I'm looking at purchasing a Crown Tools 243PM 3/4 Inch PM Bowl Gouge. I have a Jet 1221 1-horsepower lathe. Will this gouge be too strong for turning green live-edge bowls?
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Using 3/4 bowl gouge - 5/8 flute - on a 1HP lathe?
- Thread starter Mark Goulais
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Might depend on the sharpness, your skill, the speed/related torque, and how deep the cut is. Removing large amounts of wood at once with that gouge might be challenging.
I've used a gouge similar to that on dry wood on a 1hp lathe. Wet wood is easier. But why so big a gouge? Seems a 1/2" or even a 3/8" bowl gouge would work fine and may be more appropriate. But I don't usually turn green.
But maybe you know someone who would loan such a gouge for you to try before you buy.
JKJ
With a light cut (relative to its cutting capacity), you'll be okay. Take a heavy cut and you may overwhelm the motor. Set the pulleys to let the motor run fast for the spindle speed you want, that will help.
1/2" and 3/8" gouges will be kind to the motor and reduce a lump of wood to shavings quite quickly on a 12" lathe.
1/2" and 3/8" gouges will be kind to the motor and reduce a lump of wood to shavings quite quickly on a 12" lathe.
I'm like JKJ, why so big of a gouge? I rarely use a gouge bigger than 5/8, I too would suggest to go smaller. Bigger is not always better
Tom Gall
TOTW Team
I agree with @John K Jordan and @Sam Force. I have one (Henry Taylor I believe) and I have rarely used it. That being said, I don't recall any problems using it on with my 1 hp lathe - but I probably wasn't using it to take extra heavy cuts either ... hence, my preference for a smaller gouge.
Thank you for the reply!!!!! Such a great organization to be a member of.
I've seen these used on larger/stronger lathes, and they worked wonderfully.
Wish I knew someone close by who turns to try (the nearest club, 90 mins one way), will have to go easy now on the 12-21, but I will have a use for it when I upgrade. (Cheaper now than later).
I've seen these used on larger/stronger lathes, and they worked wonderfully.
Wish I knew someone close by who turns to try (the nearest club, 90 mins one way), will have to go easy now on the 12-21, but I will have a use for it when I upgrade. (Cheaper now than later).
Well, it will never be as affordable as it is today. Get it, and dream of those giant shavings yet to come. Fresh from the wheel, those Crown Pro PM tools can be wicked sharp, and very willing and able to strip the hide off any lump of wood.
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After reading many of the above opinions, I am reminded of a lighter I used to have that said "It isn't the size of the rod that matters, it's how you wiggle the worm") - technique and sharpness trump gouge size any day of the week. I can't imagine using a 3/4" gouge - I use a 5/8 sometimes but usually just for roughing , and I run a Jet 1642 lathe. Only reason you'd possibly want such a big gouge is when quickly roughing out a bowl to round - but if you're already round, you'll probably find a 3/4" gouge just entirely too big for finer and detailing work especially on a 12" or smaller bowl... I'd call it a waste of money, myself...
A production turner friend used a 1/2" bowl gouge for all of his work -- bowls up to 12-14". I have a 5/8" bowl gouge which I rarely if ever use. I find a 1/2" is plenty.
john lucas
AAW Forum Expert
I have a 3 hp lathe. I was given a 3/4" gouge. I gave it away. Too heavy. I can take huge cuts with my 5/8". Just didnt see any benefit of that tool.
Several of make drives like that for club meetings. Well worth the drive to meet people, ask questions, watch the demos, especially if you can carpool And you might meet someone there who lives close to you!
Just completed one of those trips today -- 90 miles, 90 minutes each way -- to the Cincinnati meeting for a day of Helen Bailey demos. And I made the same trip last Saturday to teach a class in their learning center.
I have a few 5/8” gouges, and no 3/4” bowl gouges. If I wanted to I could stall my 3hp lathe with the 5/8” gouges. On a 1hp lathe I think you’ll find the 3/4” is “too much club.” I think you’ll be happier with a 1/2” bowl gouge. And regarding the brand, I think you’ll LOVE the Crown PM gouge.
Almost all of my work is first turned from green wood. When I come by a fresh tree I first turn it all as quickly as possible and that can amount to many dozens of blanks at a time. For that I like to use the largest gouges in proportion to the diameter of the blank.
I face off almost all blanks with a 1-1/4" (32mm) gouge and then do my layout where I can see what I have happening in the blank
Larger diameter green pieces (14" and above), particularly platters, but also very large bowls, are 1st turn with 1" bowl gouges, medium sized blanks are turned with 3/4" BGs and smaller blanks (up to 12") are all turned with 5/8" BGs.
Yes, 1/2" BGs will also do the job if you don't mind taking longer and sharpening more often.
Large BGs are very expensive now and unless you are going to use them a lot, so they pay for themselves, they may not be sensible. Mine paid for themselves a very long time ago, but I might think differently if I was buying them now. If I never turned green wood I probably wouldn't have a larger gouge than a 5/8".
I do all of my turning on a 1.5HP lathe and no piece or gouge has stopped it yet. Different story with coring large blanks.
I do have just a few 1/2" BGs in my tool rack and they get to be used when final turning small pieces or very hard seasoned wood blanks. My 1/2" TC BGs are ideal for those tougher customers...
I face off almost all blanks with a 1-1/4" (32mm) gouge and then do my layout where I can see what I have happening in the blank
Larger diameter green pieces (14" and above), particularly platters, but also very large bowls, are 1st turn with 1" bowl gouges, medium sized blanks are turned with 3/4" BGs and smaller blanks (up to 12") are all turned with 5/8" BGs.
Yes, 1/2" BGs will also do the job if you don't mind taking longer and sharpening more often.
Large BGs are very expensive now and unless you are going to use them a lot, so they pay for themselves, they may not be sensible. Mine paid for themselves a very long time ago, but I might think differently if I was buying them now. If I never turned green wood I probably wouldn't have a larger gouge than a 5/8".
I do all of my turning on a 1.5HP lathe and no piece or gouge has stopped it yet. Different story with coring large blanks.
I do have just a few 1/2" BGs in my tool rack and they get to be used when final turning small pieces or very hard seasoned wood blanks. My 1/2" TC BGs are ideal for those tougher customers...