Tools

[Tom Gibbons]

What is a good set of traditional tools for finial work
Or it I buy separately what are some need tools for finial work
Thanks

 

[Dave Landers]

When making finials, I do just about everything with a 3/8" spindle gouge. And a narrow parting tool.
I might use my 3/4" or 1" spindle roughing gouge or my 1/2" bowl gouge (bar size) to initially round square stock, but I can do that with the spindle gouge too.

Edit - oops, didn't notice this was in the ornamental group - we might be talking about different things. Sorry.

 

[Tom Gibbons]

Finial is close enough to ornaments

 

[Dave Landers]

I just don't know if turning finials on a rose engine or ornamental lathe is any different than on a "normal" lathe. Hence my edit/coment

 

[Tom Gibbons]

When making finials, I do just about everything with a 3/8" spindle gouge. And a narrow parting tool.
I might use my 3/4" or 1" spindle roughing gouge or my 1/2" bowl gouge (bar size) to initially round square stock, but I can do that with the spindle gouge too.

Edit - oops, didn't notice this was in the ornamental group - we might be talking about different things. Sorry.

Is it a regular 3/8 bowl gouge or one without a flute

 

[Dave Landers]

Is it a regular 3/8 bowl gouge or one without a flute

I use a swept-back grind, but the grind really isn't key for roughing. I have never tried a fluteless gouge.

(And to be clear, I'm talking about turning on a traditional "normal" lathe, not an ornamental lathe)

 

[Frank Voyak]

I just don't know if turning finials on a rose engine or ornamental lathe is any different than on a "normal" lathe. Hence my edit/coment

I have never heard of rose lathe what is the difference between it a regular lathe?

 

[Jim Reynolds]

I have never heard of rose lathe what is the difference between it a regular lathe?

Frank, I suggest you begin your education about rose engine lathes with the Ornamental Turning Book of Knowledge. There is a specific topic on rose engine lathes and a wealth of other information. Good luck.

 

[RichColvin]

As noted, this is not about Ornamental Turning, so I’ve moved it to the Woodturning Discussion Forum. The discussion is good, but not in the right area..

 

[Kirk Amidon]

For finials, I typical use a skew, detail gouge, and 3/8" spindle gouge. It varies depending on the finial. At my club, one member demonstrated wonderful finials using a 5/8 bowl gouge and detail gouge.

Not sure there is a set out there, nor is this a one size fits all.

 

[robo hippy]

I have done a few finials. My go to tools are a smaller detail spindle gouge, and a convex grind skew, 3/4 inch wide or so. The convex grind is great for long shallow lines. The detail gouges are better for me on the beads and coves. You need a very light touch. "The bevel should rub the wood, but the wood shouldn't know it!"

robo hippy

 

[Dean Center]

Tom, you may be thinking of a 'vortex' tool, which Cindy Drozda uses for fine detail work. It's basically a bar of tool steel with a flat on the nose and the other side ground to 20 or 25 degrees, if I recall correctly. The vortex is nice for specific functions, but you can do a great deal with a 3/8" spindle gouge, as Dave suggests. A 3/8" detail spindle gouge has a shallower flute than a standard spindle gouge and is just a wee bit better for really acute grinds, of 30 degrees or less, and getting into skinny places or making very fine detail. The vortex tool would be the ultimate step in that progression to strong and pointy.

 

[rkriet]

In addition to the “vortex” tool, Cindy also sells a “finial gouge.” I have one, and it works great.

http://www.cindydrozda.com/html/Tool_Info.html

 

[Rusty Nesmith]

I was watching a Cindy Drozda video where she said she grinds her spindle gouge at 15 degrees.

 

[Dean Center]

http://www.cindydrozda.com/handouts_Pdfs/handouts/sharpening/VortexSharpening.pdf

 

[Doug Freeman]

I use a 3/8 spindle gouge and a diy version of the vortex tool to clean up the fuzzies in the bottom of a tight cut, if needed. Roughing of the square blank can be done with the 3/8 sg, but a heavier tool works better, a srg or bigger long wing bg works well

 

[Tom Gibbons]

Thanks everyone
Sounds like the vote is 3/8 detail spindle gouge

 

[Doug Freeman]

Pay attention when buying a detail sg. Many sellers call a std 3/8 sg a detail sg..

