You must have come across beautiful wooden structures at a nifty woodturner’s shop and wondered how they were shaped. All woodturning professionals achieve that beauty with the perfect toolset. As with other crafts, your woodturning tool selection must be top-notch regardless of your expertise. The best woodturning tools will help you achieve different shapes with little effort. So which is the best woodturning toolset to buy?
With all the numerous options on the market, it can be overwhelming to choose the best toolset, especially if it’s going to be your first time owning one. To lessen the burden for you, we scoured the market and came up with a list of the best-rated woodturning toolsets. Some of the crucial parameters we considered with each of the toolsets include type, length, and material. They all determine the overall value of the tools.
Other features: for turners of all skill levels, wooden case for storage
This is our call for the best overall pick because it has so much to offer at a very attractive price point. It is an optimal option for anyone looking for a low-budget set of lathe chisels that are highly functional.
The set consists of 8 chisels. Their weight, together with their ergonomic European beech handles, makes them comfortable and easy to use. The Lange chisels are all about 16-inches long, which is ideal for any beginner woodturner. Their 6-inch blade is not the longest on the market, but surprisingly, it does the job pretty well owing to its high-quality, high-speed steel build.
What we liked: These tools are remarkably lightweight and easy to wield.
What could be better: We haven’t found any cons so far.
Other features: rubber grip
This is one of the best upgrade tool set options available on the market now. Whether you are a professional or an amateur looking to start of right, this should be your top consideration.
The set packs a punch with a couple of wonderful features like the rotatable cutter head system that does all the curving job for you. All you have to do is lay the tools on the wood and wait to see them do magic.
Their handles have been designed with your comfort in mind. They are made with standard wood and separated for the tool’s carbide steel by a steel ring. Their flat back offers you a stable and secure grip.
What we liked: The best thing about the tools is that they don’t need any sharpening. You can easily replace the sharp heads once they are out of order.
What could be better: These woodturning tools are not all-around.
Other features: comfortable foam rubber grip, rotatable carbide cutter, made by American craftsmen
This is one of the best carbide woodturning tools set that money can buy out there, especially for people who just picked up wood turning as a hobby. Most 3-piece sets are considered a hamper to serious workflow, but this carbide made package is specially designed to meet all of your needs.
With this set, you can burst your creativity seams as they are extremely easy to use. Since they are small and dynamic, you can make intricate marks and indents or any other crafts. Their precise tips also offer an easy maneuver technique that enables you to be more creative with your work.
What we liked: The tools are ultra-lightweight owing to their aluminum handles. You can use them for extended periods without feeling weighed down.
What could be better: The aluminum handles cannot reduce vibration effectively like wooden handles.
Other features: certified frustration-free
To become a formidable woodturner, you need the skill, dedication, and a killer tool set. If you are the kind of person who hates to buy tools separately, then this set is your best starter pack. It is an all-around set with lathe chisels that are way better than most carbide tools in terms of durability.
The set has 8 different tools that serve different purposes, including bowl gouge, chisel skews, diamond parting tool, and scrapers.
The chisels are built to last with high-speed that will give you top-notch speed and precision. This, combined with the easy balancing of the tools, allow you to create more detailed designs or crafts.
What we liked: They all have the standard handle-to-steel ratio, thus easy to balance.
What could be better: This as a starter tools set; hence, not great for seasoned woodturners
Other features: presented in a high quality, beautifully crafted box
This is downright the best convenient wood lathe tools set any turner can add to their arsenal.
The 6 tools in the set were carefully designed to offer you maximum comfort and unrivalled efficiency. Working with them is such a breeze thanks to their comfortable handles that are also made to offer you a secure grip and total control.
The tools in the set are diverse as they perform different tasks. They also have different measurements with the longest measuring about 12 inches and the shortest 10-inches. They include a spindle gouge, a spindle roughing gauge, scraping tools and woodturning chisels.
The bottom line is this is one of the best wood lathe turning tools that offer the best convenience for any skill-level turner.
What we liked: This is a diverse tool set.
What could be better: Some users complained that the skew is weak.
Other features: for turners of all skill levels, wooden case for storage and carrying
Beginners in the house? It seems PSI thought of the struggles beginners go through when choosing the best toolset to nature their new-found talent. The set has all the essentials you need to kick off your woodturning journey.
The set features 8 tools with different capabilities and can do all it takes to carve a block of wood from inside. The skews, gouges and skewers can do just about anything, and they all come in different lengths for versatility. At least you wouldn’t have to buy a smaller version of some of the tools in the set.
The tools have extraordinarily sharp heads made with carbon steel and will undoubtedly last you a while.
What we liked: The tool set comes in a wooden box. You wouldn’t lose any of the items with the compartmentalized storage.
What could be better: This set is a bit costlier than most woodturning sets.
Other features: ergonomically designed handle
This is another woodturning set that has nearly all your turning needs covered. The 5-piece tool kit will not disappoint any apprentice or mid-turner honing their skills to become a seasoned turner.
The tools have a unique design with top-quality beechwood handles and steel blades that have been hardened and tempered for long-lasting performance. They are more robust and last longer than carbon blades.
