Woodturning Tools

A woodturning chisel may cut more wood in one afternoon's turning than a carving chisel will cut in an entire lifetime. Turning tools therefore tend to be made from steels with very high wear resistance like High Speed Steel (HSS) or Powdered Metallurgy (PM) steels, they are also typically a few points harder than carbon steel.

There is still a call for good quality carbon steel tools, particularly for green woodworking where their superior edge taking ability and ease of sharpening are key advantages. Carbon is also better for skew chisels which remove very little material and a proper cutting edge makes for a much better finish.

Turning is often regarded as a seperate discipline to the rest of woodworking, although it is a handy skill to have for furniture making, toymaking, toolmaking and a range of other specialisms. It is easy to get started and there are a healthy number of clubs dotted around the country where you can get friendly support and advice.