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JSWAY | Leading CNC Lathe Manufacturer Since 2007

Woodturning Tools - Five Reasons To Make Your Own

Most woodturners start out with a basic lathe and a beginner's set of woodturning tools. Soon the vast array of tools in the catalogues begin to look enticing and the idea of acquiring a greater variety grows on most turners. Even with the depth of choice available in the woodworking catalogues there are still reasons to make your own.

First there is the chance to tailor a tool to the turner's hands. Woodturning tools are made to fit most which is another way saying they fit a few people and the rest adjust accordingly. While this really works quite well, the way in which tools are made to fit an individual is generally by making the handle in such a way that it rests comfortably in one's hand. Woodturners have all that is necessary to make a handle. In fact for many turners the first foray into tool making is to buy the tools unhandled and then turn the handles to a custom fit.

Second is the realization that these are not difficult tools to make. It surprises most turners to realize that all woodturning tools are comprised of that handle, a shaft and a cutting or scraping edge. This is true whether the tool is a gouge, parting tool, skew or scraper as well as all members of the variety of hollowing and other specialty tools on the market. Steel is cheap and available at this point in history. Many tools can be made from cast off high speed steel planer blades and the like. Shafts are easily make from cold rolled steel. The basic skills required are drilling holes, grinding, cutting and tapping holes for set screws. All these skills are common to the home shop.

Third is the savings in time between making the tool and buying it. This may sound strange, but to buy a tool requires either purchasing it online and waiting for it to come which may be weeks or going to the store which for most will require at least an hour's travel time and the rather enjoyable time spent browsing before buying. Many tools can be made in a fraction of the time and that is time spent in the shop, not in the car.

Fourth is the cost savings. For example a hollowing tool may easily cost seventy five to one hundred dollars. A piece of five eighths cold rolled steel will likely cost a couple of dollars. The cutting tip called a tool bit used by the metal turning trade about two dollars, will be held in place with a couple of fifty cent set screws and the handle will be made from scrap wood. The total cost should be around five dollars.

Fifth is simply the fun and satisfaction of not only making the tools but also using them to turn the next project. There is pleasure in using a pen, spatula or bowl that is made by your hands and that is compounded by making them with tools made yourself.

Woodturning is undertaken usually for the joy of the art and craft. Tool making can be an extension of the process and a pleasure in its own right.

If you have a multi axis cnc machine business, be sure to choose a from Zhongshan JSTOMI CNC Machine Tool Co., Ltd. . After all, you need quality equipment in order to provide your customers with quality service.

We want to continue to organize JSWAY to make it more efficient and profitable so that both, our clients and our employees can get more out of their time.

Zhongshan JSTOMI CNC Machine Tool Co., Ltd. will give you a suitable price for purchasing cnc service.

JSWAY provides a number of mill axis designed to handle multi axis cnc machine.

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Slideways are the “track” between the guide rail and the moving parts. They convert the rotary (or linear) thrust of the servo motor into precise linear motion of the machine table, spindle box or turret, while withstanding cutting reaction forces, shocks and vibrations. Once the slideway fails, the positioning accuracy and surface quality of the whole machine will drop directly.
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Steel balls are in point contact with the raceway, low friction and fast response, suitable for high-speed and light-load Swiss-type lathes or vertical machining centers.


Linear roller slideway
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Dovetail slideway
Triangular interlocking surface, extremely strong lateral force resistance, often used in grinders or ultra-precision machining units that require micro-feed.


Hydrostatic/hydraulic slideway
Oil film supports moving parts, almost zero wear, used for mirror grinding or heavy-duty boring machines, but demanding on the oil supply system.
Peace Through Development, Excellence Through Quality — JSWAY CNC COMPANY



On September 3, 2025, China solemnly commemorated the victory in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. Behind the pageantry that displayed national strength and a commitment to peace, countless Chinese manufacturers are injecting their craftsmanship and cooperative spirit into the global economy. JSWAY CNC COMPANY is one of them, answering the call for peace and development in its own way.
For two decades JSWAY has focused on high-configuration, high-precision, high-speed CNC lathes and Swiss-type lathes. Products now reach more than thirty countries and regions, illustrating the principle of “peace through development, excellence through quality.”
True high-end manufacturing is not only technological breakthrough but also stability of quality. JSWAY’s plant houses about forty thousand square metres of floor space, producing Swiss-type lathes, turn-mill centres, gang-tool lathes and turret lathes. Critical components are machined on horizontal machining centres, gantry-type five-face machining centres and precision grinders, ensuring consistent accuracy.
An engineering data centre and joint laboratory use laser interferometers, eddy-current displacement testers, wireless rotary axis calibrators, high-precision digital temperature sensors and real-time machine-error compensation systems to upgrade products continuously.
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