Knowledge You Can Build On — Est. 1998
Turning tools
echo8287
>I bought a cheap set of turning tools to get started with. They are HSS. I was wonderering if I could get people to post their single favorite turning tool, brand and size or width. I was hoping to buy maybe a tool a payday for awhile and get some quality ones. I would like to know what you're using them for too. I want to turn some lamps,bowls, and spindles. I searched the past messages and found some posts already. Thanks for any replys, David
Re: Turning tools
TomW In SouthJersey
>I'd recommend the first "tool" you buy is Bill Grumbine's DVD. Watch his technique with a bowl gouge and then decide which bowl gouge is for you. After studying Bill's DVD my main tool became the bowl gouge. I'd like to say I've attained his finesse with it but I'm working on it.
My .02
Tom
Re: Turning tools
echo8287
>Tom I have Bill's DVD and found it very good. Only thing I was missing is he doesn't mention lathe speed for each section of work and maybe its a given but I'd like to have a ballpark to start in. I like his straight forward approach to demostrating, and he seems like a real nice guy. I also liked the ZZTop mention,thought that was funny. David
Re: Turning tools
Fred in NC
>If you bough the HF 8 piece set that sells for about $35, please know that I have that set in use for over 2 yrs. I have added other 'brand' tools, each one costing me more than that set.
HSS is good material. The HSS from China that I have seen is a good value for the money. I invested in a good grinding setup before I bought any more 'good' tools.
Re: Turning tools
Jennifer@Indy.USA
>My favorite is my 3/8 Crown PM bowl gouge with a fingernail grind. I use it for almost everything. Bowls and spindles....that will tell you something about my spindle work. Ha!
Jennifer
Re: Turning tools
Larry
>One I really love is a 3/8" Glaser in A-11. Buy it from "The Cutting Edge" unhandled and turn your own handle and it doesn't come out too pricey.
Re: Turning tools
Michael Stadulis, in Gloucester County, NJ
>Larry,
Does the Glaser handle work with set screws? What diameter is the round stock compared to the dimension stated for their tools?
Thanks,
Mike
Re: Turning tools
Mike Schwing from Md.
>Single favorite gouge type tool? Undoubtedly it is the 5/8" Ellsworth Signature Gouge, in a big, heavy handle. I have several in fact. It is used for nearly everything except small detail work. I use it for truing to final shearing cuts. Mostly I turn medium sized (12"-18") bowls.
Re: Turning tools
TomW In SouthJersey
>David - I certainly can't speak for Bill but I would guess he doesn't talk about lathe speed since it is relative to the lathe, size of the piece, type of wood, and the skill of the operator. I found when I started that slower speeds were safer and allowed me to gain some skills with the gouges. Once I began to gain some techniques depending on the wood type and the piece I was turning I now adjust the speed accordingly. I found I have deveoped a "feel" for what the correct speed should be. Slower for bigger, rough bowl blanks and faster for small bottlestopper and box sized blanks.
Tom
Re: Turning tools
DougJ in Crawfordsville, IN
>My favorite tool of all is my Packard 1/2" bowl gouge. For two reasons, one is it came from an unknown friend on another forum. (Thanks to that person again) Secondly, this tool seems to fit my hands real good. I put a swept back grind on it after watching Bill Grumbine's DVD and its my tool of choice.
Favorite Tool?
Ron in Drums PA
>I guess it's the one I'm using.
Bowl Turning
Bowl Gouge 1/2"
Half round scraper 1"x3/8"
Skew
Spindle Turning
Roughing gouge 3/4"
Spindle Gouge 3/8"
Skew
Hollowing
Still working on that.
Ditto!
Carole in VA
>Except I also have a 3/8 " Crown Spindle Gouge that I love. I use those two tools on just about everything along with my Crown scraper and diamond parting tool.
Exactly!
Barry Irby
>My Ellsworth gouge would be the last tool I would give up. I also like my 1 1/4" skew with the curved Raffin grind, the diamond parting tool, a big heavy scraper rounded on the left and my power sanding set up.
Get Bill's DVD, and be sure to get the sharpening set up for the Ellsworth gouge. One side of my (cheap low speed Woodcraft) grinder stays set up for the Ellsworth gouge. I can touch it up in about thirty seconds and be back to turning. sharpening without a jig??? Forget about it!
I turn bowls with the gouge, but I also turn finials or icicles for ornaments with it.
Re: Turning tools
JL
>5/8" bowl gouge for bowls.
1 1/4" skew, 3/8" spindle gouge, 3/8" bedan and fluted parting tool for spindle work.
Re: Turning tools
Ed in No.VA
>crown 5/8" Ellsworth Signature Gouge
Pinnacle 1/2" spindle
HF 1"+ skew
and all my P&N tools
What Carol said :)
Mike Rubes, Apex, NC
>My favorite is a 3/8" Crown PM spingle gouge with a not too laid back grind to it. I really like the length of the handle and how I can really snug it up to me when I use it. I use it at some point on about everything I turn.
My bowl gouge is a 1/2 inch Crown which I do like, but I still have issues getting a really consistent grind to it, even with my Oneway jig. Funny, the jig works great on the spingle gouge and, I think, would work fine with a little more work on my part.
Neat idea for a thread.
Mike
Fun tools abound in Apex, NC!!
Re: What Carol said :)
Carole in VA
>Mike, do you change the angle on the jig? I have mine marked for settings for spindle and bowl gouges. I use grind pretty long wings on both my spindle and bowl gouges.
