Bowl and Spindle gouges have different shaped flutes - so. Spindle gouges tend to be ground at a steeper, more aggressive angle than a bowl gouge. Beat The Boredom | Woodworking Projects for Kids | Paper Plane Launcher, Creating a concave curve using a Spindle Gouge. Click for full details. Just recently was pointed to these podcasts. A detail/spindle gouge is most adept at cutting coves and other concave shapes (Photo 7). I would like to get my terminology right so when I ask a question I'm using the right terms. Purchasing a good quality lathe, plus other equipment is essential. Get instant access to over 100 digital plans available only to UNLIMITED members. For more information, visit alanlacer.com. A great deal of material remains under the flute, creating a stiff, sturdy little tool. When cutting a cove, the goal is to cut a pair of mirror-image concave shapes that meet in the center. Hassle-free returns and friendly service is our promise. The difference is the cutting area. Rest the gouge on the blank while holding its flute face-up (left). Refine and complete the shape by making several shallow cuts on each side. I turn at least 500 or more bowls a year and use up a couple gouges in the process. Paste as plain text instead, Plus tips, advice, and special offers from Fine Woodworking. Next, hold the chisel for a second before gently pushing through the length of the chisel and twisting the handle. We had a club member who did this and ended up with the tool going through his jaw bone. UNLIMITED Membership is like taking a master class in woodworking for less than $10 a month. The nice sharp corners are just begging for a catch. Grind the edge to an elliptical shape by swinging the gouge through an arc after setting the tool rest set at 90. Parting down to different depths dramatically changes the look of the bead. Start enjoying a razor edge and unmatched workmanship at your lathe! You cannot paste images directly.

Here we describe that difference and show how to effectively use a spindle gouge to create a clean, smooth, concave cut. Although the flutes radius and the metals thickness below it can vary, the overall design of this gouge remains shallow when compared to the other two types. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. The depth of the flute on spindle gougesis to allow reaching into tighter and thighter areas such as beads. (And as you require a more pointed nose, for v cuts for instance, reaching for your detail spindle gouge is advantageous.). TIP: Slow down and watch closely when the bevel is nearly complete. To begin the concave cut, start near the centre of the concave or cove. I've gotten some very good info from the ensuing replies. Position the gouge at a right angle to the blank, with its flute facing the direction of cut, and score the wood to create a small recess that will support the tools bevel. Clear editor. With a spindle roughing gouge you are cutting a pretty large area so there is a lot of force on the tip. Most beginner tool sets that I have seen come with shallow gouges (not bowl gouges) so that is what you've probably got again I would just as soon use a scraper because hollowing with a shallow gouge takes a little bit of technic. Youll probably find that cutting one side of either or both profiles is more difficult than the other, so devote an entire cylinder to practicing that shape. Avoid creating a spear-pointed edge (left), caused by overgrinding the sides of the tools elliptical edge, and creating a faceted bevel, caused by changing the angle as you rotate the tool. There are several variations, each useful in different situations. So I posed my original question.

