• Beware of Counterfeit Woodturning Tools (click here for details)
  • Johnathan Silwones is starting a new AAW chapter, Southern Alleghenies Woodturners, in Johnstown, PA. (click here for details)
  • Congratulations to Paul May for "Checkerboard (ver 3.0)" being selected as Turning of the Week for March 25, 2024 (click here for details)
  • Welcome new registering member. Your username must be your real First and Last name (for example: John Doe). "Screen names" and "handles" are not allowed and your registration will be deleted if you don't use your real name. Also, do not use all caps nor all lower case.

First set of gouges, recommendation?

Joined
Jul 5, 2016
Messages
469
Likes
244
Location
San Antonio, TX
hello all,

I'm thinking of gradually switching from carbides to HHS gouges to start learning how to use them and grind them. I'm thinking of starting out with a roughing and bowl gouge and move from there. Which brand would you recommend while I learn? start with decent one then switching to Robert Sorby once I become good at it? I'm open for suggestions.
 
Joined
Feb 6, 2010
Messages
2,959
Likes
1,905
Location
Brandon, MS
hello all,

I'm thinking of gradually switching from carbides to HHS gouges to start learning how to use them and grind them. I'm thinking of starting out with a roughing and bowl gouge and move from there. Which brand would you recommend while I learn? start with decent one then switching to Robert Sorby once I become good at it? I'm open for suggestions.
The mistake a lot of new turners make is buying a lot of cheaper tools and getting bad results. Start with a bowl gouge ...probably 3/8 would be good. Forget Sorby and get Thompson , they stay sharper for longer and you will turn better because of it. Unless you are doing a lot of spindle turning stay away from Spindle Roughing Gouge for now and put that into another tool , perhaps a skew.
 

hockenbery

Forum MVP
Beta Tester
TOTW Team
Joined
Apr 27, 2004
Messages
8,590
Likes
4,885
Location
Lakeland, Florida
Website
www.hockenberywoodturning.com
A good quality 3-5 day class with a good bowl turner will advance your skills in a hurry.

The Thompson tools are great. I have 3 I use often.
My favorite is the Lyle Jamieson gouge made by tompson it takes the Ellswort grind really well.

I suggest the Ellsowrth grind for bowls. The grind you use will determine which gouges are better for you.

My suggestion on gouges is to start with two.
A 3/8" diameter spindle gouge ( a 3/8 detail would do)
And a 1/2" Henry Taylor super flute artisen bowl gouge from craft supplies. This tool takes the Ellsworth grind well. This tool is about $85 Handled. When you wear it out buy and unhandled Jamieson for a $100 and pop it into the Taylor handle.

With these two tools are all you need to turn bowls and you can tturn any outside shape with them.
The 1/2" Gouge with an Ellsworth grind does a pretty good job roughing spindles somyoundon't really need a spindle roughing gouge unless you plan to to turn a lot of spindles..

I think the Taylor super flute has a wide rounded nose and wide sweet spot with the Ellsworth grind.
 
Last edited:
Joined
Aug 14, 2007
Messages
5,435
Likes
2,792
Location
Eugene, OR
The best gouges for the money are D Way and Thompson. Best metal, and you buy direct from the guys who make them. It has been a long time since I used M2 high speed steel. D Way are M42, and Thompson is V10 which is actually a particle metal. Most will want a 1/2 inch gouge, which is a bit small for my taste, but good average for most lathes. On a mini lathe, it can be a bit more than the lathe can handle if you push hard. Every one prefers a different nose profile, and most have a BOB (bottom of bowl) gouge with a more blunt nose angle, in the 60 to 70 degree range, and other bowl gouges go from 40 to 60 degrees. I prefer a 45/45, 45 degree bevel, and 45 degrees of sweep, and don't care for the swept back grinds, but that is me....

robo hippy
 
Joined
Apr 1, 2015
Messages
603
Likes
443
Location
Sitka, Alaska, United States
Website
www.zachlaperriere.com
Great advice so far. I'll echo going for DWay or Thompson steel. I started with cheaper HSS, then moved to the high buck English steel, and finally to Thompson.

To add one thing, consider getting a sharpening system, such as the wolverine base and the Ellsworth jig for sharpening the gouge—which I think is the easiest to both sharpen and use.

Good luck.
 

odie

TOTW Team
Joined
Dec 22, 2006
Messages
7,072
Likes
9,470
Location
Panning for Montana gold, with Betsy, the mule!
When first learning, it's not a bad idea to get a less expensive tools, like the Artisian brand from CSUSA, and the Packard name brand from Packard. The reason I say this, is you'll be experimenting with a variety of grinds and nose shapes, and you'll use it up fairly quickly. Why do your experimenting with expensive tools......?