Every chisel on the set can scrape complex curves and grooves thus highly preferred by seasoned turners for working on a lathe. They will also help you learn to achieve better precision with a lathe.
All considered, this is a fantastic woodturning toolset that balances elegance and top-rated functionality perfectly. Its eye-catching display box will nudge you to create and practice often.
What we liked: The unique design of the tools incorporates the standard handle to blade ratio, which makes each one of them easier to handle, allowing you to make more detailed and intricate designs.
What could be better: Only mid-turners and apprentices would make the most out of it.
Other features: comes in a closable wooden case
This is another set that oozes so much elegance without giving up functionality. Its beautiful closable wooden case will naturally inspire you to create and work more, and since it holds all the tools in place, you will hardly lose any of them. So, on top of being elegant with superior functionality, the toolset is surprisingly affordable. It offers the best bang for the buck.
All of the 8 tools have similar dimensions for easy handling, and they all serve different purposes. This makes the set an excellent choice for beginners as well.
The chisels feature high-speed steel that offers maximum curving efficiency and durability.
What we liked: A hardwood handle does a good job absorbing vibration and giving you a secure grip for full control.
What could be better: We haven’t been able to find any cons to this set.
Choosing the best woodturning tools out of the endless options available will never be a walk in the park without the right information. You need adequate information to make the best buy. This segment dwells on the crucial aspects to consider when choosing a woodturning tool. It will give you the buyer’s confidence as well as help you make calculated decisions.
These are the aspects you should give top consideration when choosing a woodturning tool because they determine its overall performance and value:
For you to finish your woodturning project well, you need a wide array of tools including a roughing gauge, a scraper, a parting tool, a skew chisel, and a spindle gouge. You can choose to go for a woodturning toolset that has all these basic tools. However, very few sets come with a bowl gouge which is an essential for a bowl turner.
You will need a roughing gouge in every spindle turning project, mainly to turn a square wood plank to a rounded spindle. They come in different sizes, but it’s not necessary to get them all. The most popular size among professionals is the ¾-inch.
To make coves in the spindle, you need a spindle gouge. They also come in different sizes, but it’s essential to own more than one size because to make a small cove you’ll need a smaller spindle gouge, and for a bigger one, you need an equally bigger gouge. A ¾-inch spindle gouge can work in place or a roughing gouge.
To polish and level out the surface of a spindle, you need a skew chisel. You can also use it to make beads and v-cuts into the wood. Just like the spindle gouge and roughage gouge a ¾ to 1-inch skew chisel should do.
Another essential tool is the parting tool. It helps you to easily separate a section from the piece of wood you are working on. You can as well use it to create square grooves or cut the wood at a given diameter using calipers.
Lastly, you need a scraper to refine the surface of the piece of wood you are working on. It helps remove marks so you can achieve a flawless surface without a hassle.
The materials used in the tool’s build determine its durability and performance. The best material for a woodturner is high-speed steel. It is non-corrosive and wear-resistant.
There are different types of high-speed steel, and the Cryogenic M2 HSS is the best durable. Steer clear from traditional tools made from high-carbon steel as they are inefficient and require frequent sharpening.
Carbide tools are also a fantastic choice as they don’t require frequent sharpening. The tungsten carbide they are made out of is exceptionally durable as well.
For you to be able to work for extended periods without getting fatigued, you must be extra keen on the tools’ handles. Some brands like Savannah use hardwood handles for added durability and firm grip. Some add rubber for a soft and more secure hold like the Savannah Carbide 3-Piece Turning Tool.
You need to ensure the handle offers a comfortable and firm hold to avoid slipping when you are working. Plus it should have a nice touch. You wouldn’t be encouraged to create and work more if you get blisters every time you use your woodturning set.
Accessories increase the versatility and overall value of a toolset. Common accessories that come with woodturner sets include a compartmentalized storage case like the one for PSI Woodworking LCHSS8 8-Piece Chisel Set.
The storage cases also improve the overall appearance of the toolset. With an aesthetically appealing toolset, you will be inspired to work and create more.
Woodturning tools with detailers like the Simple Woodturning Tools Carbide Wood Lathe Tools allow you to create intricate and more detailed designs. It also helps you learn precision better.
Generally, full-size woodturning tools are usually recommended for using with turnings over 6 inches in diameter while midsize tools are recommended for use with turnings under 6 inches.
Getting your hands on the best set of woodturning tools is the most crucial bit of woodturning. With all the tips and pointers above, you can’t fail to take home the best woodturning tools. You can as well choose any of the first-rate brands we reviewed in detail if you feel too undecided. Our best overall choice, the Yellowhammer Turning Tools Essentials 8-Piece Lathe Chisel Set blew our socks off because of its diverse tools and affordability. It is a perfect all-around choice for turners with different skill levels.
Our upgrade choice, the Savannah Carbide 3-Piece Turning Tool Set offers solid durability and several convenient features like a rubber grip hardwood handle that any professional will appreciate. It is superbly easy to get used to and very forgiving.
Third, on our list, the Simple Woodturning Tools Carbide Wood Lathe Tools, is another premium –grade carbide woodturner. It is exceptionally durable and easy to use. Its 55 degrees detailer makes it one of the best woodturner tools sought for by creative.
