All Replies on Help choosing tool to turn V-groove

I’d probably use a carbide tip diamond shaped cutter.

The D-Way “tear drop” tool is also something to consider:

http://d-waytools.com/beading-tools/diamond-tool-aka-tear-drop-tool-shaft-size-390/

It will also probably create cleaner grooves than a carbide tool due to the cutting angle, especially in wood as inherently chippy as plywood.

V-belt grooves are actually trapezoids. Skew, parting tool, diamond carbide, small spindle gouge, all will do it. Parting tool is probably easiest for a beginner. Be careful with diamond carbides, if you catch those back points it can be nasty, enough to ruin your workpiece.

-- Rick M, http://thewoodknack.blogspot.com/

Rick is right, you can use just about anything. If you want easier repeatability, find a nice old large screwdriver and grind the profile needed. Basically just a flat, sharpened tip and sides at 40 degrees. Put a mark on it at the depth you want to use. 5/16” would be the absolute minimum.

Cheers,
Brad

PS: If you don’t already have a lot of old unused screwdrivers laying around, you can pick them up for pennies at almost any garage sale. They are great for making odd-ball profiles that aren’t really suitable to more standard grinds, or even for more standard ones to supplement you existing tools.

-- Brad in FL - In Dog I trust... everything else is questionable

It is probably too late (I just joined yesterday), but I have made pulleys from plywood on my table saw. I used to pieces of plywood, made circles of the desired diameter, then cut a bevel on the tablesaw. You can set the blade to the desired angle, then just glue the two pieces together. You may want to mount on lathe afterwords to clean up a little. Just sayin’.
Joe in Modesto

-- Joe in Modesto

Plywood pulleys work just fine, but there is a problem with that if the pulleys are smaller, unless you reinforce the plywood so that it can’t split, screws and metal plate/washer to keep it together is needed.

And yes use whatever tool that can make the slanted groove, not critical.

This is what happened with this step pulley someone made.

-- Have fun and take care