I'm one who has an entirely different thinking on steels than the "main stream" thought. I've used harder steels, but have returned to using M2 steel exclusively. The main reason for this, is it's quicker and easier to sharpen, and resharpen, or re-hone during turning sessions. It does dull a bit quicker, but there is a psychological advantage to this. Most of us would rather turn, and not sharpen.......and because of this, will go longer than they should between re-sharpening. It's much easier to push the limits for a longer time, when using the exotic steels.......and, when doing so, a turner will tend to go without resharpening for a much longer time, when in that "grey contemplative area" between "just sharp enough" and "not sharp enough". The result is they will be using a "less than as sharp as possible" tool for longer periods of time, than tools that dull a little quicker. It's much easier to make the determination about needing to re-sharpening, but easier, and quicker to renew the edge.....all which adds up to an advantage.

Not only have I gone back to the more generic M2 steel.......I've also gone back to using a the original standard grind done by using the "v" arm on the Wolverine jig. This is where the tool shank spins on it's own axis, rather than swinging through an arc, as with the Ellsworth grind done with the vari-grind jig. Other than the Ellsworth grind looks cool, there is not one single advantage where the cut is superior to what you can get with the standard grind. I do feel I'm better informed by having used the Ellsworth grind almost exclusively for a couple decades, before I came to the conclusions I have. Because of this, I suggest you try all the various grinds you are inclined to experiment with.......and then let the chips fall where they may.

Remember this........The fineness of the cut is a result of how sharp the tool is, along with how well it's presented, and is not the result of the grind style of the tool. If you can put that sharp cutting edge where and how it will cut best, your results will be better than anything less than that........

ko :D
 
Last edited:
Joined
Jul 5, 2016
Messages
469
Likes
244
Location
San Antonio, TX
Thanks all for the feedback!

I need to do few cuts and get the feel of the tools then try all the other grinds and I still have the carbide tools for what I cannot do. I had to google most of what you guys mentioned since I'm very new to this and some is still over my head :)

Based on your feedback, I assume these are good to start with?
  1. Thompson 3/8 Spindle Gouge
  2. Thompson 1/2 U Bowl Gouge (there is a V and a U, I assume I should start with the U)
  3. Scraper, not sure which yet still reading

I will be getting a grinder with grinding jig, still trying to figure out which one and if I need to bolt it to something. I may get M2 as Odie said to try out after I feel little more comfortable with the gouges.
 
Joined
Aug 14, 2007
Messages
5,435
Likes
2,792
Location
Eugene, OR
Fadi, I have a bunch of videos up on You Tube, and most are about bowl turning and the tools used. Type in robo hippy.

robo hippy
 

hockenbery

Forum MVP
Beta Tester
TOTW Team
Joined
Apr 27, 2004
Messages
8,590
Likes
4,885
Location
Lakeland, Florida
Website
www.hockenberywoodturning.com
Other than the Ellsworth grind looks cool, there is not one single advantage where the cut is superior to what you can get with the standard grind. I do feel I'm better informed by having used the Ellsworth grind almost exclusively for a couple decades,....,,

There is nothing wrong with using and preferring a traditional grind.
However the traditional ground tool has a single bevel angle - could be a good thing for some people.
It is just wrong to suggest a traditional grind can do what an Ellsworth grind can.

The versatility of the Ellsworth grind comes from the changing bevel angle. Which gives it capabilities you just don't get in a tradionally ground tool.
The grind has a nose bevel angle of about 60 degrees,
Off the tip at the leading edge of the wing bevel angel is 40-45
The wing has a bevel angle of about 25-30 degrees.

Most bevel riding cuts are done with the 40-45 bevel angle and if that is the only cut you ever do a traditional ground gouge would do the same when ground with a 40-45 degree bevel.

1. pull cut: Requies a wing. the 25-30 degree bevel angle on the Ellsworth wing is Very sharp! The pull is the best I have found at leaving a clean surface. It is especially effective in turning the outside of NE bowls and in turning multi center spindles. This cut cannot be done with a traditional grind.

2. roughing cut the wing can take a great big shaving. I routinely rough a 3/4" wide shaving with a 1/2" bowl gouge(5/8" bar) with an Ellsworth grind. With a tradional grind I am limited to about a 1/4" shaving. So 3 passes instead of 1. The traditional grind just cannot match the Ellsworth in roughing.

3. Scraping cut. The wing can be used as a scraper to smooth surface. The traditional gouge cannot do it.

4. Shear scrape. The wing edge can be presented in a shear shape angle and smooth the surface of the wood considerably. Traditional gouge cannot do it. Need a wing.

5. Shear cut with the flute up using the leading edge of the wing. This is an advanced cut I encourage people get hands on instruction before trying it. The Ellsworth grind works extremely well for this cut to produce a clean surface on the inside of cut rim bowls and is great for cutting the inside rim of natural edge bowls. The traditional gouge cannot make this cut on a convex surface.

traditional gouge can do the shear cut on a convex surface and can do it better than the Ellsworth if it is ground to a 45 degree bevel angle.

