Thread: Pen turning spindle gouge

Originally Posted by don716

What's your opinion on a spindle gouge for pens? Size and Brand.... Is Benjamins Best any good?,Robert Sorby ? 1/2" 3/8" ?

Donny

G'day Donny,

Buy the best you can afford. Make sure it is high-speed steel. Keep it sharp. Don't forget that skew works well too. It seems that people have different preferences for tools and a spindle gouge isn't the only way to skin a pen. As for size, well, I've used a 2 inch German spindle gouge on pens and been successful. These days I rough down the pen blanks with a sharp spindle gouge and final cuts with a skew before sanding.

Enjoy.

Originally Posted by don716

What's your opinion on a spindle gouge for pens? Size and Brand.... Is Benjamins Best any good?,Robert Sorby ? 1/2" 3/8" ?

Donny

I'm sure you'll find the Robert Sorby chisels a lot better quality than Benjamin's Best, but also a lot more expensive. The latter is a PSI brand much as Sherwood is Timbecon's over here, ie. Chinese or Tiawanese entry standard chisels. That said, I still think these entry level sets are good value. You get a range of chisels to get going with, to which you can add better quality ones as you progress and identify your preferences for chisel types.

The purists will say you should become adept with a skew and use it for just about everything except applying the finish, I would say use whatever you are comfortable with.

Well, I placed an order with Grizzly Tools and bought a 3/8" spindle gouge from Robert Sorby. I was going to get a 1/2" but they were out of stock.I figure if I'm going to do this I will buy the best starting out.I might have to buy one at a time but that works too.

Donny