Cut off tools.

**vicarage3** · Mar 7, 2017, 02:32 PM

I have just started using metal turning lathes which I enjoy.
Having several used saw blades from circular saws I wonder if they are cut into tool shapes to fit the tip holder and make cut off tools( the blades are tungsten tipped ).
Anyone out there tried this ?, Seems the real things cost a small fortune and I hate throwing things away.

**Moby Duck** · Mar 7, 2017, 03:46 PM

What I think you are talking about here is more correctly called a "Parting Tool". I am also assuming that you mean "Tungsten Carbide" tips.
The idea initially sounds good, and might be worth a try for small jobs in soft metals, but I have some reservations about the quality of the steel used in tipped saw blades. You don't want it to shatter or bend. Because it is the carbide tip, and not the steel in the blade that does the cutting, the actual blade steel tends to be of low quality. Knife makers that make knives from old saw blades shy away from tipped blades for this very reason. You will also need a diamond grinding wheel to sharpen and correct the rake on the carbide. Proper tools are also tapered on both sides and the blade holder allows for this and will cant a parallel blade which could give you some problems. Ordinary tool steel parting tools are not that expensive, and one tool should last you almost forever at home. Whilst carbide tools are nice to have you don't need them for most jobs.

**Ed ke6bnl** · Mar 8, 2017, 08:32 AM

I have used them and have maybe 12 ready to use. they work great, I was parting a part on a vw hub and the tool steel parting tool was not working well and I put the saw blade on the lathe upside down and in reverse and it did the jog. I do not have a very large robust lathe only and 11 Rockwell. do not know what they are made of the ones I used but I buy the wood cutting blades for $1 apiece and slice them into 1/2 in strips trying to get what looks like a good entry angle into the metal.

**vicarage3** · Mar 8, 2017, 02:09 PM

Thanks for the reply.
It just seems wrong to bin a blade just because it has lost a tip or two. They will only be used on some mild steel black bar and the odd bit of brass.