Bottom feeding- people often use a traditional grind with an 80 degree bevel angle.
The Ellsworth with the heel ground off making a micro bevel can go to bottom of bowls with a bevel riding cut until the depth gets more than 60% or so of the width.

I use the above 5 cuts on just about every bowl along with the bevel riding cut.

Ellsworth or any winged grind is far suspior to the tradional grind on natural edge bowls and larger cut rimmed bowls.
 
Last edited:

hockenbery

Forum MVP
Beta Tester
TOTW Team
Joined
Apr 27, 2004
Messages
8,590
Likes
4,885
Location
Lakeland, Florida
Website
www.hockenberywoodturning.com

Bill Boehme

Administrator
Staff member
Beta Tester
TOTW Team
Joined
Jan 27, 2005
Messages
12,884
Likes
5,168
Location
Dalworthington Gardens, TX
Website
pbase.com
hello all,

I'm thinking of gradually switching from carbides to HHS gouges to start learning how to use them and grind them. I'm thinking of starting out with a roughing and bowl gouge and move from there. Which brand would you recommend while I learn? start with decent one then switching to Robert Sorby once I become good at it? I'm open for suggestions.

Just so that you appreciate the difference, a roughing gouge (more correctly called a spindle roughing gouge) should never be used for face-grain turning (bowls and platters) ... it is strictly for spindle turning. It's name comes from its intended purpose of smoothing rough spindle stock prior to doing the final work using skew and/or spindle gouge. A bowl gouge is more versatile because it can be used to do the job of a spindle roughing gouge as well as its named purpose ... turning bowls.

As far as sharpening is concerned, I would recommend getting the Wolverine fixture for your grinder and also the original Varigrind jig for sharpening gouges. Definitely do NOT get the Varigrind 2.

I have Sorby, Crown, Henry Taylor, Glaser, and Thompson bowl gouges. They are all very good. The main thing to know about them is that their performance depends on your care in sharpening them and your skill in using them. None of them (as far as I can tell) will make you suddenly become a great turner. That part is left up to you.

As far as type of grind is concerned, the swept back style has become almost universal because of their great versatility.. I have several different variations of the swept back style and they are about equally useful, but I have some modified for shear cutting and one with a nearly square nose for working the bottoms of deep bowls. For most of the turning that I do, I can pick up any one of them and use with equal effectiveness.
 

odie

TOTW Team
Joined
Dec 22, 2006
Messages
7,072
Likes
9,470
Location
Panning for Montana gold, with Betsy, the mule!
Well......the ONLY thing that counts is results. My results with difficult shapes are there to see......

The results includes a tool finish that requires a minimum of sanding for more complicated surfaces than very basic shapes. Again......after having used the side ground gouge for several decades, the conclusive evidence shows there is absolutely nothing that the Ellsworth grind, or side ground gouge can do, that the traditional, or standard grind can't do just as well. And, it can do it better, if taken into consideration that it's a more simple grind, requiring less time and effort to return to the lathe. Woodturning doesn't have to be as complicated as some people influenced by "herd think" make it out to be. There are plenty of great turnings produced prior to the time the Ellsworth grind was made popular about 30 years ago.......and, there is nothing being produced today that wasn't being produced then. The only real differences have been advancements in embellishments.

BTW: The standard grind can be made with any bevel a turner wishes it to be, and the bevel on the side is not necessarily the same as the bevel on the nose.

ko
 

hockenbery

Forum MVP
Beta Tester
TOTW Team
Joined
Apr 27, 2004
Messages
8,590
Likes
4,885
Location
Lakeland, Florida
Website
www.hockenberywoodturning.com
Well.......after having used the side ground gouge for several decades, the conclusive evidence shows there is absolutely nothing that the Ellsworth grind, or side ground gouge can do, that the traditional, or standard grind can't do just as well.

I believe this is true in your experience with the work you do.

However, In actual fact a side ground gouge can make at least 5 cuts that the traditional gouge cannot.

We can do a simple comparison on roughing. Put a green maple half log on for a 14" diameter 7" high bowl. Shoot a video of you roughing it for drying with a traditional 1/2" bowl gouge 5/8 diameter bar. I will get a video done of me roughing one with an Ellsworth gouge. Turn for drying a 14" diameter x 7" high bowl.

There are plenty of great turnings produced prior to the time the Ellsworth grind was made popular about 30 years ago.......and, there is nothing being produced today that wasn't being produced then. The only real differences have been advancements in embellishments.

ko

There are at least two innovations that were not around 30 years ago.
Suspended spherical forms - 2004 and ball in a ball - 2007.
Three sided napkin rings might be another.

You need to visit an instant gallery once in while.

hollow forms and natural edge bowls are two well known turnings developed in our lifetimes.
3 sided bowls are another. Lots of square edge inovations.
 
