Point Tool - How to Make Small Round Lathe Tools Pt 2 of 3

In Part 2 of this 3 part series of How to Make Small Round Lathe Tools, I demonstrate how you can make a woodturning Point Tool from an inexpensive 1/4” round HSS rod. I also show how to use this versatile little tool to make V grooves, beads and more.
Part 1 on using and making 1/4” round skew is available at • How to Make Small Roun...
Part 3, Using and making several specialty turning tools is available • How to Make Small Roun...
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Round HSS Rods amzn.to/2T6lRYO
Check out www.mikepeacewo... for demonstration handouts, downloadable copies of articles I have published, and more.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Since Enco was bought out by MSC Direct the 1/4" x 8" HSS rod has almost doubled in price. Check out my Amazon shop for Round HSS Rods
amzn.to/2T6lRYO

[@davidmorgan7522]

Great info Mike. I have a friend that works in a large engine shop and occasionally rebuilds a motor with long valves (6-8"). They are hard to cut and hard to grind but work great if you're patient enough. They are 3/8" to 1/4" round and work great for small lathe tools.
Thanks! Take care, Dave

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

+David Morgan
Great idea for mechanics.

[@mgorrow]

Mike, thanks for sharing your tips for making, using and sharpening your three point tool.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

+Marshall Gorrow You are most welcome.

[@stringmanipulator]

Nice video Mike, looking forward to the 3rd one in the series :)

[@geofo60]

Great presentation Mike, I watched Sam Angelo using one a while back but had a job locating them here in the UK. Finally found them at Ashley Iles , dropped a gentle hint & my wife bought me one for Christmas. Looking forward to using it.
Thanks for sharing & a very Happy New Year.
Geof Harris (UK)

[@jimrobb6325]

Thanks again Mike for a fine presentation. A very handy tool indeed. They (the Point and the Cove tool) in 3/8ths inch were brought to my attention at Abernethy Woodturners Scotland many years ago. I just love the flexibility of use. I have made one, two or a few in 1/4 stock as gifts for my turning buddies. As for newcomers making them and sharpening them, I found sound information on Sam Angelo's site as you suggest, as well as a presentation to Detroit Area Woodturners by Alfred Schembri early this year, where he uses a small triangle of wood cut at 120 degrees with an appropriate size hole drilled to fit the steel. shank. It works very well indeed.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

+Jim Robb
I saw that triangle wood tip and just never got around to making one.

[@muziqjazz]

Thanks for sharing M. Mike. Merry Christmas to you and your family. Marc

[@larrygillespie1857]

Thx. Good instruction

[@alvinpayne1147]

For high speed steel, you can buy a 12", 1/4" or 5/16" drill bit and cut it in half. You can readily pick the up at Lowe's.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Thanks for the tip. One drill bit costs more than five 1/4" x8" bars from Amazon but Lowes sure is convenient for those folks that want to make one now and do not do Amazon or can't wait a few days.

[@chrisdonovan5766]

Great Video, could you make one on how you get these edges on the gouging tool?

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

I am overdue for a video on sharpening. I think you are asking for instruction on sharpening a bowl or spindle gouge?

[@aaroncarey7209]

they have .3" or 7.5mm. Thats almost 5/16. it comes in 7.87" lengths. 2 packs are $8.79. Thanks Mike for the ideas!

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Those should work. Great tools are the ones we make sometimes.

[@AJsWargaming]

Your point tool is much more of a 45 degree angle. I've ground one at a 30 degree angle and it doesn't do beads as well, but scrapes better. Looks like time for me to make another at a 45 degree grind angle.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

+Allan Wright
Other than a longer bevel with the 30 degree, I would think scraping would be about the same. I think Sam Angelo does one long bevel and 2 smaller. Maybe the best of both worlds. I will have to try it.

[@PetrikNZ]

Math was never a strong point for me. How did you come to 110% of the diameter? I don't have a standard grind wheel setup and use a drill style grind wheel/stone so need to do everything by guessing. I am thinking that if I can figure out this formula I can just mark distances and grind to the mark to get the angles I need.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Don't over think it. Just start grinding and get all sides about equal. If you want a long bevel, grind some more.