Graphite Cutting Bits for Rocket Nozzles

Angled bits are great for roughing out converging and diverging sections of graphite nozzles. These bits saved me a lot of time on the manual lathe by turning an angled boring operation into a quick plunge cut.

Small ones are easily fashioned from spade bits and large ones are simple to make from flat steel welded to shanks. These blades can be made with lax precision as the final cuts into nozzles are best made with a boring bar on the lathe.

After the throat diameter is bored out, the "spade" bit is simply plunged until the desired depth. These bits are used for roughing however may be turned into final cut tools too by using harder steel and a single cutting face.