Last edited:

hockenbery

Forum MVP
Beta Tester
TOTW Team
Joined
Apr 27, 2004
Messages
8,590
Likes
4,885
Location
Lakeland, Florida
Website
www.hockenberywoodturning.com
hockenbery,

You mentioned Henry Taylor Superflute for $85, I see this one under his name for $124, is this what you were referring to, or is there another one?

https://www.woodturnerscatalog.com/p/129/2194/Henry-Taylor-Kryo-Superflute-Bowl-Gouge

Fadi,
There are at least 2 more

This is the one I was thinking of.
https://www.woodturnerscatalog.com/p/129/948/Artisan-Superflute-Bowl-Gouge


  • The Artisan® Superflute Bowl Gouge is a superb woodturning tool and is very popular worldwide. Since its introduction in 1978, the Superflute Bowl Gouge has become the most popular bowl turning gouge ever.
  • 6" Flute
  • M2 High-speed steel
  • Premium ash handle
  • Parabolic flute

They also have this one. It looks like the same tool with a nicer handle.
https://www.woodturnerscatalog.com/p/129/1287/Henry-Taylor-M2-HSS-Superflute-Bowl-Gouge
 

hockenbery

Forum MVP
Beta Tester
TOTW Team
Joined
Apr 27, 2004
Messages
8,590
Likes
4,885
Location
Lakeland, Florida
Website
www.hockenberywoodturning.com
It's not about the cuts that can or can't be done......it's all about the final surface quality. I understand the simple shapes you usually do, that are in tune with easy aggressive sanding, would lead you to the kind of unsupported beliefs about versatility vs surface quality direct from the tool.

Kelly,
Versatility is about being able to do different cuts.

If you want to argue that you get a cleaner surface on your shapes with a traditional gouge than you could with the Ellsworth, I believe you.

It is wrong to say a traditional gouge can do all the cuts the side ground gouge can.
It can't. That is a very different argument than surface quality on a set of objects.

Simple is what I go for. I try to have curves without flats and do many pieces with a natural edge.
Agressive sanding ruins the natural edge. agressive sanding will ruin a curve faster than agressive sanding ruins a flat.

I find that the surface I get with the Ellsworth on a natural edge bowl is far superior to the surface I get with a traditional grind. Maybe you do better on natural edge bowls with a traditional grind than I do with an Ellsworth. Maybe you can post a video some time.

Oh when I turn spheres I sand them pretty aggressively with hand held paper.
Turning spheres is so much easier with a side ground bowl gouge than it would be with a traditional bowl gouge.

Al
 
Last edited:

odie

TOTW Team
Joined
Dec 22, 2006
Messages
7,072
Likes
9,470
Location
Panning for Montana gold, with Betsy, the mule!
Kelly,
Versatility is about being able to do different cuts.

If you want to argue that you get a cleaner surface on your shapes with a traditional gouge than you could with the Ellsworth, I believe you.

It is wrong to say a traditional gouge can do all the cuts the side ground gouge can.
It can't. That is a very different argument than surface quality on a set of objects.

Simple is what I go for. I try to have curves without flats and do many pieces with a natural edge.
Agressive sanding ruins the natural edge. agressive sanding will ruin a curve faster than agressive sanding ruins a flat.

I find that the surface I get with the Ellsworth on a natural edge bowl is far superior to the surface I get with a traditional grind. Maybe you do better on natural edge bowls with a traditional grind than I do with an Ellsworth. Maybe you can post a video some time.

Oh when I turn spheres I sand them pretty aggressively with hand held paper.
Turning spheres is so much easier with a side ground bowl gouge than it would be with a traditional bowl gouge.

Al
Al.....I never did say the ability to perform certain cuts were equally possible with side ground gouge vs standard grind. You are misinterpreting what I said, Al. What I am saying is the standard ground gouge is capable of as good, or better surface quality straight from the tool......not that they both can be presented in the same way. You are welcome to disagree with that, because we both have opinions that are represented by the results we are getting.

It's not about how the tool itself can be presented, it's all about the quality of the cut itself. No matter what shape the grind takes on a gouge, the resulting cut will be from a sharp edge presented well. It doesn't matter what shape the gouge grind is, if the resulting cut is made equally well.....and, with precision.

ko
 
Joined
Jul 26, 2016
Messages
2,326
Likes
1,105
Location
Nebraska
You could shop around on CraigsList and Ebay and see if you can find a local deal on some quality tools.
For the price of two new tools I just purchased a complete set of Sorby tools along with some carbides and several
hollowing tools. With multiple tools I can sharpen them at the same time and always have a 2nd sharp tool available
when working on a project.
 

hockenbery

Forum MVP
Beta Tester
TOTW Team
Joined
Apr 27, 2004
Messages
8,590
Likes
4,885
Location
Lakeland, Florida
Website
www.hockenberywoodturning.com
It's not about how the tool itself can be presented, it's all about the quality of the cut itself. No matter what shape the grind takes on a gouge, the resulting cut will be from a sharp edge presented well. It doesn't matter what shape the gouge grind is, if the resulting cut is made equally well.....
ko

It is about the edge and how it can be presented to the wood and about how the tool is controlled to move it over the surface being cut.

