turning a cove on a spindle

Top one is a detail gouge

Ken Vaughan

Jack

Looks like the top one is a detail gouge with a more shallow flute.

The deeper spindle gouge was will better match the deeper cove for me.

I find it easier if the flute shape is closer to the shape of the cove.

Re: turning a cove on a spindle

John C Lucas

Trying to answer this from my phone so apolgize for typing errors. You have to start the cut very very gently. There isn't a shoulder to rub the bevel against. I use an underhand grip with my left hand and put my thumb on the tool test against the gouge to keep it from skating. Then make the cut very gently until it's cut into the wood a short ways. Now you have a shoulder to rub the bevel and you can finish the cut. If you start the gouge hard your thumb won't stop it from kicking. If I was on the computer I'd would describe the geometry of why the tool.skates. if you go to www.youtube.com and type in john60lucas/coves it might bring up the video I did on turning coves

Re: turning a cove on a spindle

John C Lucas

I meant to say that the grind doesn't really matter although I did find when teaching that most students worked better with a 45 degree grind vs my usual 35. The size of the tool only only needs to be smaller.then the cove. I have used my 3/8" detail gouge for some very large coves

Re: turning a cove on a spindle

Jack Guzman from Maine

Thanks John,that should get me started. ---Jack

Re: turning a cove on a spindle

robo hippy

I don't do many, but when I do, I prefer a more pointed tool, or one that has more sweep. I use the wings, and not the nose. I never thought about the straight across grind for this purpose. I can do a fair job with Doug Thompson's fluteless gouges as well.

robo hippy

Link to Article *LINK*

Doc Green

Jack,

Here is a link to an article that shows a method for turning a cove using a fingernail grind spindle gouge. I find the cut goes much easier if the wings of the gouge are ground back a bit.

http://www.docgreenwoodturner.com/gouges7.html

~Doc


http://www.docgreenwoodturner.com/gouges7.html

link to the my video  *LINK*


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSybPNw4F1o

Check out Allan Batty

Geoff Whaling

Jack,

Both tools look like they require sharpening to me. Having keen edges on spindle turning tools makes life easier, much easier to pick up a cut, less force required to cut, and a much much better finish off the tool without torn fibres.

The profile of the spindle gouges has left sharp corners (wings) which make rolling a cove a little more difficult to control as the wing catches easily if you aren't aware of what part of the tool edge is cutting and where the rest of the tool edge is relative to the cut and work piece.

I prefer a fingernail grind on spindle gouges myself as it gives a lot of flexibility and many options for cutting on spindle work. A little more fragile edge, a little more difficult to start a cut, but gives a far superior cut.

Check out Allan Batty's video on spindle turning - Alan was an exceptional spindle turner. "The Skew Chisel with Allan Batty" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfeLAHQSbqk

Even though the title says skew it is really about spindle turning and covers most cuts & tools.

Re: turning a cove on a spindle

Keith Tompkins

Hi Jack, Here's how I turn coves. I start out with the very tip of the gouge contacting the turning at the centerline of the turning, 90 degrees to the bed, the flute facing the cut. The bevel controls the angle of the beginning of the cove cut. With the tip of the gouge just touching the turning, let it form a small groove. The groove will give enough support to the bevel so it won't run on you. Chances are, you are using a higher tool rest position, because of this, the tool wants to skate away. As you progress in the cut, roll the tool so the flute is facing up when half the cove is complete. Repeat the same procedure for the other side. I also grind my wings way back to avoid catches as I roll the tool to complete the cove. When you roll the tool over to complete the cove, keep the bevel rubbing; it's; not a scraping cut.

Re: turning a cove on a spindle

Keith Tompkins

A sample of some spindles from a commission. I started out as a spindle turner.

Thanks

Jack Guzman from Maine

What a great place this Woodcentral is. Helpful answers. I'm going to work on this tomorrow and do some practice coves. I will also be experimenting with a few grinds too.

thanks ---Jack

Re: turning a cove on a spindle

Brad Vietje

That's a pretty tight cove, too, so not as easy as a broader shape. I do what Keith shows, and my detail gouge is sharpened just about like the diagram, too.

