First Time Turning #2: Let's Talk about Gouges... 'cause nobody else is...

Looks like you’re using a shallow spindle gouge to do faceplate work. Do you have a bowl gouge? If not – look into them…

Whatever tool you use, (you could use a scraper, but it would take awhile!) the approach (tool to wood) should be made in line with the axis of the lathe center (gosh, I hope I’m saying this right). Looks like your trying to do spindlework (90 degrees to the axis), which works on long grain work between centers…

But, when you try that when turning a bowl blank you’re likely to get stuck and dig into the endgrain portion of your face mounted work…

Not sure if any of this helps, but hope so!

Bowl gouge, bowl gouge, bowl gouge…

-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA

Looking up bowl gouge… I definitely don’t have a bowl gouge. I will look into getting one. Now that I’m looking, I defintely don’t have a roughing gouge, either.

“In line with the axis of the lathe center”... I’m trying to visualize this, but I’m not seeing it. Maybe you can scan and post a hand sketch of this.

Thanks, Dorje, thinking of the grain helps me understand my problem. It does suprise me the shape of the blade makes that big a difference.

-- All the test cuts in the world won't stop you from cutting the outside when you meant to cut the inside. doh!

Looking at the gouges, relative to the grain, they are on exact opposite sides… just as it turns from end grain to side grain.

-- All the test cuts in the world won't stop you from cutting the outside when you meant to cut the inside. doh!

The top picture seems to show you using the gouge upside down. With the cupped side toward the work you are sure to get a catch. Try turning the gouge over and rest the “bevel” against your work and rotate the handle until you start geting a cut.
The second picture is too close to be sure but you seem to have the bevel right side up but the fulcrum (rest )is set too low. I should be at or just higher than the center of your stock.
The angle of attack again for the gouge should be from the side and not on the end as you are showiing.

Lastly as pointed out earlier , you seem to be using a spindle gouge(left). What you should be looking for is a bowl gouge (right).

If you are going to continue with this craft, I would suggest you get a copy of this DVD will bring you up to speed very quickly.

Cheers
Bob

-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner

check out Mot’s videos re: turning a bowl.
Maybe they’ll help.

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

MsDeb sent you in the right direction. Bob#2 also has good photos of a bowl gauge. REad, Read, read until your eyes hurt. there are some great beginner books out there. Also, you don’t want a burr on a bowl gauges … that’s for scarpers. Robert Sorby makes great bowl gauges right out of the package. Also tulsa must be big enough to have a Woodcraft store. They have great advice and turning classes. HAVE FUN with turnning.

-- Odie, Confucius say, "He who laughs at one's self is BUTT of joke". http://woodstermangotwood.blogspot.com/ (my funny blog)

From the top picture it looks like you have the tool a long way from the tool rest. To minimise vibration & chatter you need to have the tool rest below the centre axis and fairly close to the work when cutting. you might find with the tool you have that a side rake approach will cut much better than pushing the point into the wood to cut, a side rake will also direct the scraps away from your face which makes things a lot more comfortable. Have the job spin as fast as possible without vibrating. Good luck and don’t give up, turning is very rewarding.

-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python

Coperjock,

First things first. You own what seems to be a spindle gouge as opposed to a bowl gouge. What this means is that your tool is too fragile for bowls and mistakes will end in bent tools (it seems that this already happened). What this does not mean is that you got a catch because you used a spindle gouge. The catch would have been a lot more spectacular with a bowl gouge probably.

Second, the theory says that you have to cut with the bevel but the trick is to be able to keep the bevel rubbing very precisely. The way you hold the tool in figure 1, the smallest move of the handle up will make the tool catch. While a seasoned turner could control the bevel in that position (I can), as a beginner you have no chance. The tool is used as a fulcrum and the trick to control it is to make the part that hangs over the tool rest as short as possible. That means that you have to cut with the side not the tip of the gouge. In the video I posted in my blog you will see me using a bowl gouge sideways to rough up the work. This means a lot more control and large shavings.

In the last figure you use the gouge as a scraper. Scrapers are very inefficient cutters and leave a rough surface (unless you do sheer cutting, a story for another day). You should avoid scraping as much as possible.

What I suggest is you look at my video and see how I use the gouge. Then, when you get the funds, you get the largest bowl gouge you can afford. The video is here: http://lumberjocks.com/jocks/alindobra/blog/2719

Good luck,
Alin

-- -- Alin Dobra, Gainesville, Florida

Thanks, folks for all the good tips… the journey continues into the next blog…

-- All the test cuts in the world won't stop you from cutting the outside when you meant to cut the inside. doh!

Hey Copper, thanks for asking. I am picking up a lot from this, too.