In the case of the outside of a natural edge the pull cut with and Ellsworth is similar to using a skew with the point down the 30-25 sharp bevel angle and the near straight wing make a slicing cut. The cut is made from foot to rim and the bevel contact controls the cut on the interrupted cut. The slice almost always cuts the bark cleanly. With the the handle down resting against the thigh for support and the gouge tip out of the wood it cannot catch. A very controlled cut that can work a curve through the interupted cut to the rim.

Most people who turn natural edge bowls with a traditional ground bowl gouge turn the outside from the rim toward the foot accepting a poorer cut on the wood's surface for a clean cut on the the bark and rim.

The one of the cool elements of the side ground gouges is that I has both curved cutting edges and near straight cutting edge of the wing.
 
Last edited:

Bill Boehme

Administrator
Staff member
Beta Tester
TOTW Team
Joined
Jan 27, 2005
Messages
12,884
Likes
5,168
Location
Dalworthington Gardens, TX
Website
pbase.com
It's about time to put this train back on the tracks. One thing that we know with absolute certainty is that in woodturning there aren't any absolutes ... except maybe for the fact that woodturners are sometimes obsessively passionate about this activity.
 

hockenbery

Forum MVP
Beta Tester
TOTW Team
Joined
Apr 27, 2004
Messages
8,590
Likes
4,885
Location
Lakeland, Florida
Website
www.hockenberywoodturning.com
@Mike Johnson 's suggestion of shopping resales is worth doing.
Local clubs often have used tools offered for sale from turner's estates or members moving.

Other than a broken handle nothing much can go wrong with a used turning tool other than having had some useful life sharpened away.

It is along shot finding a specific tool. But itmcan be a good source for adding a few additional tool you want or duplicates of tools you use a lot. For example you might find a gouge you can regained into a bottom feeder.
 
Joined
Feb 6, 2010
Messages
2,959
Likes
1,905
Location
Brandon, MS
Ok y'all the question is not about advanced technique it is about the decision of what 2 tools to start with. Lets drop the "best technique" lectures and answer the question that was asked.

By the way Fadi it is my understanding that the U flute has a steep learning curve so look at the V. I am sure that someone will correct that if I am wrong as I have the V only.
 
Joined
Jul 26, 2016
Messages
2,326
Likes
1,105
Location
Nebraska
Addressing the original question, wanting to spend the money for (2) new tools which ones should he purchase.
Over time you will use all of the tools available in a typical wood turning tool set.
I would rather have a full set of used tools then (2) new tools limiting what I can work on.
Every tool has it's purpose and use, with experience you can use any sharp edge to cut wood.
Each tool design makes it easier for the wood turner to make specific cuts.
It really comes down to the type of wood projects you want to turn.
The project will determine the best tools to use for turning that item.
I could live without a roughing gouge but it sure would waste a lot of time not having one.
 
Joined
Aug 14, 2007
Messages
5,435
Likes
2,792
Location
Eugene, OR
U vs. V flutes.... For the more open flutes like the Thompson U or a more standard half round flute shape, they work better with a 45/45 bevel/sweep type nose profile, and not so well with a swept back nose profile. Since I tend to hold my tools more level and flutes rolled over to 90 degrees when turning, this is my preferred tool. There are V flutes which are very pointed in the bottom like the old Glaser gouges, and some, like Doug's are more open. I always had more problems with the pointed V tools clogging up, and the more open ones working better. Doug's V works fine as a swept back type gouge, and the parabolic flutes also work that way.

Now, traditional gouge grinds. As near as I can tell, this refers to one that is ground more square across the nose, like a spindle roughing gouge.??? If there is some sweep around the side, it is made by rolling the tool on the platform, not by sweeping the handle as you sharpen. Don't think I have ever used it though.

Cleanest cuts come from a higher shear angle. Push or pull makes no difference. The pull cut is made with the handle very low so you can get a 60, 70, or even 80 degree shear angle. The wing on a swept back grind does provide a bigger sweet spot for cutting. With a ) shape nose profile, I can hold the tool level or the handle dropped slightly, FLUTES ROLLED ALL THE WAY OVER/90 DEGREES, and get the same high shear angles. The Thompson fluteless gouge does this very well, and so does the continental style SRG, and so does the traditional SRG, or the more traditional grind. I can do that on both the inside and outside of bowls and other forms.

As for speed, well, no matter how fast you are with a gouge, for roughing out bowls, scrapers are faster. Only real reason is not because of style or horse power or how much of a brute you can be, it is because you never come off the wood when roughing. You push, then pull, then push, sweeping back and forth, not starting at the top, push/pull to the bottom, take the tool out of the wood and go back to the top.

The flute up, cut with the wing cut used by some with the swept back gouge, I will not use or teach. More than anything else, that is due to the high risk of a nasty catch as you are learning and even after you have done it for a while. Other cuts work just as well, with no risk of catching.

