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Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge

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Bowl Gouge Grinding Help

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Bowl Gouge Grinding Help

#1

Bowl Gouge Grinding Help

Tom Minehan

>I have a question about sharpening a 1/2 in. Sorby bowl gouge. I am relatively new at turning bowls and I seem to get a lot of catches with this gouge. I have tried to follow the factory grind when sharpening. Looking at the pictures in the "Grinds Library" I see the shape of my grind appears to be different. The pictures show the cutting edges from the corners of the flute to the cutting tip to be flat or perhaps slightly convex. Mine looks to be concave or "hollow ground". Looking at the profile there is a definite upsweep of the cutting edge at the tip. I'm wondering if this grind contributes to catches and how to change it. I'm using a "True Grind" jig. Thanks for your help!

Re: Bowl Gouge Grinding Help

#2

Re: Bowl Gouge Grinding Help

Wally Dickerman at Green Valley, Az.

>Yes, a concave profile is not a desirable grind. To get a convex profile, lay your gouge on the tool rest, flute side down. Then, by raising the handle, grind the profile that you want. Using that profile, proceed to grind the tool in the regular way, until you get a desired cutting edge.

Wally

Re: Bowl Gouge Grinding Help

#3

Re: Bowl Gouge Grinding Help

TDaniel

>Wally is correct. Turn the tool upside down and shape the end like you want it; then sharpen to the inside edge of the flute. Remember, your grinding jig only gives you a starting point (end angle) and an ending point (side angle); everything in between is by hand/eye coordination. If you see a high spot forming you must grind it off; a low spot means you have ground it too long. All jigs are pretty much equal and will do the job but since none of them have stops it is up to you to control the shape. My grind is shown in the library and is very similar to Dave Peebles, Ellis', and Ellsworth's grind (and others). A round end and a convex grind will let you go from the inside rim to the bottom center of a bowl without changing tools or stopping the cut. If you don't get success quickly with grinding this shape you may need to get help rather than wasting your tool; setting up these jigs isn't as easy as it looks.

TD

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