Re: Carbide on antique lathe again

On 5/24/2025 6:17 AM, Jim Wilkins wrote:

Things have changed since I asked this, I found a Baldor-type carbide grinder and a diamond wheel for it and tightened up the worst wear on my SB Heavy 10 by surface grinding the compound base. I acquired a GTN-2 cutoff holder and a very stiff boring bar for 1/4" IC triangular inserts. Both cut the rock drill rod to a smooth finish and haven't (yet) chipped. Though annealed the steel is still hard enough to quickly dull HSS if not in back gear.
 This says a solution is possible.
https://www.thegallos.com/carbide.htm
https://www.thegallos.com/response.htm
 Can anyone suggest specific inserts in those sizes they know to work well on a slow worn lathe, preferably 'affordable' ones from a dealer that sells them individually like LMS? The ones I bought from an Enco store the first time I tried carbide soon chipped. They were C5 and C6 grade, maybe I should have tried C2.
 

   I can't help you with a source , but I can say your lathe is probably a lot more rigid than my old Wards/Logan . I've been playing around with 5/16 and 3/8" shank insert tooling and I find the only time I reach for a HSS cutter/lantern post is when I can't reach something because of the size of the QCTP or when I'm using the boring bar tool post . I get faster smoother and heavier cuts with carbide inserts than I ever did with the lantern setup . I've got 14 tool holders now for the QC post ...
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