As for using the SRG on bowls, I will have a thread up in the next week or so about that. After Harvey Rogers article in the AAW's e-mail magazine link and article about why the SRG does not work, I have to respond.... Must ponder a bit, but some 'facts' are not accurate at all...

robo hippy
 

hockenbery

Forum MVP
Beta Tester
TOTW Team
Joined
Apr 27, 2004
Messages
8,590
Likes
4,885
Location
Lakeland, Florida
Website
www.hockenberywoodturning.com
The flute up, cut with the wing cut used by some with the swept back gouge, I will not use or teach. More than anything else, that is due to the high risk of a nasty catch as you are learning and even after you have done it for a while. Other cuts work just as well, with no risk of catching.

As for using the SRG on bowls, I will have a thread up in the next week or so about that. After Harvey Rogers article in the AAW's e-mail magazine link and article about why the SRG does not work, I have to respond.... Must ponder a bit, but some 'facts' are not accurate at all...

Reed. @robo hippy
The flute up cut with the Ellsworth gouge is for advanced turners at the intermediate and above level, Who should learn it hands on. I am in a turning club of about 80 people there are 5 turners proficient with the flute up cut. People who don't know what they are doing can get big catches. It is wise to warn the untrained not to attempt this cut.
Once you learn the cut it is like riding a bicycle and you won't get a catch. It is a bevel riding cut and with the bevel riding the cut is supported. Liam O'neil taught me the shear cut in 1995. I know of no other cut that works as well on cutting the inside rim of a natural edge bowl. It is also critical to have properly sharpened gouge. Ellsworth grind does this cut well the glazer grind is okay but it is a little grabby.

Remember bowl gouge catches are not as severe as those with a scraper or SRG because the amount of wood that can drive onto the tool is limited by the diameter of the flute. Scrapers are reasonably safe once people understand the basic rules of below center on the outside and above center on the inside which eliminates bevel contact. Your catch video a while back showed this clearly but almost too quick for the eye, once the bevel of scraper touched the center post the wood drove onto the tool and bang and no more bowl. the center post needed to be cut below center and the inside of the bowl above center.

The SRG and even a skew can be used by experts on a bowl. However the risks associated with a misuse is a catastrophic catch. With an 1 1/4 SRG you have an 1 1/4 wide chuck of wood driving into the tool. There is no plausible reason to risk using an SRG on bowl when a bowl gouge will do the job more efficiently and safer.

Suggesting that using an SRG on bowls is ok or that it can be done safely will get an inexperienced person seriously injured.
 
Last edited:
Joined
Jul 26, 2016
Messages
2,326
Likes
1,105
Location
Nebraska
I would compare tool usage to a professional golfer that can use a putter to put a golf ball on the green.
It takes 100's if not 1000's of hours of turning time to truly master all of the tools available.
Most wood turners do not have the time to master all of the tools that are available, most will learn the basics
and master a hand full of tools that they use as their "go to tools".
Put an edge on a screw driver and a master wood turner will present the burr at the correct angle to make the cut.
Each wood turner will use the tools as they progress with experience and mastering the proper use of each tool.
The day you stop learning new methods and techniques is usually the day they plant you in the ground.
 
Joined
Jul 5, 2016
Messages
469
Likes
244
Location
San Antonio, TX
just to clarify, I am not looking to turn using one or two tools. I am still using Carbide tools (what I learned on), but I want to start making the switch over to gouges by learning a new tool.

My thinking is that I should get one or two gouges/scrapers/etc. and start incorporating them and learning how to use and grind and then make the switch. If the learning curve is not that drastic, I will definitely get more gouges when needed. I was not aware that the grinds on the gouges were that big of a difference, so I'm going to pick one and learn it then move on.
 
Joined
Jul 26, 2016
Messages
2,326
Likes
1,105
Location
Nebraska
Do you have a grinding jig for sharpening gouges? Setting the angles and touching up the cutting edge on a gouge is
a whole lot easier to do with sharpening jigs designed for gouges.
 
Joined
Jul 5, 2016
Messages
469
Likes
244
Location
San Antonio, TX
Not yet, I will have to buy an 8" grinder and sharpening jig, will go with vari-grind jig as some suggested. BTW, do I need to bolt a grinder down or can I store it and take it out when I need it? I only turn on weekends in the driveway
 

Bill Boehme

Administrator
Staff member
Beta Tester
TOTW Team
Joined
Jan 27, 2005
Messages
12,884
Likes
5,168
Location
Dalworthington Gardens, TX
Website
pbase.com
just to clarify, I am not looking to turn using one or two tools. I am still using Carbide tools (what I learned on), but I want to start making the switch over to gouges by learning a new tool.

My thinking is that I should get one or two gouges/scrapers/etc. and start incorporating them and learning how to use and grind and then make the switch. If the learning curve is not that drastic, I will definitely get more gouges when needed. I was not aware that the grinds on the gouges were that big of a difference, so I'm going to pick one and learn it then move on.

The difference between shapes of various grinds isn't all that drastic especially once you become proficient. The Ellsworth/Irish grind is very popular because of its versatility, is relatively easy to learn to use with good results, and with a jig you can get a nice repeatable bevel which uses a minimum of metal during sharpening. It is likely that you will eventually evolve the shape of the grind that you use to what you like. I have more gouges than I care to admit and have several different grinds that enable me to perform a cut whee another shape won't quite do the job. Two examples are:
  1. being able to maintain bevel contact all the way down to the bottom of a deep bowl, and
  2. being able to make a sharp corner where the angle may be less than 90°.
For me, woodturning isn't a race against time. I retired so that I wouldn't have to put up with that sort of stuff ... not swap one rat race for another. For that reason, I don't give a "rat" about how fast I can rough something out. I turn for pleasure and to relax. For me, turning is about the journey as much as it is about the destination. If I am turning a nice piece of wet wood and getting long streamers, I want to savor the experience and even call the wife to see the show. She has even been know to take pictures when I'm making long shavings and put them on Facebook. :D Oops, I'm waxing elephants again ... getting back to the subject ...

Most gouges don't really have a U or V shape ... it's more like an elliptical or parabolic flute. And, you can put whatever shape bevel you want onto a bowl gouge. There is no rule that says that you must stick with what the gouge came with. There are several popular bevel shapes. They are popular because they work and are easy to reproduce with a jig.

Occasionally, someone will say that they think that they ought to get a cheap set of tools from Harbor Freight or eBay to learn sharpening and to experiment with different grinds. First, I don't think that learning to sharpen is such a big deal unless you try to reinvent the wheel. John Lucas and Robo Hippy (Reed Gray) both have great YouTube videos. AAW has a great video or two and I'm sure that there are many others. If you are close to a club then getting some one on one instruction will be the best way to quickly get up to speed. Also, there is no need to grind away steel to find a shape that you like. That is just a good way to blame the tool for problems that are really a lack of proficiency. Eventually you will have more than one bowl gouge and you can have a different grind on each one to see if you have a favorite. You might wind up like me and have several favorites. And, I'm not really a tool junkie. A junkie can't stop buying tools ... they simply can't control the urge. On the other hand, I can stop buying tools any time that I please. It's just that I just want one more and then I'll stop ... seriously ... maybe. :D
 

odie

TOTW Team
Joined
Dec 22, 2006
Messages
7,072
Likes
9,470
Location
Panning for Montana gold, with Betsy, the mule!
Not yet, I will have to buy an 8" grinder and sharpening jig, will go with vari-grind jig as some suggested. BTW, do I need to bolt a grinder down or can I store it and take it out when I need it? I only turn on weekends in the driveway

A grinder does need a solid mount. With a little imagination, you could rig up a portable mount. For example, you could mount the grinder to a board, and then C-clamp it to your bench, when in use. There are many ways of accomplishing the same sort of temporary set-up. Remember, that if you get the Vari grind jig for your gouges, you'll need to permanently mount the Wolverine at the right height just below the grinder wheels. The board used as a temporary mount can also serve this purpose.

I have the Wolverine with vari grind jig, and I feel this is a quality grinding jig from Oneway......

ko

Shop September 2014 (18).JPG
 
Last edited:
Joined
May 4, 2010
Messages
2,432
Likes
1,846
Location
Bozeman, MT
Fadi,
If you are going to buy a Thompson bowl gouge, most people would recommend the V shape over the U shape, as being more versatile and effective for contemporary grinds and usage. Be aware that Thompson tools are sold unhandled. You can make your own wood handles easily enough (and have fun doing it!) or buy metal handles.
 
Joined
May 28, 2015
Messages
1,554
Likes
178
Location
Bainbridge Island, WA
You can make your own wood handles easily enough (and have fun doing it!) or buy metal handles.
True, but sharpening is much, much easier if done without the handle, so even with a wood handle, I'd want it to be easily removable. Not only is sharpening easier, but generally it seems you can get more out of the tool before it's too awkward to sharpen (with a holder).
 
Joined
Aug 14, 2007
Messages
5,435
Likes
2,792
Location
Eugene, OR
Yes, the grinder should be clamped down. Even though it takes a feather light touch to sharpen, as compared to grinding, it helps to have it anchored some way. I even screw down my 90 pound Baldor grinders...

Al, the inherent risk in using ANY tool is totally presentation, and not the tool. I will address this, most likely with a video as words just won't do it.

robo hippy
 

hockenbery

Forum MVP
Beta Tester
TOTW Team
Joined
Apr 27, 2004
Messages
8,590
Likes
4,885
Location
Lakeland, Florida
Website
www.hockenberywoodturning.com
Al, the inherent risk in using ANY tool is totally presentation, and not the tool. I will address this, most likely with a video as words just won't do it.

