Simple Woodturning Tools Carbide Wood Lathe Tools Hollower, Rougher, Detailer and Comfortable Foam Grip Handle, 26" Overall Length, USA Made, Stainless Steel

I normally don't write reviews but after only an hour using these I felt compelled! First - after opening the box I was stunned by the surgical appearance. These aren't crappy harbor freight tools, these look like they belong in the operating room. They are also well built and have a nice heft to them. At first I was thinking the changing of bits would be a pain, but it's fairly painless, and after using the tools, I can see using one tool to complete something, the progressing to the next for the next stage of the turn. My test piece was a quarter sawn piece of Padauk sandwiched between two 4/4 pieces of hard maple. I figured I would turn a 6" w by about 5" h candy dish to try it out. The Padauk and Maple were the hardest thing I had and were already laminated. I started with the roughing gouge and did it just like I saw on Simple's video. Straight plunge on the right till it got smooth and moved left. WOW! This thing cut like butter. I did manage to bog down the lathe by seeing how far I could push it, but again, WOW! After all of 15 seconds I had a nice smooth piece. Then I again did like the video and took about an 1/8th inch plunge on the face and rode it right to the middle. Again, cut like butter. No catches, no strange positions on the tool, just keep it on the rest flat (which is easy with the square shafts). Then I threw on the Simple Turner and Hollower. Again, flat on the rest and again, cut like butter. Made nice round edges and a nice design on the piece just by varying pressure. Did I mention this wood is hard as a rock? Then to cut a reverse tenon on the bottom I threw on the 55 degree attachment. Again, cut like butter. This one would take a bit more practice since I wasn't that great with it. Since it also rests flat on the rest, you do have to turn it a bit when you are getting inside the tenon for it to cut nice, but about 3 minutes practice and I was doing a good job with it. I also separately purchased the Sheer Cutting Tool. This was is the only with the round shaft, and is a good 2.5 feet long with an actual golf club handle on it. This one takes a bit of practice, but similar to a bowl gouge you can vary the aggressiveness with rotation. To hollow, I started with the sheer, and it was chewing away like mad. It's very hard to get a catch with these tools, but I did manage to get one by pushing the limits and knocked my piece off the tenon. I then switched back to the rougher to hollow the bowl. Bet you never thought you would hear someone say roughing gouge and hollow out the inside at the same time. Yup, that is how they showed it on the video, and I have to admit, it is a dream with this thing. You can plunge directly into the piece and move back and forth. Also ride right along the inside edge to the bottom and not catch. Amazing! Overall, best money I spent. The only other tool I used of my own was a scraper to smooth it out before sanding. Probably won't need that with another day or two of practice.

When I first got my Lathe I bought a cheap set of Carbide Turning tools. They work, but just barely. I bought this set of Simple Woodturning Carbide tools and are very happy! These are very High Quality tools. the Handles are comfortable and very sturdy. The long and heavy square Stainless Steel shafts enable you to get into a fairly large bowl and some space between the tool rest and the bowl without Chatter or catches. I will be buying more tools from Simple Wood Turning

You're like the old English turner who only uses a skew for all spindle work. Love my bowl gouges for hogging material, even after frequent trips to the grinder. But few of us have the years, patience, and wrist strength to make finishing cuts with a bowl gouge, especially in irregular, bark-included, checked, multi-grained, out-of-balance wood. Inside turning is difficult for us all Fresh out of the box I used this tool to re-turn a crotch log oak bowl with natural edge and bark inclusions previously turned green and dried in the micro-wave. With little care I only had to lightly sand beginning with 220. Enough has been said in other reviews about the surgical quality of this huge robust tool, and size matters as to chatter and stability of cutting. I was surprised to enjoy the chatter-absorbing padded handle, and my carpal tunnel will not awaken me tonight. I had planned to turn handles for the two other shafts, but canceled those plans. Changing is quick and easy, and infrequently necessary. I enjoyed my first use of square carbide and look forward to the diamond on occasions called for.

This is my first experience with carbide turning knives and I’m very pleased so far. These knives are extremely sharp and easy to handle. They look like precision medical instruments and cut like a hot knife through butter. They have even taken some of the agony out of hollowing out end grain. My only complaint is that they come with only one handle and don’t have a quick disconnect system for changing the blades. Purchasing 2 more handles is pretty pricey and stopping what I’m turning to go to the work table to unscrew one blade to put on another got old really fast! My plan is to make 2 additional handles myself. Why not just add a little to the overall price and give each blade a handle?! This hobby is expensive enough :/

First of all my order arrived five days earlier then the estimate date. This company was on my order and shipped the same day I ordered it. The tools was much better than I expected for a mid priced tool. The shafts are big and beefy. The handle is long and has a rubber grip making it comfortable to hold for long periods. The carbide cutters are outstanding and cut through wood and epoxy like butter. I couldn't be happier with my purchase. Would I buy them again? You bet I would and I will buy other products form Simple Woodturning Tools. When I find a company that has quality products and fair prices, I go back to them. Oh, and did I mention there made in the USA.

This set is great. The handle is very comfortable and quick to change tools. Really solid construction. The carbide tips are all very sharp and have all worked very well... very smooth. Easily changed when needed. Never need sharpening, just pick up a spare set of tips and you're good to go, however every tip can be turned or flipped to a fresh section before being completely worn. Love these tools...the square shaft on the tools makes flat and consistent tool placement a breeze.

Overall I would encourage a try if you never used carbide tools, and these tools are sturdy. Roughing to a cylinder from a square blank is so much easier and quicker with the radius carbide tip - used on white oak; myrtle wood; silver maple. I still need to practice to reduce tool marks and used the trusty skew. The hollowing tool is great too which I tried on these three woods. My "detail" tool work can use some practice. I'm lazy and didn't like having to stop and change handle to use a different tool so I bought two additional handles. A note of caution, it takes a full 1/2" id handle for these tools -12mm handles are too small.

I am new to woodturning and bought this set of tools on the advice of an experienced turner. I wanted tools made in the USA, not China. This set of tools is high quality. Solid, well crafted, and a great value. When I opened the box, it was immediately evident that I had made a good purchase. We live in a mobile home park which boasts a fabulous wood shop with many highly skilled woodworkers in its membership. Several members stopped by to watch me turning a bowl with the new tools, and all of them were impressed with the tools. A couple of them said they were going to order some for themselves. Clearly, I am now a fan of Simple Woodturning Tools! I plan to buy more as my skills improve and my turning projects become more advanced.