best tools for aluminium

hi new to using mini lathe I am only going to use aluminium wood and plastic what would be best hss or indexable cardide and if I got hss would I have to buy a bench grinder or would it be easer to use indexadle I am not going to be lathing all the time only when I make things for my model boats any help would be grafull

You can use either. The polished carbide inserts leave a nice finish but so does HSS if you can keep the tools sharp. So yes, if you want to use HSS you'll need a grinder.

These folks are good if you go the insert route but there are others.

**LINK**

I prefer well sharpened HSS tooling for aluminium - particularly for a finishing cut.

Same here, once you have invested in a grinder you can use any broken drill as a lathe tool (and you can sharpen blunt ones). Carbide tips need to be selected for a single purpose, so by the time you have bought a selection of 6 different inserts you will be a good way towards buying a grinder.

Frank

Grinders aren't just for lathe tools, you'll find plenty of use for it, engineering and woodworking tools, garden tools.

Ian S C

This is correct!

Some of the tools i've ground with a bench grinder i would have never guessed i was going to use it for when i bought it. Definitely worth the money.

Michael W

Interesting isn' it? . I have two 6" double ended grinders, white, green and grey wheels, but rarely use them as I am almost entirely insert tooled. I only grind special purpose HSS tools as and when required.

The grade of aluminium will make a difference too. Ordinary soft aluminium can be difficult to get a nice finish on but the heat treatable ones such as 2014(I think!) are much nicer to work with.

High positive rake polished carbide inserts are superb for aluminium and give a beautiful finish. The downside is that they are easily damaged if you are not careful and they tend to be quite expensive. I have been using this type of insert for a few years and rarely use anything else for aluminium.

Doug

Agreed, these are all the OP needs at the moment as he said he only wants to cut alloy, plastic and wood.

Would you say ground carbide tips give a better finish than HSS? Arceuro sells them for £8 each.

Hi Rainbows

Try this store for a vast range of insert types.

**LINK**

Emgee

These are very good for aluminium and other materials as well

**LINK**

They can be fitted to the cheap 10mm / 3/8" sets with the same shaped tips on ebay but if you do buy one of these make sure it comes with torx screws not hex socket ones.

The min quantity on the link is 10 but they also offer them in smaller numbers on the hobby tips page.

They also work pretty well on mild steel

John

-