Right Hand HSS Tool

Lathe tools—often referred to as tool bits—are the primary cutting tools used for turning and facing operations on a lathe. The most common type is made from high-speed steel (HSS), which is suitable for machining a wide range of materials, including wood, plastic, aluminum, brass, and steel. HSS tool blanks are relatively inexpensive and can maintain their hardness at temperatures up to 1000°F (588°C), making proper control of depth of cut, cutting speed, and feed rate essential.

A major advantage of HSS tools is how easily they can be sharpened. They can be shaped and resharpened using a standard aluminum oxide grinding wheel and, once sharpened, will hold their edge for a long time.

NOTE: A lathe tool is named for the direction the chip exits the tool. A right-hand tool has its cutting edge on the left, causing the chip to peel off to the right.