Question for Glaser tool Users....

Re: Question for Glaser tool Users....

Hawaii Turner

>Michael,

I just recently acquired a Glaser 3/4" (3/4" od)bowl gouge, and I don't find the surfaces rough. The od seems to be shot blaster and the flutes are ground finished, but not polished.I bought this in anticipation of replacing a Sorby 5/8" (3/4" od) bowl gouge that is short on life. In use, the Glaser did a wonderfully smooth finish cut on the inside of a large bowl, but when I attempted using it for large semi-roughing cuts on the outside of a large Cook Pine vessel,it constantly clogged. The 'V' flute just wouldn't spit the chips out. I switched back to the Sorby and the chips just came out of there nicely. This has been one of my favorite tools for larger work. I guess that I will be ordering another soon. BTW, both tools have an 'Elllsworth' type grind. I guess the old adage that "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" strikes again.

Aloha, Doug

Re: Question for Glaser tool Users....

Darryl Hansen

>The Galser has a "V" shped flute. The "regular" Elsworth type gouges have a "U" shaped flute. You get different cutting edges with the same "E;sworth" grind on both. I get different shavings form ther two types of gouge.

I have a 3/8" & 5/8" Glaser gouges

Dominic Greco at home in Richboro, PA

>Mike,

You wrote:

"My concern with the Glasers, which I've never seen in the flesh, is that the steel seems incredibly rough on the outside of the bar stock and possibly even inside the flute. I can't imagine it's that way from the factory, but I'd appreciate hearing from some of you about the finish inside the flute, and whether you have to fuss with it."

I have both the 3/8" and 5/8" A-11 Tool Steel bowl gouges made by Jerry Glaser. I like to refer to them as my "go to" gouges. I use the 5/8" for hollowing out bowls while rough turning, and the 3/8" for detail work. I will tell you that the steel used in each is not as shiney as the Sorby gouges. But this is just the color. Not the finish. And this does not inhibit the formation or ejection of chips.

I will say this; I find that I need to sharpen these tools, on the average 3 times less than I do with my Sorby HSS bowl gouges. And I've been turning a lot of Cherry, maple, Osage and Hickory lately, if that gives you any idea of the hardness of the wood I'm dealing with.

I am as satisfied with these gouges as I was when I first got them (And it's been about 2 years now). I highly recommend them. If you're still undecided and you want to try them out, give me a yell.

See ya around,

Dominic