Turning tools that hold tolerance, shift after shift.
External holders, boring bars, brazed tools, threading and parting blades. DNMG, CNMG, TNMG, CCMT, and DCMT inserts in carbide and cermet grades. Stocked in Dubai for next-day dispatch.
External & internal turning tools for production lathes
San Tools stocks a comprehensive selection of turning tools for CNC and manual lathes used in manufacturing, toolrooms, and general engineering workshops across the UAE. Our range covers external turning tool holders, boring bars, threading tools, parting blades, and indexable inserts in carbide and cermet grades to suit steel, stainless, cast iron, aluminium, and hardened workpieces.
Whether you are turning OD profiles, boring deep IDs, parting off, or single-point threading, we carry the right insert geometry, grade, and coating to match your application. Holders are available in metric shank sizes from 16mm to 32mm to fit standard lathe turrets and tool posts.
Featured turning tools
A cross-section of what we stock - holders, inserts, brazed tools and lathe accessories. Use the filter and sort below the grid to browse the full range.
Bent Brazed Turning Tool ISO2 P40
Brazed Turning Tool ISO6R P40
Brazed Turning Tool ISO13 P40
Brazed Turning Tool ISO12 P40
Brazed Turning Tool ISO9 P30
Parting Brazed Turning Tool ISO7
Sandvik CNMG 120408 GC4325
Tungsten Carbide Brazed Tips
Drill Chuck Arbor
Drill Sleeve
Plain Dead Centre
Revolving Centre Standard
Amana-M V-Groove 90 deg (6mm Shank)
Amana V-Groove 108 deg (1/4 in Shank)
Turning operations decoder
Eight turning operations every lathe operator works with - what they do, what tools they need, and where they fit on the part.
Match the operation to the right tool
Hover the cells: the tool family that suits each operation is highlighted underneath.
Removes material from the outside diameter of a workpiece. Uses an external holder with a CNMG, DNMG, or TNMG insert.
Enlarges or finishes an internal diameter. Boring bar with a CCMT, DCMT, or TCMT insert; bar diameter sized to bore depth.
Squares the end of a workpiece. Same external holders as OD turning, fed radially toward the spindle centreline.
Cuts contoured surfaces (radii, tapers, steps). Uses small-nose-radius inserts (DNMG/VNMG) for tight feature access.
Cuts radial slots, recesses or O-ring grooves. Dedicated grooving holder with width-specific MGMN/N123 inserts.
Separates the finished part from the bar. Parting blade with a narrow MGMN insert, fed radially through the workpiece.
Cuts internal or external threads. Threading holder with full-form 16ER/IR or 11ER/IR inserts (metric, UN, NPT).
Breaks edges and lays down the final surface. Wiper-edge or finishing inserts (-WF, -PF) on the same OD holder.
Selector guide: pick the right insert for your material
A starting point for ISO P/M/K/N/S/H workpiece groups. Final speed and feed depend on machine rigidity, depth of cut, and surface-finish target.
| Workpiece (ISO) | Insert family | Recommended grade | Coating | Vc (m/min) typical | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon steel (P) | CNMG / DNMG | P15-P25 | CVD TiCN/Al2O3 | 180-280 | Universal first choice for production turning |
| Alloy steel (P) | CNMG / TNMG | P25-P35 | CVD TiCN/Al2O3 | 140-220 | Tougher grade for interrupted cuts |
| Stainless steel (M) | CNMG / DNMG -MM | M15-M25 | PVD TiAlN | 120-200 | Sharp edges + high coolant volume to avoid BUE |
| Cast iron (K) | CNMG / SNMG | K10-K20 | CVD Al2O3 | 180-300 | Dry cutting; fine finish at higher Vc |
| Aluminium (N) | CCGT / DCGT polished | Uncoated H10 | None / DLC | 500-1500 | Polished rake, sharp edge, high Vc |
| Heat-resistant alloys (S) | CNMG / RCMT round | S15-S25 | PVD TiAlN | 30-80 | Low Vc, generous lead, flood coolant |
| Hardened steel (H) | CBN tipped | BN200 / CBN H10 | Optional PVD | 80-180 | Hard turning 50-65 HRC, dry preferred |
| Brass / copper alloys (N) | CCGT / DCGT | Uncoated K10 | Optional | 200-500 | Sharp ground inserts, mirror finish capable |
| Tool steel (annealed P) | CNMG / TNMG | P25-P35 | CVD TiCN/Al2O3 | 120-180 | Reduce Vc once heat-treated above 45 HRC |
| Free-machining steels (P) | DNMG / TNMG -PF | P10-P20 | CVD or PVD | 240-360 | Wiper edges raise feed without losing finish |
Why San Tools for turning tooling
Direct relationships with Pafana, Sandvik, Korloy, and other tier-one cutting tool manufacturers - genuine product, full warranty.
