Those Cheap Diamond Inserts

I was struggling trying to face some big 304 stainless mold inserts to length.  1.5" diameter & 1.375" length.  Saw cut of course.  Parting these off is an exercise in frustration.
For most stainless work I hand sharpen HSS Cobalt bits, but I was struggling with my facing tool and to get decent finish would have to touch it up after ever pass.  I guess I could move the grinder over by the lathe (cringe) and set a diamond bench stone on the tool cart, but it was rough.
Now as some of you know a lot of mini lathe users swear by those little 21.51 or 21.52 DCMT diamond inserts.  I had one tool with one in a tool holder and I tried it because nothing else was working for me.  I finished both ends with a single pass on each end of the last six parts with one insert that looks the same when I finished as when I started. After I finished I started going through my box looking to see how many spares I had.  Ummm. Zero.  There were two broken ones on the head stock, but no spares.
The finish is decent.  I just bought some more that are listed as alloy/stainless.  Also another turning tool, and a boring bar that uses them as well.  I almost bought a through coolant solid carbide boring bar too, but that will have to wait until the next job comes in the shop.
I don't even think I was using it right.  It was a right hand turning tool and I was just face/plunging it into the saw cut end pushing a cone off the middle as it finish.  I was amazed at how well it worked with such an aggressive cut and no chatter.  I even considered turning up the speed.
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Bob La Londe
CNC Molds N Stuff
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