The LCHSS8 set of lathe cutting tools from PSI is a great buy. These tools handle well, and feel balanced and evenly weighted when cutting, which is not always the case with inexpensive tools, which can sometimes be flimsy or overly light. The blades are made with high speed steel, and should be able to take a lot of punishment, though only time will tell on the final workmanship.

PSI LCHSS8 chisel set

This set comes with 8 chisels included, which is nice as similar priced sets often have only 5 or 6 chisels, and the extra variety can come in very handy. These are the pieces in the set:

• 3/16″ Parting tool
• 5/8″ Spear scraper
• 1″ Skew chisel
• 5/8″ Skew chisel
• 5/8″ round nose scraper
• 1/2″ bowl gouge
• 3/4″ spindle gouge
• 7/8″ roughing gouge

The handles are 10 and 3/4 inches long, nicely turned and finished hardwood. The chisel blades all measure around 6 and 1/2 inches, which is very nice, as cheaper tools often have short blades that can be awkward to use.

The set comes in a wood box, with slots for all the chisels, which most people wouldn’t think is a big plus, but it’s actually very helpful, and keeps you from losing track of your tools. Some reviews have noted that their boxes were not well put together, but in any case it’s nicer than getting your tools in a cardboard box or a roll of bubble wrap.

The set includes enough tools, with a fairly wide range of sizes and functions that is should be to tackle a lot of jobs. It should be good for most anything you need to turn from small pens, to bowls and larger spindles.

The only complaint that I’ve seen about these tools is that they might not come as well sharpened out of the box as more expensive sets. I haven’t seen this widely reported so it’s probably just a quality control issue. It’s not a big problem in my mind, since I like to give my tools a once over before I use them in any case, but it’s something to be aware of.

Overall this set provides a nice number and range of tools at a very good price. You might pay 40$ per chisel for premium american made tools, but this set gets you a similar level of quality at a much lower price.

I don’t think there’s much you won’t be able to do with these tools, and I definitely recommend taking a look. They are available on Amazon right now with free shipping. You can see the listing below.

See larger image PSI Woodworking LCHSS8 HSS Wood Lathe Chisel Set, 8-Piece (Tools & Home Improvement)

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I regularly check the listings of wood lathes for sale on Amazon, since they periodically have some great deals. There’s currently a great promotion I thought people would like to know about.

Two very popular models from Jet are at reduced prices. The 1014I and 1014VSI are both on sale, you can see the listings below. The two models are essentially the same lathe but the VSI has added variable speed control.

These are probably the bestselling mini lathes on the market. If you’re looking for a mini lathe, these are both great choices and you’re not going to find a price this low anywhere else.

Jet Lathes on Sale
See larger image JET JML 1014I 10 Inch X 14 Inch Indexing Mini Lathe (Tools & Home Improvement) List price: $521.00 USD New from: $429.99 In Stock The 1014I and 1014 VSI both have 10 inch swing and 14 inches between centers, cast iron bodies  a 1/2 HP motor and a great indexing system.  Included are tool rest, live and spur centers, face plate, tooling knockout, and goggles.
See larger image JET JML 1014VSI 10-Inch-by-14-Inch Variable Speed Indexing Mini Lathe (Tools & Home Improvement) List price: $642.00 USD New from: $529.99 In Stock The  1014VSI is an upgrade on the original model and features variable speed control.
Click here for more lathes for sale

If you’re wondering why the price isn’t listed it’s actually because the price is lower than the manufacturers minimum advertised price, and they don’t allow it to be displayed. Click the details button for prices.

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Taking good care of your wood lathe tools makes a big difference in how easy it is to produce quality results. Clean, sharp well maintained tools will make your work much easier and your projects will turn out better. Here’s a few tips on where to get started caring for your tools.

1. Always keep your tools sharp. This will extend their lifetime and give the best results when carving. Dull tools can catch and snap your spindle, so make sure they are always sharp and check for nicks and chips too. This is something a lot of beginners ignore or are simply afraid to do. Check out this page on sharpening tools.
2. Keep you tools organized. A place for everything and everything in it’s place. This will prevent you from having to search around for your tools in the middle of a project, and encourage you to use the right tool instead of the tool you can find! I prefer to keep my tools in a nice wood box, or just hang them on the wall.
3. Store you tools in a cool dry place. If you leave your tools in a moist or humid environment they can rust which will have negative effects on their strength and integrity. Never use rusty tools, they’ll make bad cuts and it can be dangerous if a chisel breaks while turning.
4. Keep your tools clean. Clean them after every use, and your tools will always be ready next time you need them. This includes the handles of your tools, don’t forget to wipe them down after use, especially if your hands sweat a lot like mine!
5. Keep your tools in oiled sawdust if you’re not using them for an extended period. This will keep your tools sharp and prevent rusting. You’ll have to clean your tools before use, so don’t bother with this if you use your tools regularly.

I hope you find these tips helpful, you can find more info and reviews on our wood lathe tools page. If you have tips of your own please add a comment, I’d love to hear them.

Happy Turning!

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