Furthermore, the acquisition of an increasing array of the woodturners skills is also very significant. My problem is that from the images that post with the descriptions, I can't really tell the difference. An elliptical profile increases the cutting surface and allows cutting on both sides, which is much better for creating details with concave and convex shapes. Typically, Spindle Gouge measurements are taken from the width of bar the gouge is made from where as the Bowl Gouge is measured across its flute. The Sorby bowl gouge I have is a full U with a grind as demonstrated in the Wolverine vari-grind DVD. And the first post in that thread also makes an excellent point: When I read the article in the AAW journal I could see the potential problems with what are now being referred to as spindle roughing gouges. It was stressed not to use a roughing gouge either for the outside or inside of a bowl. Register today and take advantage of membership benefits. ..So who is the arbiter of terminology in the world of wood turning? Here is a link to Thompson Tools with a picture of different standard flutes. This provides great access and allows for fine details and maneuvers. https://www.popularwoodworking.com/wp-content/uploads/popwood_logos-01.png, https://www.popularwoodworking.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/aw_16917_-015.jpg, 2020 Active Interest Media. This little gouge is hands-down the best choice for cutting coves (concave shapes), rolling beads (convex shapes) and shaping ogee curves (S shapeswhich combine cove and bead cuts) in long-grain turning (when the stock is mounted so the grain runs parallel to the lathes bed). This little gouge is used primarily for long-grain turning (when the stock is mounted so the grain runs parallel to the lathes bed). Also, do not use all caps nor all lower case. Lay out a series of coves that gradually get smaller, (or more shallow, or both) on one or more of the cylinders. If you look at most spindle roughing gouges they are U shaped and they are sharpened across the bevel. For the scale in which I most commonly work, I prefer the 3/8 and 1/2 sizes. We may receive a commission when you use our affiliate links. A shallow flute distinguishes a detail/spindle gouge from the other two types of gouges that woodturners commonly use. In-depth articles, up-close photography, and detailed illustrations. The edges on these tools require much more support. Most bowl gouges that have a U shaped flute have much taller sides in relation to the bottom U part. I'm not questioning the article or its info. To practice cutting beads, prepare longer (1-3/4 dia. Learning how to handle the gouge accordingly is part of the exercise. Watched the whole thing. As soon as sparks start to consistently come over the top of the edge along its full length, its time to stop: The edge is sharp. It also provides more cutting surface to work with. Welcome new registering member. Continue the rolling action while pushing in until the gouge rolls completely onto its side (right). These two factors can lead to dangerous catches. x 10) practice cylinders. 7. You can view our full range of Woodturning Gougeshere. That means a new tool typically requires reshaping. Bowl flutes are your preference, some like V others like U. JavaScript is disabled. A spindle gouge can be ground with varying profiles and tip radius', depending on the type of work you're looking to accomplish. UNLIMITED membership - Get access to it all. It can be very dangerous. 5. To freehand the edge, slightly elevate the tool rest to make it comfortable to hold the tool at the bevel angle you choose (Photo 4). The detail/spindle gouge is distinctively different than the other two types of gouges that turners typically use, because it has a shallow flute (Photo 1). You should feel the bevel rubbing the timber as it cuts, a term known as riding the bevel. I just finally sprang for a deep fluted bowl gouge. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. How far back you grind the elliptical shape is a question of creating access for side-cutting operations. Begin with the flute upright, with the bevel resting on the wood and the back of the handle held low. You will find that both often have the same angle of bevel and have fingernail profiles as well as more flat ones. Detail/spindle gouges typically range from 1/4 to 1 in width. Complete the shape by cutting a series of incrementally deeper and wider concave profiles on both sides of the groove. Alan lacer is a turner, writer, demonstrator and instructor living near River Falls, WI. Whether cutting coves, roughing material, or forming beads, the spindle gouge is incredibly versatile, and certainly a tool to beef up your arsenal! A great deal of material remains under the flute, creating a stiff, sturdy little tool. 2. What a difference compared to the other bowl gouges that I have. I know i use many tools in ways they werent intended an get good results. Also, learn to grind freehand, no jigs they are a waste of time and money. These two factors can lead to catches. The lathe speed can remain at 1700 rpm but the tool rest now needs to come down to the centre point and the gouge flute should be facing towards 2 o clock. Form the bevel and sharpen the elliptical edge one side at a time, using a corkscrew motion. Shows initial position pretty clearly, but after that you'll have to deduce the method from the shavings produced. I've been turning for less than a year and I'm trying to develop as few bad habits as possible. Nick Cook's article did not get into it heavily but there have been some good supporting discussion in this thread on why spindle roughing gouges are not a good fit for bowls, and in many cases they can be downright dangerous. This makes it easy to over-grind the sides and loose the elliptical shape. 2022 The Taunton Press, Inc. All rights reserved. A spindle roughing gouge that Nick refers to is a 1/2" with a very pronounced U shape. Traditional fingernail spindle gouges have a deeper flute than that of a detail spindle gouge, and a wider flute profile than your standard bowl gouge. As you practice, the initial cuts and turning/rolling moves will start to make sense. We have created these special content collections organized to give you a deep dive into a range of topics that matter.

