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Tools

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.
 
Dave Landers said:
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.
Click to expand...
Is it a regular 3/8 bowl gouge or one without a flute
 
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..
 
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.
 
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
 
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.
 
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
 
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.
 
Tom Gibbons said:
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
Click to expand...

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

Tom Gibbons said:
Thanks everyone
Sounds like the vote is 3/8 detail spindle gouge
Click to expand...
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
IMG_2666.jpeg

Other spindle examples
IMG_0270.jpegIMG_4226.jpegIMG_3514.jpeg
 
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.
 
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.
 
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
 
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.
 
Lou Currier said:
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.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the help
 
Michael Brown said:
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.
Click to expand...
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.
 
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
 
robo hippy said:
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
Click to expand...

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.
 
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