"Tools of the trade" for carving

[Taffy]

Hi Brett,

Mate, where did you actually get those Lathe bits from? I've been doing a search on the web - I used the brand name 'SECO' and the part number - and all the other numbers on that box, and so far, I've come up with zilch

I'm a Fitter/1st Class Machinist by trade but left the trade in 1985 to pursue other 'career' paths. The idea of using them in Bonsai is sheer genius, so I'd like to get my hands on a couple if I can find where to get them.

Oh, by the way - Me, Taffy! Met some of you guys at the Sydney convention, I already knew Rod and now I know a few more!

[Jamie]

gday taffy

welcome to ausbonsai i reckon you should be able to get them at AIS, they are down alice street towards the cemetary where the old confectionary ware house used to be, infront of AMZ welding they will either have them on hand or get them in for you pretty quick, the owner of the place is pretty good

i would take the mandrel shaft in that you will be using and you should be able to get them to fit

[Taffy]

Thanks for that Jamie, I'll check them out - and thanks for the welcome. I've actually been a member here since Dec 2008, but now I've decided to 'get active'

[Jamie]

cool mate no probs look forward to seeing some of your trees to, maybe in person i am in hervey bay so not to far from you, my parents live in maryborough so i go there every now and again too

[Bretts]

Hi Tman
You will find the part number in the link I gave above. Or just tell them the part number 16ER AG55 CP500. (A, A1, or A2) added on the end of that gives you something slightly different and they seem worth a try as well.
The link agian
http://www.secotools.com/CorpWeb/Produc ... nglish.pdf
If you have no luck at the local here is the Aussie website for the manufacturer. They should solve any supply issue.
http://www.secotools.com/wps/portal/au/ ... EpKQzNVODU!/"
Online store is not for Australia
Let me know how you go I better get some more in case they stop making them
I believe all the centres will be the same as they all fit in the same holder.
Mine where freebies from work!

[Jow]

Distributors for each state can be found HERE

I'm going to call up today and find out what a set costs......

Brett, could you please take and post some closer shots of the cutting heads? How do they cut in comparison to the $60 ones you ordered?

[Jow]

Ok, I just called up.

I got a price of $48.25 Each. The guy i talked to said that they were on the system but there had never been one sold in Victoria.

That was a list price so i am guessing that it will come to a bit over $50 or $55 dollars with GST etc added.

Anyone else come up with a better price?

[Jow]

Any one else got a better price?

The price above was for one cutting head not a box....... just in case anyone was confused....

[Bretts]

Hi Jow
I planned to do some carving so I thought I would try to get some video of it in use. This is just cleaning up the top of a tree after I took the top off. This tree is from a group of ten $50 trees that I bought blind potted up styled and planned to sell them off. The challenge was to make the best tree I could in one season with 100% mark up. Sold most of the trees off(made my $500 back and was left with some stock ) but for some reason I grew attached to this one. It has many issues that could be solved by chopping it in half but I am enjoying the challenge of making it work. It is a spring variegated elm from Ray.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmS7trK5A9g
Can't see too much of how the wood is coming of except for the chips flying occasionally. I did another on a swampy that showed bulk wood removal but my hands are in the way most of the video. I would load that as well but these vids take a few hours to load up on you tube.
I will have to do a proper carving video I reckon that could be fun!
The pictures I took yesterday didn't work to well you can't really see the cutting edge but tools are packed away and kids have the batteries out of the camera so maybe another day!

cut.jpg

[Bougy Fan]

Hi Guys
Just came across this topic and it's amazing what you see before your eyes all the time and never notice. I am a turner by trade even though I work as a handyman now. I never would have thought of using screw cutting inserts in such a way ! Will have to go through my toolbox and see whether I have any laying around. You don't have to use Seco inserts - they are all a standar size to fit the holders so if you can access Sandvik, Iscar, Kennametal etc etc they will all fit. The number is a standard system for defining the type and size of insert. The 16 refers to the size of the insert - I think 22 is the next sie up, but it has a larger centre hole as well. The ER means it is an insert for cutting external threads that are right handed and the 55 refers to the angle of the thread - in this case 55 degrees which is an imperial thread like BSW, BSF and BSP. You could easily use a 60 degree insert which is used for UNC and UNF as well as metric threads. I would suggest if you know a machine shop you may be able to get some used inserts and sharpen them. The y are made from sintered carbide and you can use a silicon carbide grinding wheel to sharpen them up if they are too blunt to cut wood. They are way too expensive to buy new and use for wood carving !

[Bretts]

Thanks Bougy that's the sought of info we needed. I figured you could modify them, my main concern was affecting the balance. At $60 for a bought carver like this 10 for $50 sounds ok and now you say that there are many with the same dimensions we should be able to get that price down. No need for tungsten coating if you are going to sharpen them.

I have only used the bought detail cutters(single and triple line cutter) from the UK. My mate got the one for wood removal Round top and I haven't tried that yet but I will make an effort too. I reckon a curved top like it has could be better but I don't mind the way this seco one works. I will have to try and modify a blunt one and see how it goes.

[Jow]

Thanks Bougy that's the sought of info we needed. I figured you could modify them, my main concern was affecting the balance. At $60 for a bought carver like this 10 for $50 sounds ok and now you say that there are many with the same dimensions we should be able to get that price down. No need for tungsten coating if you are going to sharpen them.

I have only used the bought detail cutters(single and triple line cutter) from the UK. My mate got the one for wood removal Round top and I haven't tried that yet but I will make an effort too. I reckon a curved top like it has could be better but I don't mind the way this seco one works. I will have to try and modify a blunt one and see how it goes.

I got quoted $50 EACH individual head!!.... If you can get them for $50 for 10 i'll buy a box from you......

[Bougy Fan]

Yes that's right - $50 each is the list price. Unless you are a machine shop that buys hundreds of inserts a month you don't get the discount structure. Because the inserts are used flat unless there is an accident only the top corner is worn. So used inserts could still last a while for timber as you are using the edge that isn't used for machining. I would hunt up a local machine shop and see if you can have some used inserts in exchange for a carton. The old ones are recycled so I think you would have to offer something. You could also try a turning insert like a TNMG1604. . . . . . from memory they are cheaper than the thread inserts.

[Bretts]

Thanks Bougy that's the sought of info we needed. I figured you could modify them, my main concern was affecting the balance. At $60 for a bought carver like this 10 for $50 sounds ok and now you say that there are many with the same dimensions we should be able to get that price down. No need for tungsten coating if you are going to sharpen them.

I have only used the bought detail cutters(single and triple line cutter) from the UK. My mate got the one for wood removal Round top and I haven't tried that yet but I will make an effort too. I reckon a curved top like it has could be better but I don't mind the way this seco one works. I will have to try and modify a blunt one and see how it goes.

I got quoted $50 EACH individual head!!.... If you can get them for $50 for 10 i'll buy a box from you......

Like I said I don't have a price for them but now I look I can find 16 ER's for under $15 online but you would need to do some searching.

No worries about up,loading the video and pictures for you Jow anytime!

[senseijames]

G'day Taffy, try J.Blackwood and Son in Maryborough, they should be able to get them for you, I used to sell them when I worked for Blackwoods in Gympie.
Cheers
James
P.S. By the way, does Maryborough have a Bonsai Club ??