The main difference between a Spindle Gouge and a Bowl Gouge is the shape and depth of the flute, with the Spindle Gouge being much shallower. Spindle gouges tend to be ground at a steeper, more aggressive angle than a bowl gouge. Detail/spindle gouges seldom come from the factory with an elliptical edge: Its much more likely to be straight, slightly domed or even pointed like a spear. Here are some supplies and tools we find essential in our everyday work around the shop. So how do i go about identifying my tools ? To hone the inside, hold the curved hone flat in the flute and follow the edge all the way around, again with a back-and-forth motion. Follow this step alternating direction from either 2 or 10 oclock. For modern high-speed-steel tools, diamond honing tools work best. The greatest obstacle when cutting a cove is overcoming the tendency of the tool to skate across the wood (or run back) when you start the cut (Photo 8). http://www.woodturningdesign.com/askdale/14/14.shtml. Always stop at the low point or centre of the cove to avoid cutting up hill. 3. All rights reserved, Free Woodworking Downloads From Lee Valley, I Can Do That! This requires a sharp tool, good technique and close observation of the shape as it is being formeddone by watching the horizon (the top edge of the blank) as you cut. Those corners are the part of the tool which will easily cause a catch on a bowl, particularly while doing the inside of a bowl. This profile allows cutting with the sides of the tool, which is especially useful for shaping coves and rolling beads: One each side, the more sharply-curved portion of the ellipse neatly cuts coves, while the more broadly-curved portion flows wonderfully over convex shapes. The bowl gouge is stronger as a rule as well. Then begin a light and slow twisting cut with the gouge, while keeping the bevel against the wood. Do a lot of readingby the authors Raffin, Darlow and Conover. I don't need to be anymore confused that what I already am. Gently lift the gouge until it begins to cut. (A quick note, I have no chapters or turning clubs near me so I'm learning by myself, doing, using video's, and books.Sometime's I do a really good job of sending myself down the wrong fork in the road.). In some cases, a detail gouge may be slightly thicker under the flute than a spindle gouge, but essentially theyre the same tool. 6. I'm new enough (less than a year) to turning to not know the history and nomenclature of all the tools. Theme by Barrel. Then make a shallow knife cut at one edge, just deep enough to create a shoulder that will support the tool. This gouge is the norm for turning bowls and vessels. These tools work best when they can move into air, so practice cutting concave shapes on the ends of a cylinder or by cutting into a groove that youve cut with a parting tool. The process is similar to creating a cove, but different. I am trying to sort out which turning tools to buy for the first time and based on some advice from a few shops and what I have read I think I know what I need except for the gouges. The woodnet thread deals with the deep U shaped roughing gouges none of which I own. Another challenge is to create a smooth bevela bevel with multiple facets leaves an inconsistent edge that will be impossible to hone. It turns out what was referred to as roughing gouges in my starter set are actually "continental gouges". The underlying cause is the tools sharp edge engaging the wood at the wrong angle, so theres no support for the bevel. Your link has been automatically embedded. Much Better!!!! Cherry plum - advice on drying/preparing? Bio: Commenting has been disabled.

Looking at the Axminster catalogue at bowl and spindle gouges what is the difference in profile? Sorry for getting sidetracted on autodidactism but one thing i believe in (especially in turning) is rules are meant to be broken, even its just to find out why its a rule in the first place. Its great for roughing out, shaping and finishing operations in such turnings. Be inspired by our latest features and projects, discover tips and learn new skills! For this application, its hands-down the best choice for cutting coves (concave shapes). Browse Our Full Line of Spindle Gouges Here. 10. I'll have to look at the picture again. I have a 1/4" spindle gouge that I ground the wings back on and it works pretty good (as long as you don't go too deep) for roughing out boxes and what not doesn't Richard Raffan use this technic for scoops and boxes? For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.