I have a set of three HSS Sherline bits- left, right and boring.
Recently I also found a set of brased carbide bits at Harbour Freight.
95% of all the turning I do now is with one of these or the boring tool from the Sherline set- and probably 70% is with a standard left hand bit. I also have a bench grinder and a handfull of HSS blanks to make my own cutting tools, but I almost never bother to. If I need a strangely shaped cut, I find I can often do it as easily with files instead.
What shapes are you trying to make?