Visit to Chesapeake Forge Blacksmith Guild – Making Wood Turning Tools

Chesapeake Woodturners Annual Turnout

Last Saturday Aug 22nd the Chesapeake Woodturners held our annual turnout and family picnic at Kinder Farm Park in Millersville, Maryland. What made this year special was a visit we made to the blacksmith shop at Kinder Farm maintained and operated by the Chesapeake Forge Blacksmith Guild.

Guild members have been working with members of the Chesapeake Woodturners to create various tools used in the wood turning process. Currently we are working on variations of the hook tool that has been championed by Alan Lacer and while it is possible to make the tool using standard shop equipment, using the expertise and capabilities of a blacksmith shop just couldn’t be passed up.

The tool making process begins with a 12-14″ length of O1 drill rod. The smithy heats the steel in the forge to about 2200 degrees - bright cherry red in color and then begins to shape the cutting end of the tool by hammering the drill rod flat for about 2 inches reheating as necessary.

The tool is reheated and when at the bright red stage the smithy forms the hook at the end of the tool. The image to the left shows a typical bowl gouge and the shape of the hook tool. We are experimenting with different hook diameters, shapes and sizes. Hook tools are especially good when working end grain and help to eliminate tear out.

Now that the basic tool shape has been attained its time to begin the process of hardening the tool so that it will hold its shape and a good cutting edge.

First step in that process is to reheat the working end of the tool to a consistient bright cherry red. Attention to detail and patience is need so as not to burn away the hook. The forge is worked by the smithy to ensure a constant color over the entire hook area. Then he quenched the heated tool in olive oil. Olive oil has a flash point of around 450 degrees and finishes with the tool in a hardened but brittle state.

The tool is test for hardness using a file or a grinder. If properly hardened the hook area of the tool can not be filed with a standard file.

While in this state to tool is hard but brittle and would shatter if we tried to turn wood at this time. The working wnd of the tool needs to be tempered. This is the process of slow heating hardened steel to a particular temperature softening the steel just enough to hold an edge and hold up to the pressures of wood turning. For turning tools this temperature is 490 degrees.

Best palce to accomplish this is in the kitchen oven. Place a clean tool on the rack in your oven set the temperature for 490 degrees and when the oven reaches that temperature hold it there for 60 minutes. At the end of the hour turn off the oven and allow the tool to cool slowly. Add a handle, sharpen the hook on the outside edge to a bevel and a cutting edge. Hone with a slip stone and head to the lathe.

Great day and a great visit to the blacksmith shop. Find a blacksmith in your area and between the two crafts an endless arrary of special turning tools can be yours for a very low cost. Don’t forget to repay the smithy with a special turning with the tools he or she helped you create.

Cheers and keep making shavings

Mike