I have just moved up from being a spindle turner to trying to turn bowls. I find my experience lacking. I sure could use a bunch of advice.
1. I have a 5/8 and 3/8″ bowl gouge with a fingernail grind. I find them VERY catchy, or I find they don’t cut at all. From my observation a bowl gouge doesn’t work well on an inside turning of 4 inches on green wood.
2. I find cutting interior grain difficult with the tools I have. Is there some special tool I should consider for cutting green or seasoned woods? Or is this technique?
3. The deeper the cuts the more difficult the work in small diameters. Any advise. My lathe is good, I have adjustable speed from 50 to 3,000
4. I have read in Konover’s book that states the bowl gouge grind is a learning process. He suggest not to go with a fingernail grind until you master the simple grinds. I understand what he understands….I am screwing up but don’t know how to turn a deep hole cleanly and safely!
(PS: on the Bowl gouges I am using a one way bowl gouge fixture. Turning 60 degrees on the front and a different grind- near vertical on the sides – but tuning the grinds to match. The front grind is curved and not flat)
All your comments would be greatly appreciated!!
Jim
Replies
I’m not quite sure what you are asking, but I use bowl gouges all the time and find they work just fine. I sharpen freehand and grind a fingernail goes back at least an inch on a 3/8” gouge and longer on a 1/2” and don’t worry too much about the angle.
When clearing out a green blank prior to drying I have the flute of the gouge at the 3 o’clock position as I cut rim to center and make sure you RUB THE BEVEL always or a catch is certain to happen. Richard Raffen’s video’s are very good on the subject and well worth the price.
Jim,
It sounds like your tool are sharpened properly and you have the right equipment. It sounds like your technique is at fault. I might suggest finding a local woodturner who can watch you turn and give you feed back. I have only had a few catches and they have all been because I get tired.
Chris @ www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com
- Success is not the key to happines. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
Chris,
I know it is not the tools or the machine it is me & my technique. I have finally stumbled across (well perhaps not the best choice of words) something that works well. I tool a cheep round nose scraper and put a 70 degree edge on it and to my surprise it ate up the end grain with out a catch.so I am on a turning curve no doubt about it!
Thanks for your replies.
Jim
What is the grain orientation of your stock?? If you are hollowing end grain that is a real bummer of a job, and expect catches with a gouge.
As for going "deep". Use a round nose scraper with the tool rest in as far as possible to cut to tool overhang as much as possible.
Work Safe, Count to 10 when your done for the day !!
Bruce S.
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