01-06-2015, 11:12 AM
(This post was last modified: 01-06-2015, 11:13 AM by the penguin.)
I do a lot of weld repairs and plasma cutting out, rough parts that have to be turned to the proper size. With the weld build up and the hardened heat effected area form the torch/plasma cuts and interrupted cuts, these can be brutal on carbide inserts. I usually do my rough in work with cheaply bought, bonded carbide lathe tools, if I ruin one of them, I don't feel as bad if I had ruined a good carbide insert. I turn it into rough shape, then switch over to the regular carbide insert/tool to finish up the job.
The bonded carbide tools, at least for me, turn up at the suppliers, cheap. I bought them by the pound and by the piece and rarely pay more than a $1/ea. I know they are not of top quality, but for the rough work, again at least for me, they work great.
They are totally sacrificial, I have ground away the under side of the tool to cut IDs, where clearance was an issue, cut and rewelded them at an angle to get in where I needed. I bought 20 of the AR8 tools from Harbor Freight, for $8, last week as part of an open box specials.
Is it just me or do others use them as I do, too?
Below are some of the inventory I keep on hand
The bonded carbide tools, at least for me, turn up at the suppliers, cheap. I bought them by the pound and by the piece and rarely pay more than a $1/ea. I know they are not of top quality, but for the rough work, again at least for me, they work great.
They are totally sacrificial, I have ground away the under side of the tool to cut IDs, where clearance was an issue, cut and rewelded them at an angle to get in where I needed. I bought 20 of the AR8 tools from Harbor Freight, for $8, last week as part of an open box specials.
Is it just me or do others use them as I do, too?
Below are some of the inventory I keep on hand
jack