Woodpeckers 20125 .44 Square Insert

Reach for an Ultra-Shear Square Tool anytime you’re shaping an outside curve. That would include the outside of a bowl, the cup of a goblet, or beads in spindle work. It’s also your “go-to” for roughing stock down from square to round. There are three sizes available.  The Full and Mid-Size use the same inserts and the Pen Size uses smaller inserts. If you’re turning bowls and furniture components, the Full-Size is your best choice. The Mid-Size is a great choice if you turn pizza cutters, duck calls, shaving brushes and other palm-sized projects. The Pen Size tools are the right choice for pens, lace bobbins, finials and other fine, delicate work.

Sadly, one of our competitors calls their square insert turning tool a “Rougher” and the name has stuck in the minds of turners everywhere. That name completely ignores the best applications for a square insert tool. Sure, of the basic insert tools the square is the best for roughing stock down to a cylinder, but there’s so much more it does well.

Any time you’re shaping an outside curve, the square tool is your best choice. Two examples of that would be beads in spindle turning and the outside of a traditional bowl form.

The square tool also is a great choice for forming a tenon to go in a chuck. It makes sure the shoulder is square. If you make the tenon just a bit wider than the middle of the insert (full- and mid-size, not pen), it will usually be just the right length to mount in most woodturning chucks.

All three tools come standard with a true square insert. In addition to the true square, we have inserts with a slight radius ground into them.  The radius moves the corner away from your stock, making it a bit easier for some folks to use, particularly when smoothing outside curves. In the larger inserts, we offer true square, 4" radius and 2" radius. In the Pen Size inserts we have the true square and a 2" radius.  

Carbide insert tools have been around for several years, and insert tools in general have been around since at least the mid-1980s. So, what makes Ultra-Shear different from all the rest? The three key differences are: 

• the grade and grind of the inserts
• the design of the tool shaft
• the material and treatment used in making the shaft

It All Starts at the Cutting Edge. Ultra-Shear’s development team started this project by interviewing dozens of carbide manufacturers, seeking out a partner that recognized the unique requirements of woodturning. For advanced performance at the lathe, you need a truly keen edge. That requires a carbide that doesn’t just last, but also is fine-grained enough not to crumble when formed to a really sharp angle. The result of months of testing and trials is a unique nano-grain carbide matrix, polished to a mirror-finish on the cutting surface and precision ground on the bevel. They are the sharpest, longest lasting inserts on the market.

Go Beyond Just Shaping your Project. Carbide insert turning tools are typically used with the tool on the centerline of the lathe, held horizontal to the ground. Ultra-Shear tools use this approach for roughing and shaping cuts, but there’s a clever “twist” to these tools. After initial shaping, roll the tool right or left and you will feel it land on another bearing plane, 45° from horizontal. With the tool at this angle, the wood fibers slice cleanly, leaving a surface that needs little or no sanding.  It’s called “shear-scraping” ... an advanced technique that usually involves skillfully balancing a tool on a round surface or a sharp corner. Ultra-Shear’s patented shaft geometry makes shear scraping a simple approach even beginners can use, instead of something that takes years to master.

High Tech Steel; Higher Tech Manufacturing. A truly sharp cutting-edge needs rock solid support. Ultra-Shear uses the same ChroMoly alloy steel found in NASCAR roll cages and crankshafts. The 5-sided shape of the shaft is machined on state-of-the-art CNC milling centers. After machining, they go through a two-step hardening process creating an ultra-smooth surface-finish which glides easily across your tool rest and resists corrosion.

The full-size tools have an 8" tool length (beyond handle) with a 15-3/4" handle, for a total length of 23-3/4".  The mid-size tools have a 4-1/2" tool length with an 11" handle for a total length of 15-1/2". The pen tools have a 3-1/4" tool length with a 9" handle for a total length of 12-1/4".

Ultra-Shear Woodturning Tools are precisely machined and carefully inspected by Woodpeckers in Strongsville, Ohio, factory, just south of Cleveland.

Additional Info

• Shaping the outside curves of bowls, enhancing the aesthetic and functional quality of the final product.
• Creating the cup portion of goblets, allowing for intricate designs and smooth finishes.
• Forming beads in spindle work, adding decorative elements to various woodturning projects.
• Roughing stock from square to round, preparing the wood for more detailed shaping.
• Turning pizza cutters, providing a custom handle that enhances grip and design.
• Crafting duck calls, allowing for personalized touches and improved acoustics.
• Making shaving brushes, offering a unique, handcrafted option for grooming accessories.
• Designing and turning pens, enabling the creation of elegant, custom writing instruments.
• Creating lace bobbins, contributing to the intricate craft of lacemaking with custom tools.
• Forming finials, adding decorative elements to furniture, curtain rods, and other home décor items.
• Shaping tenons for chuck mounting, ensuring a secure fit and precise alignment in woodturning projects.
• Employing advanced techniques like shear-scraping to achieve a smoother finish, reducing the need for sanding.
• Utilizing in crafting furniture components, enhancing both the functional and aesthetic elements of furniture design.