Looked for a photo of my detail gouge, and while I didn't find one doing spindle work, I have one showing how I use it to get finish cuts on the outside of a natural edge bowl. I grind this in the same sort of jig used for the Ellsworth grind on a bowl gouge, but with a 40 degree bevel angle, and swept back quite a bit. The bevel on the lower side has gotten a bit out of shape as shown -- should not allow that top edge to become concave if possible.

Safe spinning,

Brad Vietje

Newbury, VT

BTW: decent chance for northern lights tonight; might be worth looking every now and then....

I now do most of my infrequent spindle.....

JamieDonaldson

...turning with my Thompson detail gouge, ground very much like the image Brad posted, but with the heel relieved as well. Its very easy to sharpen with my Wolverine jig, and bevel angle is about 40 degrees.

Re: turning a cove on a spindle

Keith Tompkins

Brad, Your grind is almost exactly like mine! I also use the same tool on a bowl, as you picture here. Super clean cut, Have you ever used a continental style gouge on a bowl? (Of course, I won't admit to it!)

northern lights

John K Jordan

>decent chance for northern lights tonight

You got me excited there. It looks like they won't reach to TN this time. I've missed the rare occurrences in the past due to weather or caught napping.

Hey Brad, you might be interested - I finally bought some Canon 10x42L image stabilizing binoculars last week after a year of internal debate. WOW! I had read all the pros and cons and watched the YouTube videos but I am still blown away by what these will do.

I had clear sky just one night so far. The moon snapped into place like the binocs were on a tripod. M42 and some other things were easier to see without the wiggles.

Watching the birds and deer and llamas and horses in the fields is much more pleasant. I have two other high quality 10x42 nocs and this L glass is every bit as good. These are heavier and bulkier but turned out to be far easier to grip and use than I had worried.

I can't wait to try them from a boat or from a moving car! I should probably let someone else drive...

JKJ

Re: turning a cove on a spindle

Keith Tompkins

Jack, how are you turning the filet between the bead and the cove?

Re: turning a cove on a spindle

Jack Guzman from Maine

I cut that fillet with the tip of my skew. I cut it in after making the bead.---Jack

Re: turning a cove on a spindle

Brad Vietje

Hey Keith -- I have not used a continental gouge in this way, but I have a few that I inherited from my dad -- old carbon steel gouges from the 50's & 60's from Craftsman and ShopSmith, so I'll have to try it.

I sometimes make the entry cut on the bark edge with the 3/8 detail gouge shown, but I've been known to use a 3/8 Sorby spindle gouge with a very long flat bevel sharpened on a 12" sanding disk, There's a lot less steel under the flute, but with a very acute cutting edge, I can sometimes get a clean cut across the bark where other tools just don't do it as well. I also use this tool to make deep, narrow coves like the one Jack posted to start this thread, being careful to stay on the downhill side of the tip after making the entry cut.

Safe spinning,

Brad Vietje

Newbury, VT

Re: northern lights

Brad Vietje

Cool -- I'd love to see what they will do with a dark Summer Milky Way! Once the Moon is out of the way, you may get a glimpse of Comet Catalina, but it's expected to fade fast.

I'll probably get to try some image stabilized bino's at Stellafane if I seek them out. In the past, I've had so many responsibilities there that I haven't had enough time to just play. I'll put that on my mental to-do list.

Clear skies,

Brad Vietje

Newbury, VT

Re: turning a cove on a spindle

Keith Tompkins

That's the way...the parting tool leaves a jagged edge.

Astrophotography with iPhone

John K Jordan

Another thing that surprised me recently. Last year I got a pair of 5x night vision (gen 1) binoculars for checking the fields at night. (Image quality stinks but they are still incredibly useful)

When in Hatteras we were looking at boats on the horizon from the beach house deck when my son aimed them at the sky. So many stars I had trouble finding things even at 5x! Although the view was grainy, I didn't know image intensifiers worked that well.

I showed him the Andromeda galaxy using the method I use for kids - I locate using one eyepiece while the other person looks through the other. He held his iPhone up to his eyepiece and I was surprised at the picture he got of M31!

JKJ