The Story of Carter & Son Toolworks

Step into our Seattle factory and you’ll stumble across coffee stained drawings, carts of tools moving through inspection, and a white board featuring the “joke of the day.” If it’s a Thursday morning, you’ll find us gathered around the big hydraulic table for a team meeting - coffee-in-hand - and brainstorming a new product or reviewing a particular operation.

The Carter family has been manufacturing for over 40 years. American manufacturing, and the workmanship, precision and pride that comes with it, is not just a job. It's our passion.

Freshly polished and sharpened bowl gouges.

Paul Carter became involved in woodturning 10 years ago. He loves the art, but was very unsatisfied with the quality of tools on the market. He set out to design tools that didn't just work, but that excelled at the lathe. David Carter contributed his lifetime of metallurgical experience to the project, and M42 high speed steel was selected. Paul wouldn't settle for anything less than a strong round tang, hand-polished flutes, and balanced aluminum handles.

Paul's set of tools quickly became the talk of the town, so we built more. And more. And more. And here we are today - Carter and Son tools are available in woodworking stores throughout North America, Europe and Asia, and through our website worldwide.

While the company has grown, our mission remains the same. Serving you with tools that are designed and built for superior performance at your lathe. Give us a call anytime, and happy turning from our lathe to yours!

Keep reading to discover a few of the manufacturing and design details that set Carter & Son tools apart.

Step into our Seattle factory and you’ll stumble across coffee stained drawings, carts of tools moving through inspection, and a white board featuring the “joke of the day.” If it’s a Thursday morning, you’ll find us gathered around the big hydraulic table for a team meeting - coffee-in-hand - and brainstorming a new product or reviewing a particular operation.

The Carter family has been manufacturing for over 40 years. American manufacturing, and the workmanship, precision and pride that comes with it, is not just a job. It's our passion.

Paul Carter became involved in woodturning 10 years ago. He loves the art, but was very unsatisfied with the quality of tools on the market. He set out to design tools that didn't just work, but that excelled at the lathe. David Carter contributed his lifetime of metallurgical experience to the project, and M42 high speed steel was selected. Paul wouldn't settle for anything less than a strong round tang, hand-polished flutes, and balanced aluminum handles.

Paul's set of tools quickly became the talk of the town, so we built more. And more. And more. And here we are today - Carter and Son tools are available in woodworking stores throughout North America, Europe and Asia, and through our website worldwide.

While the company has grown, our mission remains the same. Serving you with tools that are designed and built for superior performance at your lathe. Give us a call anytime, and happy turning from our lathe to yours!

Keep reading to discover a few of the manufacturing and design details that set Carter & Son tools apart.

Step into our Seattle factory and you’ll stumble across coffee stained drawings, carts of tools moving through inspection, and a white board featuring the “joke of the day.” If it’s a Thursday morning, you’ll find us gathered around the big hydraulic table for a team meeting - coffee-in-hand - and brainstorming a new product or reviewing a particular operation.

The Carter family has been manufacturing for over 40 years. American manufacturing, and the workmanship, precision and pride that comes with it, is not just a job. It's our passion.

Paul Carter became involved in woodturning 10 years ago. He loves the art, but was very unsatisfied with the quality of tools on the market. He set out to design tools that didn't just work, but that excelled at the lathe. David Carter contributed his lifetime of metallurgical experience to the project, and M42 high speed steel was selected. Paul wouldn't settle for anything less than a strong round tang, hand-polished flutes, and balanced aluminum handles.

Paul's set of tools quickly became the talk of the town, so we built more. And more. And more. And here we are today - Carter and Son tools are available in woodworking stores throughout North America, Europe and Asia, and through our website worldwide.

While the company has grown, our mission remains the same. Serving you with tools that are designed and built for superior performance at your lathe. Give the factory a call anytime, and happy turning from our lathe to yours!

Keep reading to discover a few of the manufacturing and design details that set Carter & Son tools apart.

M42 HIGH SPEED STEEL

We've been using M42 high speed steel in our factory for about 40 years now and have seen it's amazing properties first hand. It’s no wonder M42 is favored across industries. A distinct cobalt additive bumps it’s red hardness off the charts, for impressive wear resistance. On top of that, it hones to a finer, sharper edge. Less time at the grinder - cleaner cuts at the lathe.

M42 HIGH SPEED STEEL

We've been using M42 high speed steel in our factory for about 40 years now and have seen it's amazing properties first hand. It’s no wonder M42 is favored across industries. A distinct cobalt additive bumps it’s red hardness off the charts, for impressive wear resistance. On top of that, it hones to a finer, sharper edge. Less time at the grinder - cleaner cuts at the lathe.

HANDLES & ADAPTERS

Rest assured our aluminum handles feel as great as they look. Perfectly weighted for balance and maneuverability, and designed to fit your hand. You’ll forget the handle is even there, in the best way possible. Two set screws secure your tool into the handle and allow removal for sharpening.

HANDLES & ADAPTERS

Rest assured our aluminum handles feel as great as they look. Perfectly weighted for balance and maneuverability, and designed to fit your hand. You’ll forget the handle is even there, in the best way possible. Two set screws secure your tool into the handle and allow removal for sharpening.

MANUFACTURING EXPERTISE

Rigorous and detailed  sums up our manufacturing. Each tool’s vibration-demolishing round tang has a diameter so precise you’ll hear a ‘pop’ when you pull it out of the handle. Gouge flutes are meticulously polished for the sharpest edge. And every tool is backed by a 100% lifetime guarantee.

MANUFACTURING EXPERTISE

Rigorous and detailed  sums up our manufacturing. Each tool’s vibration-demolishing round tang has a diameter so precise you’ll hear a ‘pop’ when you pull it out of the handle. Gouge flutes are meticulously polished for the sharpest edge. And every tool is backed by a 100% lifetime guarantee.

Quality wood lathe turning tools by Carter and Son Toolworks

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Quality wood lathe turning tools by Carter and Son Toolworks

Wood Chips in Your Inbox

The best of woodturning tips, inspiration, and tool sales.

Value is required
Wood chips are on the way!