FYI I havent found the need for a detail sg for small work. The tool rest can get close enough that vibration is not an issue. The reason for a detail sg is to cut with more rest overhang.

 

[hockenbery]

What is a good set of traditional tools for finial work
Or it I buy separately what are some need tools for finial work
Thanks

What I use for finials are: 3/8 spindle gouge - coves
1/2” skew
1/4 skew (round bar)

Thanks everyone
Sounds like the vote is 3/8 detail spindle gouge

Not my choice for finials - the extra metal on the detail gouge makes the bevel too long.

Demo ornament all turning with a 3/8 spindle gouge. No sanding


Other spindle examples

 

[Frank Voyak]

I have Sindy Drozdas video several times and ground mw 3/8 spindle gouge several times to different degrees to what works best for me 15 to a lot less.

 

[Michael Brown]

Speaking of Cindy Drozda, I always believed that her vortex tool waas born from a spindle gouge that was sharpened past the flute and she didn't want to throw it away. That's what I would do... Well, will do next gouge I wear out.

 

[robo hippy]

Allen Batty had a detail tool, which I believe Cindy used as her inspiration. His was half round bar stock, and ground to a point, and a very shallow nose angle, like 20 or so degrees. The Sorby 'spindle master' tools were supposed to be an imitation of Allen's tool. Allen said, "They got it all wrong!". The Skewchigouge was another attempt to mimic the tool. I think Stewart has a version of the tool as well.

robo hippy

 

[Lou Currier]

The biggest thing I learned was to get rid of the tailstock. Work in small segments from the tip and make cuts towards the headstock. At each segment, do your sanding before moving to the next and violate the rule and use a finger behind the finial for support especially as it gets thinner. Learning this method has really elevated my game on finials. I use nothing but a detail gouge unless I need to hog out a little wood...BUT cuts are always toward the headstock. I do have a small skew I made for some fine detail work as well.

 

[Tom Gibbons]

What I use for finials are: 3/8 spindle gouge - coves
1/2” skew
1/4 skew (round bar)


Not my choice for finials - the extra metal on the detail gouge makes the bevel too long.

Demo ornament all turning with a 3/8 spindle gouge. No sanding
View attachment 60623

Other spindle examples
View attachment 60625View attachment 60624View attachment 60626

Very cool thanks

 

[Tom Gibbons]

The biggest thing I learned was to get rid of the tailstock. Work in small segments from the tip and make cuts towards the headstock. At each segment, do your sanding before moving to the next and violate the rule and use a finger behind the finial for support especially as it gets thinner. Learning this method has really elevated my game on finials. I use nothing but a detail gouge unless I need to hog out a little wood...BUT cuts are always toward the headstock. I do have a small skew I made for some fine detail work as well.

Thanks for the help

 

[Frank Voyak]

I'll have to try not using my hand to back up when it gets extra thin

 

[Sam Fleisher]

Speaking of Cindy Drozda, I always believed that her vortex tool was born from a spindle gouge that was sharpened past the flute and she didn't want to throw it away. That's what I would do... Well, will do next gouge I wear out.

That's a good idea. I wonder if I could get any use out of a 1/2 inch vortex tool. All I have laying around other than a 5/8.

 

[Michael Brown]

I plan on using my 1/2" spindle gouge for exactly that... 5/8 seems too much steel because the bevel would force the tool to hang out in front of the rest

 

[Adrian Wilson]

Allen Batty had a detail tool, which I believe Cindy used as her inspiration. His was half round bar stock, and ground to a point, and a very shallow nose angle, like 20 or so degrees. The Sorby 'spindle master' tools were supposed to be an imitation of Allen's tool. Allen said, "They got it all wrong!". The Skewchigouge was another attempt to mimic the tool. I think Stewart has a version of the tool as well.

robo hippy

Stuart does have a Vortex tool, I think he says Cindy got the idea from him. I made a 1/4" Vortex to Cindy's spec, and like it a lot.