Holders, inserts, and brazed tools held in stock locally. Orders placed before 2 PM Dubai time ship the same business day.
Talk to engineers - not order takers. Get insert geometry, grade, and cutting-parameter recommendations matched to your part.
Set up scheduled deliveries, kanban replenishment, and tiered volume pricing for production-line tool consumption.
Need help spec-ing the right turning tool?
Send us your part drawing or operation list and we'll come back with insert geometry, grade, holder, and cutting-parameter recommendations - usually within 24 hours.
Turning tools FAQ
Practical answers to the questions we hear most often from CNC programmers, machinists, and procurement teams.
What's the difference between OD turning and ID boring?
OD turning removes material from the outside diameter of a workpiece using an external turning holder mounted in the lathe turret or tool post. ID boring enlarges or finishes an internal diameter using a boring bar - a long cylindrical shank that reaches into the bore.
How do I select the right insert geometry for my operation?
Start with the ISO 1832 shape code. C (80 deg rhombic) and D (55 deg rhombic) cover most general OD turning. T (60 deg triangle) is stronger and gives three cutting edges. V (35 deg rhombic) is for fine profiling and small radii.
Which carbide grade should I use for steel vs stainless?
For steel (ISO P), use a CVD-coated grade like P15-P25 with TiCN/Al2O3 layers. For stainless (ISO M), use a PVD-coated TiAlN grade in M15-M25 with a sharper edge geometry. Run stainless 30-40% slower than equivalent carbon steel.
When should I choose brazed turning tools instead of indexable?
Brazed tools are cost-effective for low-volume work, manual lathes, and one-off jobs. Indexable inserts win once you're running production volumes.
What shank size do I need for my lathe turret?
Common metric square shanks are 16mm, 20mm, 25mm, and 32mm. Bigger shank means more rigidity but it has to fit your machine.
What does the ISO 5608 holder code mean?
ISO 5608 is the standard nine-character code for an external turning holder, e.g. MCLNR2525M12. Reading left to right: M is the clamping system, C is the insert shape, L is the holder style, N is clearance angle, R is right-hand cutting, 2525 is the shank, M is the holder length, and 12 is the insert IC size.
What does the ISO 1832 insert designation mean?
ISO 1832 is the seven-position insert code, e.g. CNMG 120408. C is the shape, N is the clearance angle, M is the tolerance class, G is the type. 12 is the IC size, 04 is the thickness, and 08 is the corner radius.
How do I troubleshoot poor surface finish?
Check insert nose radius, drop feed 30-50%, check flank wear, verify tool height on centreline, reduce overhang for rigidity, and try a wiper-edge insert.
What's a good cutting speed for stainless steel turning?
For 304/316 with PVD TiAlN insert in M15-M25, start at 120-150 m/min Vc, feed 0.15-0.25 mm/rev, DOC 1-2.5mm, with through-tool coolant.
When do I use a finishing insert vs a roughing insert?
Use roughing geometry when removing more than 1.5mm DOC. Switch to finishing geometry on the last 0.2-0.5mm pass for Ra 0.8 to 1.6 micrometres.
Can I use the same holder for OD turning and threading?
Generally no. OD turning holders use CNMG/DNMG/TNMG inserts. Threading uses dedicated holders with full-form 16ER/IR or 11ER/IR inserts in a different pocket geometry.
How do I extend tool life on long turning jobs?
Drop Vc 10% for 30-50% more life, use high-pressure coolant, keep feed in the cutting range, match coating to material, shorten overhang, and match insert grade to continuous vs interrupted cuts.
