conclusions of a new turner

Re: conclusions of a new turner

JL

>3/8" spindle gouge is good. Flat scraper for the bottoms. Half round heavy duty for the sides. People get attached to certain tools. You'd also go broke getting one of everything (sometimes two).

Re: conclusions of a new turner

John K Jordan

>For flat sided boxes, Sorby (and perhaps others) make a nice scraper that I think works well. It is ground on the end and down one side but that side is angled some to allow more control.

If you are doing lot of boxes, you might check into a special tool rest that fits into the box. This makes it cutting/scraping the bottom a lot easier. I got one from Best Wood Tools.

Also, if you haven't seen it, I think Raffan's book "Turning Boxes" is worth the cost.

JKJ in East TN

Re: conclusions of a new turner

ken chase

>Thanks. I just noticed a rest like that in one of the catalogs. Will it fit my Powermatic 20"?

Re: conclusions of a new turner

John K Jordan

>>Will it fit my Powermatic 20"?

Measure your tool rest shaft. The one from Best is sold separately from the shaft so you can get one to fit your lathe.

I'd measure the height as well since some shafts are shorter than others - you want to make sure it will reach to the center line of the headstock spindle. I bought one rest with the right diameter shaft but had to take it back since it was too short for my lathe.

JKJ in East TN

Re: conclusions of a new turner

John Lucas

>Ken

I use either a 3/8 spindle gouge with sort of an Ellsworth gring or my 1/2" bowl gouge most often. Sometimes a roundnose scraper is just the right tool for problem boxes.

Re: conclusions of a new turner

Fog Tanner

>I use a 1/2" shallow gouge and several different scrapers depending on the inside profile (flat bottom or round). On some boxes, that I make on my Escoleoun( Sp??) chuck, I use the Ray key gouge. I have those in 3/8" and 1/2". They are a little easier on the side loads than the Raffin backhollowing that I normally use.

Basicly, whatever works for you and what you get comfortable with.

Re: conclusions of a new turner

Dave Shombert

>Ken -

You can do an awful lot with those two tools, as you've discovered. Another one that I like a lot is the tool made by Soren Berger and usually listed in catalogs (e.g., Packard Woodworks) as the "Berger tool." Sharpening the tool is a bit different - I find it goes best on a small belt sander, but it can be done on wheel. The tool works very well and is easy to control.

Dave Shombert

Elkins, WV