Having some difficulty with some of my spindle gouges. First, what do I have? I have a sorby fingernail spindle gouge with a fingernail grind. This is one made from round stock. I also have a few of what I believe are called Continental spindle gouges, ranging from 3/8" up to 3/4". These are the ones made from flat stock and are more like my roughing gouge.
I'm struggling terrifically with catches using the Continental gouges. They are working fine when the work is flat - parallel to the bed/toolrest, but when I try to cut a hollow or a cove, I'm getting catches.
It does not seem like I get the same catches with the round bar sorby gouge. My guess is that the cutting point with the Continental gouge is not close enough to the fulcrum. Cutting downhill, into a cove and getting catches. The gouge twists as it catches. Is the technique effectively different for these two styles?
Any pointers on how the Continental gouges should be sharpened? How much of a radius at the tip? All of mine have tips which are straighter across than the Sorby. My 3/4" gouge has a radius about nickel sized. My smaller ones are straighter.
I'm struggling terrifically with catches using the Continental gouges. They are working fine when the work is flat - parallel to the bed/toolrest, but when I try to cut a hollow or a cove, I'm getting catches.
It does not seem like I get the same catches with the round bar sorby gouge. My guess is that the cutting point with the Continental gouge is not close enough to the fulcrum. Cutting downhill, into a cove and getting catches. The gouge twists as it catches. Is the technique effectively different for these two styles?
Any pointers on how the Continental gouges should be sharpened? How much of a radius at the tip? All of mine have tips which are straighter across than the Sorby. My 3/4" gouge has a radius about nickel sized. My smaller ones are straighter.
Last edited: