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Teaching kids to use the spindle gouge

Kim Metzger

Kim Metzger

Joined
Aug 28, 2014
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Location
Ajijic, Mexico
Website
tinyurl.com
I've been introducing woodturning to youngsters about 10 to 12 years old and have discovered that the widely recommended 35 - 40 degree angle grind for the spindle gouge isn't working out well. They were getting a lot of catches when turning beads and coves. I then let them use a spindle gouge with a 50 degree angle and the problem stopped completely.
Has anyone else had the same experience?
 
I like a 30 degree on my spindle gouge.

For students of all ages I like more of 40 degree bevel.
The blunter tool is a little more forgiving if they come off the bevel a little bit.
40 degrees makes an okay groove between adjacent beads.

The critical ABC steps are
Anchor -put the ptool on the tool rest
Bevel - raise the handle until the bevel is on the wood tool not cutting
Cut - Raise the handle and roll the tool to engage the cutting edge.
 
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Al I say that mantra constantly but people have a wonderful ability to ignore it. :) Went through that with an 84 year old the other day. I should have just ground his spindle gouge as a scaper because that's how he kept using it.
 
I don't have much experience teaching new students. For my SRG, I prefer about a 40 degree bevel angle. I do not consider it to be a good tool for turning beads and coves, other than very shallow ones. I think the detail type gouges are better suited for that, and easier to handle. Some times I even try the skew....

robo hippy
 
I would think the complex motion require for cutting beads would be beyond the ability of the average 10 year old. They have so much trouble concentrating and mastering complex instruction. Obviously there will always be the exception, and I suspect girls will be better at it, but the 10 year old male brain is still pretty scrambled up!
 
Richard Coers said:
would think the complex motion require for cutting beads would be beyond the ability of the average 10 year old.
Click to expand...

It has been our experience that most 10 year olds even some 8 year olds can do decent beads. The all get coves.

What is beyond most ten year olds is the range of motion required to hollow a bowl by pulling the gouge handle across the ways. Or the hand strength for turning boxes with lid in place. The can’t get the lids off if the get them on.
 
Hmm, never thought of it, but what Mark shows is peeling cuts 101. Guess it is some thing I have always done, at least since I figured out peeling cuts, and did it with detail gouges too...

robo hippy
 
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