Turning tools are made from carbide or tool steel. The material to be shaped or cut attaches to the end of the lathe. When the lathe is rotated, the turning tool cuts into the wood or metal to remove excess material, creating the desired end result. Several lathe and turning tools can be set up in a series to create an assembly line, so you can make the finished product quickly and efficiently.

CNC (Computer Numerical Controlled) machining tools can be manned by an operator or may be completely automated. The output is consistent, ensuring each produced piece has the exact specifications that were programmed into the computer. When choosing turning tools consider the following:

1. The type of material the turning tool will cut.

2. If cutting wood, the tools can be either hand held or machine operated.

3. Determine if your business can benefit from automating your turning tools.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Look for turning tools that cut the material you work with

Suppliers of turning tools offer different tools to cut through different materials. The most commonly used product materials are wood, plastic and metal. The metal used to create the tool will differ in hardness depending on the thickness and consistency of the material to be cut.

I recommend: Airmatic offers an assortment of turning tools for cutting, sawing and milling. Sandvik Coromant sells general turning, heavy turning and hard-part turning equipment.

Purchase hand-held wood turning tools for custom pieces

Custom furniture and wood carvings are treasured since each piece is unique. Turning tool manufacturers offer hand held wood lathe turning tools that are created by holding the wood turning tools against the wood as the lathe is being turned. These pieces take longer to make, but can be sold for a larger end price.

I recommend: Penn State Industries offer a wood turning tool for every possible cut. The tools are high quality but not high in cost. AA WoodCraft Supplies has a large assortment of turning hand tools, as well as instructional books and accessories.

Automate your turning tools to save time and labor

Automating the tool turning process enables a company to save money on labor, and also ensures that each piece produced is exactly like the previous piece. This is a necessity when the finished product needs to fit securely into another piece of equipment.

I recommend: Turning tool suppliers like Stark Industrial offer an assortment of lathe turning tools for all your cutting needs. Atwood Industries sells several high quality carbide tools, along with various stainless steel tools.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Lathe turning tools made of carbide are usually the best quality and last longest.