Customer Reviews

PSI Woodworking LCMINI2 Mini 5-Piece HSS Wood Lathe Chisel Turning Set

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have owned two sets of these tools because they are cheap, the right size for my applications, and I can grind them for special applications. However, they are not tempered well. I have had one shatter when it fell on the concrete floor and another snap while turning - quite a sensation! Anyhow, know what you are getting. You can get the same tools as Jet Mini-lathe tools, made by Crown, for about $80 - much nicer steel.

PSI is, as far as I can tell, Penn State Industries, www.pennstateind.com. As you may suspect from the prices, these are imported Chinese tools. For $20 for the set of five, they're not bad tools; the price is generally reasonable given what you're buying. Keep in mind, what you're buying is relatively good-quality-for-Chinese tools, and not a hot deal on precision made, high quality American or English tools-which is why you're getting the set for $20 instead of $125. The chisels themselves are a solid "OK". The handles are as pictured, although like a lot of mail order goods, not quite as pretty in real life as the pictured set. The set I got came in a fitted, light-weight, wooden box, not terribly sturdy, but it does give you a place to keep them neatly organized. If you want to experiment with a set of "micro" chisels for pen making or other fine lathe work, this is a good place to start; if you like it, you can upgrade, and if not, you're not out a ton of money.

Do not expect the box to make it thru shipping, Amazon could do a better job of packing but a little glue cures the box problem. Now the LATHE TOOLS are a very good beginners set. Quality tools good enough for getting into wood turning without spending $200 just to see if you like it. NOTE: They really do need to be honed to a fine edge.

I have read a few negative reviews about this set and don't understand. If you drop a thin tool like these on concrete I would expect them to break. The harder the steel the more brittle it becomes. They do need to be honed as most all chisels, don't expect a dull chisels to cut hard or soft wood for that matter. All chisels must be razor sharp and reshaped often to get the best from them. Aside from safety and learning how to use what chisels purpose is, learning to sharpen is the most important lesson to learn.
I have been making some small items like lidded boxes(or pill boxes) bottle stoppers and many pens. I have found it hard to do some small detail work with larger tools and was thrilled to have small sharp chisels to make groves coves and beads to add the extra touch to my work.
This not a starter set but is a nice addition to a larger set and the price is right. I have tried making a few small tools but won't need them any more.
I have used every chisel in the set and they are all useful tools.The small parting tool along makes the set worth getting as someone had suggested in a review here or elsewhere.

Good inexpensive set for the money. I feel that the smaller gouges could use a little harder tempering!

I am pleased with this product, The tools need to be resharpened out of the box before I could use them but all in all a really Good buy.

I am a novice wood turner and I bought these tools for the price. Though I should have expected it, these tools were very cheap quality. I've had to regrind them two to three times on centered pieces. They chip and break easily, and my bowl gouge metal actually bent because it couldn't take the pressure of a centered piece of pine. I was very disappointed and am planning on buying a new set. Note that these tools are smaller than one would assume.

Using High Speed Steel (HSS) means much less tool sharpening. This is especially true with micro-sized tools. At the low online price, these woodturning tools are a great value. Also, when I had one minor issue with the first set I received, ASI replaced it immediately (within 3 days). I am very happy with this purchase, and recommend using ASI and Amazon to others. Thanks.

Sincerely,
David Farquhar

These are decent tools for small ornaments but not big enough for turning pens. The roughing gauge is tiny and it will take you forever to get a Slimline pen down to the right size.

PSI Woodworking LCMINI2 Mini 5-Piece HSS Wood Lathe Chisel Turning Set
Good quality product for the price. More expensive and maybe better chisels are out there, but for the hobbiest, these tools are more than adequate. In a nice wooden box, these chisels feel good in the hand, and make turning enjoyable.