Parting tools are in fact narrow chisels. In principle, as their name suggests, they are used for separating

the waste material from either end of the finished piece of work. In practice they have a number of other

uses. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes like slim parting tools, standard parting tools, diamond

section parting tools, fluted parting tools, beading & parting tools and bedan parting tools.

Slim parting tool is handy and designed to give the cleanest and finest of cuts with the minimum of waste

wood.

Standard parting tool is used to part the finished project off from the waste material, the parallel sides

make for a rigid tool that handles well.

Diamond section parting tool reduces the risk of binding in the cut. It also reduces the amount of heat

build up caused by friction, thereby lessening the chance of burning the bottom of the parted project.

Fluted parting tool has a milled flute running along the bottom edge, creating two sharp spurs at the

cutting face. These sever the fibers to produce a burnished finish.

Beading & Parting is a versatile tool used for parting off as well as producing beads.

Bedan parting tool is used in the same way as the beading and parting tool the relieved side bevel allows

the tool to plunge cut in bowls and boxes with little risk of binding.

handymantips.org

Parting tools

The parting tool is manufactured in many forms. The tool in its basic operation will part timber into two separate pieces, but it is used predominantly to

make sizing cuts, such as fillets on spindle turning or spigots for chucking methods. However, it can with practice be used to turn beads. The parting

tool has many uses and is an essential part of any turners basic tool kit. As with any tool it will only cut efficiently when it is sharp. The parting tool is

without doubt the easiest tool to sharpen as the edge is short but the bevel is long. The tip of the parting tool should be ground square rather than at a

skewed angle.

The diamond parting tool

The blade is shaped as the name infers and will allow the tool to operate with minimal binding in the cut, as the sides have been removed. Therefore, it

will generate less heat in use.

Tapered/flared parting tools

There are numerous versions available from various manufacturers and they all work in the same manner as standard. The taper reduces binding of

the tool in use.

The fluted parting tool

The tool is fluted along the length, usually tapered top to bottom and is ground at 45 degrees. The tool is presented to the timber flute down and will

score a line either side of the cut, shearing the fibers as it travels into the wood. As a result, it will produce a very clean cut on the base of projects that

will require little clean up after removal from the lathe.

Beading/parting tool & the Bedan

The beading/parting tool is square in section with a bevel ground on two sides (top and bottom) and is extremely stable and versatile in use. It is used

to cut beads and spigots as well as other general parting operations. The bedan, believed to have originated in France, is wedge shaped and has only

one bevel. It can be used bevel up like the French, or bevel down. It can be a little twitchy in use but can be used to produce an excellent finish. The

tapered shape is to reduce binding in the cut.

Thin/narrow parting tools

These vary in size and depth; the deeper the tool the more stable it will be in use. The blade can be 5/64 inches thick and produce a very narrow cut.

This type of tool is ideal if turning boxes where the grain needs to be a close match.

Tool preparation: Fettling a new tool

When purchasing the parting tool it will require a small amount of attention before use. If the tool has sharp corners, it will need to be softened using a

diamond file or similar to take off the sharpness. This will allow the tool to be manipulated more easily, it will be more comfortable in your hand, and will

cause less damage to the top of the tool rest.

Sharpening

When sharpening tools there should be very little pressure applied to the tool against the wheel. Often the weight of the tool alone is enough to sharpen

successfully.

http://www.woodworkersinstitute.com/wood-turning/techniques/beginners-guides/turning-tools/the-parting-tool/

Parting tools

Thin

Crown 1/16" Parting Tool 244AW

$39.95

Crown Tools UK 24047

Firmager 1/16 Inch

Parting/Shaping. The only

parting tool used by Melvin

Firmager, it allows you to

make many thin parting cuts

on green wood that will warp

during drying, giving a flower

effect. $53.95

This 1/16" handy parting tool is

designed to give clean and fine

cuts with the minimum of waste

wood. Its 1 1/4" blade width

eliminates the flexing and

twisting normally associated with

such a thin blade. It has a double

bevel HSS cutting face. The

blade is seated and riveted deep

in the handle.

1/16" Robert Sorby

#830Sh Slim Parting

Tool $27.94

The narrow Robert Sorby® Nick Cook

Parting Tool is used to make narrow

controlled cuts such as the grooves on

honey dippers. The fluted cutting edge

along the top bevel allows the points to

penetrate and shear the wood fibers

before the material is removed,

producing a clean cut with a 1/16" wide

kerf. The 1" tall blade reduces flexing.

Robert Sorby Nick

Cook Parting Tool

$61.95

SORBY #865H MICRO

PARTING TOOL - 1/16“

$32.95SORBY #888/3 MICRO PARTING TOOL - 1/16“

$21.95A smaller HSS parting tool sized for the control required for smaller projects and fine detail work. The 1/16" blade enables parts that are very precise.