Reed @robo hippy ,

Your a smart guy but You are ignoring the potential risk. Which is many times greater turning bowls with an SRG than it is with a bowl gouge.

Yes proper presentation of any tool is safe. Proper presentation of a sharp axe head will turn wood very nicely. I'm quite sure you could turn wood with an axe head.
I am also quite sure that a beginner turning with a sharp axe head is going to get major catches and is very likely to get hurt.

The potential risk with a 1/2" bowl gouge is that at most a 1/2 chunck of wood can drive onto the tool. Most often this results damage to the wood surface as the wood breaks free. Sometimes the catch will pull the wood off the lathe.

Potential risk with a 1 1/4 roughing gouge is that the a 1 1/4 chunk of wood can drive onto the tool. When a catch this big happens the wood does not break free and something much worse happens: the piece comes off the lathe, the tool breaks, or the tool rest breaks. SRG's are mostly weak tools so they bend and break when abused.

You want to prove it is safe to use an SRG on bowls?

1. Video the biggest catch you can make with the SRG. Hold the SRG flute up perpendicular to a spinning bowl and jamb it into the sidewall.

2. Video the biggest catch you can make with a 1/2" bowl gouge the same way.

That will demonstrate how safe they are for the novice turner.

DON'T SAY "YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO DO THAT"
THAT IS EXACTLY THE POINT!
NOVICE WOODTURNERS OFTEN DO THE WRONG THING.

There is no reason to encourage new turners to hurt themselves needlessly.

Al
 
Last edited:

Bill Boehme

Administrator
Staff member
Beta Tester
TOTW Team
Joined
Jan 27, 2005
Messages
12,884
Likes
5,168
Location
Dalworthington Gardens, TX
Website
pbase.com
Beginners often have tools hanging way over the toolrest thus giving away any benefit of mechanical advantage. Compound that with the fact that beginners often turn way too fast because of the limitations of their lathe or lack of appreciation of the danger. Cheap tools like Harbor Freight and Benjamin's Best and other no name tools are the tools of choice of beginners. Even if the tool or handle doesn't break, the speed at which a tool handle kicks up can't be controlled no matter how tough a guy the person might be. At the speeds that these things happen, human muscle has all the rigidity of a bowl of Jello ... sans bowl.
 
Joined
Aug 14, 2007
Messages
5,435
Likes
2,792
Location
Eugene, OR
With a 1 1/4 inch SRG on the inside of a bowl, at most you can get half of that width into the wood at one time. Same with the outside of a bowl. Even with a dead flat board, it is impossible to engage the entire cutting surface of the SRG. With a 1/2 inch gouge, with a swept back grind, you can get well over 1/2 inch of metal into the wood with your 'cutting with the wing' cut.

I am not ignoring the possible risks of the SRG on a bowl any more than you are with your cut with the wing on the inside which you say should be learned with an instructor and not on your own.

The problem with the SRG on bowls is that people tend to approach it with handle low, and bevel extended up. No one who turns much would ever approach a bowl with a scraper that way, any more than they would with a bowl gouge, no matter what grind is on the nose. You can do a bevel rubbing cut with the SRG on a bowl with the handle down and bevel up. This is what Robbo does in his video on why you shouldn't use a SRG on bowls. He finally gets his catch after 'hours' of trying by extending out way too far and then raising the handle. You go instantly from a bevel rubbing cut to a scraper edge pointing up into the spinning wood, which is instant slam.

There are 2 ways to cut spindles with a SRG. One is a 'sharpening the pencil' type cut, and the other is a peeling cut. When instructing, we always talk about cutting the wood the same way you do when you sharpen a pencil with your pocket knife, cut with the grain. This, to me, is the proper and safe way to rough the corners off a square spindle blank. Flutes rolled over, rub the bevel, cut with a high shear angle. There is no possibility of a catch. Once the spindle is rounded out, you can get the same spiral dig in that you get with the skew if you come off the bevel. The peeling cut is the one that gets people into trouble with the SRG on bowls. Start with rubbing the heel of the bevel, and slowly raise the handle till it starts to cut. This is efficient for removing a lot of stock in a hurry on a rounded blank. If you come off the bevel, it does turn more into a scraping cut, but because the tool rest is very close to the wood, and the spindle diameter is much smaller than just about any bowl, it generally doesn't cause any problems. With bowls, this is not the case, obviously.

In Stuart Batty's 7 Fundamentals video clip he states that Craft Supplies gets over 100 SRGs returned that are broken. He states that it is because the end grain causes the dig ins. Absolutely not! It has nothing at all to do with the wood grain. You can get the same dig in with any turning tool out there. It is presentation, and the fact that this is not taught properly. The SRG should be demonstrated as a 2 different type of cuts tool, instead of primarily the peeling cut.

Yes, we can never idiot proof any tool because we all know that as soon as you do, some one invents a better idiot....

robo hippy
 
Back
Top