michael_m
8th March 2013, 05:01 PM
Hi all,
I've come into a bit of birthday cash, and am thinking about getting a tool/tools for decorating and embellishing my turnings.
I am wanting something I can use on pens, bowls, and general spindle turnings. (given my lathe and skill limitations, most of my 'work' is in the 5-30cm diameter range).
In my research, the main contenders that have come up are:
Sorby texturing or spiralling/texturing tool. It is the most expensive option, maxing out my budget, but it does spiral as well as texture and apparently cuts its pattern in. Is it worth the extra money though? It is the largest tool of all the options. (Crown makes an almost identical looking tool as well)
Sorby micro-texturing/spiralling tool. Same as above, but over $100 cheaper, and much smaller. Ideally sized for pens. Is it too small for bowls or larger turned objects though?
Henry Taylor Decorating Elf. Also cuts its pattern in. Looks really versatile and can do both end and side grain. But it is small, and I don't know how well it would do larger surfaces. Also, are the coving and point tools really necessary, or can they be replaced by a skew and small spindle gouge?
Timberly Textura. The new version is now available. I like the concept of being able to change wheels, and using it on both end and side grain, concave and convex surfaces. It embosses its patterns in (is that a bad thing, or not? I am uncertain). But the older version has had mixed reviews, from searching this forum.
Wagner Texturing Tool. From previous threads on here, it has received good reviews, and is the only one I have seen in action in the flesh (so to speak). But it only has one pattern, and others need to be bought for different patterns/textures, and it is not intended for bowls or concave surfaces (according to the advertising). Having said that, each Wagner tool is, by itself, cheaper than any of the others (3 different Wagners together are approx. the price of one Textura). It embosses its patterns.
Does anyone have any opinions or experiences of any of the above (or other) tools? Am I being a bit optimistic in wanting just one tool for a variety of situations and do I need to consider getting a couple of them? Is embossing or cutting the pattern better, or is it a matter of personal preference or different techniques for different results?
Your thoughts, comments and advice will be gratefully received.
Thanks in advance, Mike
I've come into a bit of birthday cash, and am thinking about getting a tool/tools for decorating and embellishing my turnings.
I am wanting something I can use on pens, bowls, and general spindle turnings. (given my lathe and skill limitations, most of my 'work' is in the 5-30cm diameter range).
In my research, the main contenders that have come up are:
Sorby texturing or spiralling/texturing tool. It is the most expensive option, maxing out my budget, but it does spiral as well as texture and apparently cuts its pattern in. Is it worth the extra money though? It is the largest tool of all the options. (Crown makes an almost identical looking tool as well)
Sorby micro-texturing/spiralling tool. Same as above, but over $100 cheaper, and much smaller. Ideally sized for pens. Is it too small for bowls or larger turned objects though?
Henry Taylor Decorating Elf. Also cuts its pattern in. Looks really versatile and can do both end and side grain. But it is small, and I don't know how well it would do larger surfaces. Also, are the coving and point tools really necessary, or can they be replaced by a skew and small spindle gouge?
Timberly Textura. The new version is now available. I like the concept of being able to change wheels, and using it on both end and side grain, concave and convex surfaces. It embosses its patterns in (is that a bad thing, or not? I am uncertain). But the older version has had mixed reviews, from searching this forum.
Wagner Texturing Tool. From previous threads on here, it has received good reviews, and is the only one I have seen in action in the flesh (so to speak). But it only has one pattern, and others need to be bought for different patterns/textures, and it is not intended for bowls or concave surfaces (according to the advertising). Having said that, each Wagner tool is, by itself, cheaper than any of the others (3 different Wagners together are approx. the price of one Textura). It embosses its patterns.
Does anyone have any opinions or experiences of any of the above (or other) tools? Am I being a bit optimistic in wanting just one tool for a variety of situations and do I need to consider getting a couple of them? Is embossing or cutting the pattern better, or is it a matter of personal preference or different techniques for different results?
Your thoughts, comments and advice will be gratefully received.
Thanks in advance, Mike