PSI High Speed Tenon Tool # LCTEN 1/16" thick. The blade is 1-1/4" wide and 5" long with a 4" wood handle. $20.39

Narex Full Size Professional Lathe

Wood Turning Parting Tool 64 HRC

818203 $39.99

1/4" Robert Sorby #830

Parting Tool $39.99

Rectangular

M42 high speed steel

is the optimal steel for

turning wood. It hones

to a fine, sharp edge

and retains that edge

due to a 10% content

of cobalt, heat-treated

to 68 HRC.

Made in the Czech Republic. This

is a parting gouge chisel with a

blade that is 3/16 inches thick by

5/8 inches wide by 4 ¼ inches

long. Handle is varnished

European Beech and is 9 7/9

inches long. Tool bar is made from

heat treated tool steel and

hardened to HRC 60.

3/8" Sorby #834H

Bedan

$40.90

1/4“ SORBY #871H MICRO BEDAN TOOL-$35.95

CARTER & SON

TOOLWORKS

#PT18-12

PARTING TOOLS -

3/16“ and 1/8“

$149.99 11/16"

blade

1/8" Diamond

Parting Tool

$48.50

Crown Tools 3/16" Diamond Parting Tool

(CWN-246W) M2 High Speed Steel $48.00

Crown Tools UK HSS

1/8" Parting Tool

3/16" Robert Sorby

#831H Diamond Parting

Tool $156.10

Rectangular & Diamond

3/16" Robert Sorby #832H Fluted Parting Tool $72.94

Fluted

1/16" Robert Sorby

#870H Micro Fluted

Parting Tool $35.95

This tool has a flute

running along the

bottom edge, creating

two sharp spurs at the

cutting face. These

spurs sever the wood

fibers to produce a

burnished finish. The

tapered profile also

reduces the risk of the

tool binding in the cut.

Tools have a handle

length of 12" and an

overall length of 18-

1/2".

A very fine parting tool sized for the

delicacy and control required for

smaller projects and fine detail

work. It has a flute running along

the bottom edge that creates 2

sharp spurs at the cutting face. The

spurs sever wood fibers to produce

a burnished finish. The part is

nearly seamless in appearance,

which is especially helpful where

matching of grain is desired. Fluted

Parting Tool has a 6-1/4" ash

handle and is 10" long overall. High

Speed Steel (HSS) blade. England.

The narrow Robert Sorby® Nick Cook

Parting Tool is used to make narrow

controlled cuts such as the grooves on

honey dippers. The fluted cutting edge

along the top bevel allows the points to

penetrate and shear the wood fibers

before the material is removed,

producing a clean cut with a 1/16" wide

kerf. The 1" tall blade reduces flexing.

Robert Sorby Nick

Cook Parting Tool

$61.95

Carbide

Simple Carbide

Parting Tool

$89.99

Easy Wood Carbide

Insert Cutter Parting

Tool PT125

Carbide Insert

US $16.19

Carbide Insert

Removal Tool

Code Width (") Description Handle (")

HCT089 1/16 Parting Tool Fixed

HCT090 1/8 Parting Tool 10

HCT091 1/4 Parting Tool 10

HCT092 3/16 Diamond Parting Tool 10

HCT093 3/16 Fluted Parting Tool 10

HCT094 1/4 Beading & Parting Tool 10

HCT095 3/8 Beading & Parting Tool 10

Hamlet Woodturning Tools

HCT089Diamond Parting

Tool

HCT089 Parting Tool Fixed

rosewood handle

HCT093 Fluted Parting Tool

rosewood handleMade from M2 steel and available with Beech or Ash Handles

as standard and Rosewood Handles at an extra charge

Self-Made / Other

Top tool: Homemade parting tool using a

Dewalt metal-cutting reciprocating saw blade.

Thickness is 1/16 inch. Cost ~ $5.00

RDX P-Shape Cut-Off

Blades

Available in M2 steel or

cobalt.

Bottom tool: Homemade tool using HSS tool steel from

Wholesale Tool. Thick upper edge has a flute running

along the top edge, creating two sharp spurs at the cutting

face. This blade is 3/32” x 1 1/16” x 5”http://www.wttool.com/index/page/category/category_id/15869/

El Halley

Jay Hartley

Left to right: Micro HSS tool from Woodcraft, Sears HSS

tool, Diamond tool, steak knives from Outback.

Bob Molloy

Top to bottom: One-eighth inch tool ground thinner, self-made tool from

reciprocating saw blade, fluted parting tool reground with five cutting edges

1 2

4 5

3

Self-Made / Other

Left to right: Rectangular, chunky long

file, Benjamin’s Best from PSI

Pete Summers

Richard

Roundtree

Left to right: Rectangular tool,

diamond tool, thrift store steak knife

Henry Taylor Assorted