[TheForge] shapers

[David E. Smucker]

You can't equal HSS tool bits with other tool steels for single point 
cutting.  Carbides can be used but they really don't like the impact of 
starting the cut on a shaper.  Besides being the best tool steel for single 
point cutting, HSS tool bits can be ground to the shape you want without 
worring too much about overheating.  In most cases they have a tempering 
temperature at close to 1000 F.  If your shaper can take a large size than 
3/8 consider buying some.  Tool bits of HSS can last you a life time.

Dave Smucker
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve howell" <ballardforge at msn.com>
To: <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Friday, January 04, 2008 9:44 PM
Subject: [TheForge] shapers


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
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