough as HSS? I know M2 is a given for cutting tools, just not sure about the others.
Thx,
Steve Howell
Seattle