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Recently I have been looking to get a good gouge for my lathe, but have been stopped because of their high prices. I began thinking of how I could make a gouge, and the idea of using pipe came into my head. The gouge was easily made using some steel and a grinder; which, in the fourth and fifth pictures shows a lighter colored gouge, which was too soft of steel. Got it finished and went to try it and it bent and deformed quickly; pic 5. I then made a second out of some tougher piping, and when I tested it, it held up and cut great. I hope if any of you are looking for a cheap alternative to buying an $$$ gouge, this is it! Thanks for looking! DMiller

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Good Job==++ Good Idea.

The Rockler ad came today and the prices of their tools almost causes cardiac arrest!

Making jigs tools and all sorts of changes to existing plans, machines, and tools is just another aspect of what we do!

If you get the right gauge pipe and then temper it at least a little; it should work well enough. I am sure you will have to sharpen often though.
 

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Most iron pipe is relatively soft.
Electrical conduit is steel tube,
What's called rigid is thicker walled.
 

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Thanks guys!
 

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Dale

Its a bit cave man technology, durability wise, however if you drill a hole near the tip and fit a carbide cutting bit you will have some really durable gouges and also effecively a low cost outlay for high tech tools.

Have fun!!
 

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I saw a guy on youtube use a round pipe that he beveled the rim on to carve chess pawn tops. I was getting ready to try it myself! How long does it hold an edge?
 

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I like it. Might have to add to my arsenal of spring pole lathe tools. Thanks, Dale!
 

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Thanks for the comments, guys! LDO2802, so far I haven't used it much because of the rain we've had the last several days, (lathes outside), it seemed to hold an edge pretty good though. I try to remember to tell you all once iv'e used it a little more. Thanks for the comments!
 

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best bet would be to oil harden your pipe - the steel will be low carbon , you want to boost the carbon content ie make it harder - heat to cherry red and quench in oil (any old oil will do) be carefull it'll spit some!
The steel will take the carbon out of the oil and will give you a "shell" of high carbon steel (hard but brittle) around a core of low carbon steel - tough but blunts easy.
Do this AFTER sharpening or else when you put it on the grinder you will grind off all that lovely hard shell.
Hope this helps - it's what I do for jet ski gear teeth - must be hard outside with a tough core :eek:)
 

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Like robscastle suggested, you can buy a carbide cutter (http://www.easywoodtools.com/buy-here/) so ~$14 and screw it on a piece of solid square bar (few $ at your local steelyard) and then turn you own handle with it
Add a 0.2$ copper ferrule and you have a much better tool that doesn't need sharpening (rotate the cutter) and will stay sharp a lot longer.
That's how I started and it's suitable for spindle and bowl turning (along with a parting tool I made out of an old edger blade).
I can send you some pictures of these tools I made and still use today

Enjoy turning and be warned it's very addictive :)
 

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Thanks Colin and loupitou06! Loupitou06, i'd be glad to see some of your chisels, and yes, iv'e found woodturning is very addictive! Thanks guys!
 

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Most iron pipe is relatively soft.
Electrical conduit is steel tube,
What's called rigid is thicker walled.
 

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wow all ill say is you get what you pay for!if you want to do precision turning a piece of ground pipe aint gonna do it! spend the money and get the quality you desire.this is a joke-sorry but I'm not gonna make it sound all warm and fuzzy!!!!.save up and buy something of quality my friend!
 

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Thanks for the replies Mike and pottz! Pottz, I definitely agree that you get what you pay for and that this will not make a precision turning. Yes, I would agree that it may be a joke, but I figure that since I didn't spend anything to make it, I don't have anything to lose by trying! Saving up to buy a high quality one may be my best option, but I gotta have something to use while i'm saving, which, in this case is my homemade one! Thanks for the replies, guys!
 

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Thanks for the replies Mike and pottz! Pottz, I definitely agree that you get what you pay for and that this will not make a precision turning. Yes, I would agree that it may be a joke, but I figure that since I didn t spend anything to make it, I don t have anything to lose by trying! Saving up to buy a high quality one may be my best option, but I gotta have something to use while i m saving, which, in this case is my homemade one! Thanks for the replies, guys!

- DMiller
not trying to be a snob bud,when it comes to tools I just believe in quality,over quantity! sorry but your pipe made me judge!.or never judge a turning by its pipe!!!!.-lol.
 

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Thanks for the replies Mike and pottz! Pottz, I definitely agree that you get what you pay for and that this will not make a precision turning. Yes, I would agree that it may be a joke, but I figure that since I didn t spend anything to make it, I don t have anything to lose by trying! Saving up to buy a high quality one may be my best option, but I gotta have something to use while i m saving, which, in this case is my homemade one! Thanks for the replies, guys!

- DMiller

not trying to be a snob bud,when it comes to tools I just believe in quality,over quantity! sorry but your pipe made me judge!.or never judge a turning by its pipe!!!!.-lol.

Thanks, pottz! I value your advice highly! Thanks again!!

- pottz
 

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I think this is a reasonable attempt at toolmaking by a teenage novice. It is a way to start and to learn. What disturbs me more is that you keep your lathe outside in the rain. Perhaps you have no other option at this stage of life.
 

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I think this is a reasonable attempt at toolmaking by a teenage novice. It is a way to start and to learn. What disturbs me more is that you keep your lathe outside in the rain. Perhaps you have no other option at this stage of life.

- summerfi
Thanks for the comment, Bob! I would love to have my lathe inside, but our shed is small. It's not a huge deal to me though, as it is under shelter. Thanks for the concern and advice!
lumberjocks.com/projects/340089
 

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We all have to start somewhere. You and your brother are showing initiative and imagination. There are a lot worse ways for teens to spend their time than learning about woodworking and tools. Keep up the good work. Your posted projects show you are off to a good start.
 

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Thanks Bob! I appreciate the encouragement!
 

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Thanks for the suggestion to those of you who suggested using screwing cutters on to make chisels! On a recent tour of a machine shop, I was told I could use some of the scraps from the laser if I wanted. I didn't think I would use any of it, but decided to try using some of the circles as cutters. Here is the result: I modified my gouge that didn't work to be the handle of my new cutter/scraper. Thanks to those of you who suggested it!




 

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