Spindle Gouges

Re: Spindle Gouges

John Lucas

>DGD

You can do spindle work with a bowl gouge but it sure is easier with a spindle gouge. I would highly recommend the new P@N gouge. I don't own one yet but have used one and I will own one soon. They are thick and don't chatter at all. They hold a good edge. I have about 4 others and like them but I think this is superior. John

Re: Spindle Gouges

Dennis Y

>Roughing gouges have a much smaller tang going into the handle and are subject to breakage there. The unevenness of a bowl blank creates huge loads on the tang. Dennis

Re: Spindle Gouges

Joe Herrmann

>When you are turning a bowl with a face grain blank, every revolution alternates between two end grain presentations and two face grain presentations. The roughing gouge isn't made to handle the end grain and will dig in and either bend or break the tool at the tang.

Joe

Re: Spindle Gouges

Fog Tanner

>I started in spindles first, then made bowls. You can use bowl gouges for spindle work, but the steel costs more. Its worth invetsing in a couple of shallow gouges just to keep from using up your bowl gouges on spindles. They are really deep fluted and shallow fluted gouges, but marketed as bowl and spindle gouges. But you are not limited in using one for that purpose. I use my shallow gouges for bowl work, mainly on the outside, but I have done the inside with a shwllow gouge. I have a 9/16" m4 shallow gouge that I use for roughing bowls as well as the shaping. I also use 1/2" shallow gouge for shaping bowls too. The first bowl I ever made was a 9" mesquite made entirely with a 1/2" shallow gouge and a 3/4" Raffan scraper I use for making boxes. For pure spindle work, a 3/8" and 1/2" gouge will do anything you want, along with a 1/2" and 3/4" skew. I use the 3/8" gouge more than the 1/2" and I use the skews more than the gouges with the 1/2" getting the most use. BUt, the 3/4" is great for planing cuts on cylinders. I have both the Henry Taylor and P&N and like both. The P&N is cheaper and the "detail gouge" is really nice with a lot more steel under the flute. I plan on buying some more P&N shallow gouges, a 3/8" detail and 1/2" shallow, along with their skew.

Re: Spindle Gouges

Ken Grunke from SW WI

>You need a tool for detail, such as v-cuts and other sharp inside corners. A skew is the best all-around tool for spindles, it can even do roughing. The only thing you can't do with it or it's very difficult, is sharp concave curves (coves).

That's where the spindle gouge comes in. If you already have a skew (I'm just reading between the lines of your post), and you think you need a smaller one, think again. Lacer, Raffan, and other mentors recommend a heavy one, at least 1/4" thick and 1" wide even for very fine work. So, if you do have such an animal, get a spindle gouge.

An alternative is a skewchigouge, which can do it all. If I were limited to just 2 tools, it would be that plus a parting tool.

Re: Spindle Gouges

Craig Daymon

>Except that the SkewChiGouge is probably THE easiest tool to make on your own. It's just solid rod and the rest is the grind, which you can find out about on Woodcraft and several other sites.

Re: Spindle Gouges

DGD

>Thanks to all for the responses regarding spindle gouges. I have a shopsmith skew - 1" Carbon steel that doesn't stay sharp for very long, but I find a bit big to try some of things I want to do. Practice may cure that! I have looked at some unhandled P&N spindle gouges and they seem quite reasonably priced.

Also now understand the rationale behind the roughing gouge and bowl blanks. Never even occurred to me about the potential of breaking the tang. thanks for all the feedback and advice. Greatly appreciated.

DGD

Re: Spindle Gouges

John K Jordan

>>I have a shopsmith skew - 1" Carbon steel ...

>but I find a bit big to try some of things I want to do

I have several skews here, including two 1" which I also find too large much of the time. My hands-down favorite is a 1/2". As for the spindle gouges I like the 3/8" best for most spindle turning.

I'd like to see more spindle work posted here, sprinkled between the bowls. I'll try to take some photos and post some of my own.

JKJ in East TN

Re: Spindle Gouges

John Lucas

>John

I'm planning on posting more spindle work. I also promised Joe Herman I would send in some spindle articles because he's having trouble getting those. I just have to get time. I should free up quite a bit more time in June.

Re: Spindle Gouges

Wayne Leach

>John,

Is this what they call the Supa gouge from P&N??? I have the big 1-1/4 roughing gouge, the 1-1/8 skew and the 5/8 and 3/8 bowl gouges and love the feel of them! Thanks, Wayne