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Which turning tool?

Looking for part numbers from Enco on a good all around indexable lathe turning tool? I'm hoping for a do all if possible to turn shanks dia. on barrels and also be able to cut crowns.

Thanks in advance everyone.
 
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James,

In my LIMITED experience you may want to look into using HSS cutting tools. With practice they are relatively easy to grind and will cut both stainless and carbon steel very well at the surface speeds you will encounter with barrels and actions and the spindle speed range of the smaller and lighter lathes.

If you go with indexable tooling (HSS or carbide) at minimum you will need both a left and right hand turning holder, left hand threading holder and a facing holder and a boring tool if you are going to prebore a chamber.

Alex, Skeetlee, Shortgrass, Butch, Nat, and others with years of experience will most likely chime in with great recommendations based on their experience.

Glad you are getting set up to make some chips
 
James there is no one tool for that it will be three different holders. What swing is your lathe would decide on tool holder size. I like the ccmt ccmt or what have you for regular turning. I'd go to eBay to buy the inserts.
 
James I've really like these inserts. Mitsubishi ccmt32.50.5 grade nx2525 for turning. There a small radius for finishing. A right hand tool holder for that insert would be a sclcr. Threading insert I like 16er ag60 grade bxc made by Carmex. External tool holder I believe is hser0500. Small boring bar for preboring chambers and all so cutting crowns is a Widia circle carbide shank bar fcbi25045r. Inserts for bar are tdhh07s102. That's some of them anyway
 
Do you all really like the Warner tools that much? I've got a bunch of them and just never really fell in love with them at all. Maybe it's just me
 
I like vbmt inserts for turning tenons, pick a finishing grade. The mini boring bar with cermet insert Grizzly sells is excellent for crowns. With carbide the grade is critical. You will have to run higher speeds and take heavier cuts for good surface finish. Call the manufacturer and ask for a tough grade with a sharp edge prep.
 
As Alex just said grade is what to look for. That nx2525 is nice because it will produce a nice finish at lots of speeds and feeds and is for dry cutting.
 
Here is Arthur Warner Tool what I use, sample of single point cut recessed target crown using DCGT 32.51 uncoated insert intended for Aluminum. Muzzle unpolished. The chuck is a set thru.

20151019_191838.jpg 20151019_185736.jpg
 
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Now you're talkin'! Back in my days on a large VBM, I used them taking 3/8 cuts with 1/4 inch feeds. IMO, ground properly they were the best hss tool bits made. Anymore, grinding tool bits by hand seems to be a lost art.
I bought a package of 6 off e-bay several years ago. I've still got 5 I haven't ground on. At the low speeds & feeds barrel work is done at, it wears for ever...
 

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