Harbor Freight insert/ HSS bit experiences

[sunnyday]

If anyone has used any of the following harbor freight lathe bits/insert, please tell me your experiences and if they worked well enough to use on aluminum, steel .


M2 BLANK BITS- # 40641

5 PIECE INDEXABLE CARBIDE BITS 1/4" - #39931

5 PIECE INDEXABLE CARBIDE BITS 1/2" - 39933

9 PIECE BORING BAR SET - # 1722

5 PIECE CENTER DRILL SET - 42280

1/2" T2 LATHE CHUCK - 42340


I have seen some people comment that the 1/4" indexable carbide bits are a good value so would there be any advantage on buying the more expenisve 1/2" indexable carbide set ? This would be for use on a HF 8x 12 lathe using the lathemasters QCTP.

[Zap]

I bought the 1/4" carbide insert set for my 8x. I am finding them quite fragile and chip easily. They really suck for interrupted cuts. I chipped one on something easy like turning down a 1/4" bolt head. I chipped another one shaving the chrome plating off a piece of steel tube. The 1/2" size might work better since there is more meat under the cutter tip.

The HSS blank sets work well for me and I've bought quite a few for grinding different shape cutters. Been very happy with them so far and use 99% of the time. I only seem to grab the carbide if I don't feel like grinding a cutter to fit. The advice people give about getting handy with HSS before going carbide is really good advice! I haven't had to cut anything harder than mild steel and anticipate needing to use the carbide when the time comes for some harder metal.

The center drills work OK but you need to be careful about not going too hard on them. I learned the hard way about breaking a tip off. I will eventually buy some nice high quality center drills but they get me by for now.

Haven't used a boring bar set. I've had pretty good luck using a 1/4" straight carbide router bit. I needed to open up a small bore and that's all I had at the time. It works very well and I have not found the need to upgrade so far.

I use a 5/8" drill chuck from my old mill/drill. I really want to get a keyless drill chuck but my regular chuck gets the job done. Every time I put a drill bit in I wish I had a keyless.

One of these days when I can afford it LOL...

[ibuildstuff4u]

I had the same issues with the small carbide bits that HF sells and up graded to a larger set from Grizzly. It cost me $80.00 for a right and left handed tool holder and another $70.00 for a pack of ten inserts and they are worth every penny. I'm very happy with the tool holders and inserts and haven't been able to break one yet. They are TNMG 322 inserts and are much larger than the 1/4" ones from HF. The HF tool holders are just not made for removing large amounts of material.

I can easily take .100 deep cuts in aluminum and no longer use cutting fluid while doing so. I would highly recommend these tool holders from Grizzly, but would suggest looking for a better price on the inserts on E-Bay or other web sites.

http://grizzly.com/products/Lathe-To...eft-Hand/H8285

Grizzly also sells a boring bar that uses the same insert which I plan to buy in the future.

Dale P.