Thread: Bowl Gouge advice

Unfortunately there is no gouge that will stay sharp enough to turn a large bowl in one hit.

Even small bowls (up to 6") the tool will probably be sharpened 2-3 times or it should be. The final 2 cuts should be done with a freshly sharpened tool.

On some of our Aussie hardwoods you will probably sharpen up to 20 times on a 12" bowl. Maybe more.

Some of your American h'woods are pretty good too.

Ok May I hijack this thread to ask another question..I do hope you don't mind.. What size would be the best to buy for small bowl turning on a mini lathe, and which brand is the better or is that personal preference?
Toni

Hi Toni

For a small bowl I would normally use a 8mm or 5/16" bowl gouge
As for preference I use both the P&N and a Sorby and find that I will use either depending on the wood so it really is a matter of personal preference

Cheers DJ

Originally Posted by lubbing5cherubs

Ok May I hijack this thread to ask another question..I do hope you don't mind.. What size would be the best to buy for small bowl turning on a mini lathe, and which brand is the better or is that personal preference?
Toni

a 5/8" bowl gouge, ground with a slight fingernail will get into nearly any size bowl & will chatter less than smaller gouges because of its size.
Brand doesnt really matter as long as the toolsteel is hss or better ,has a deep flute & is set deeply into the handle for strength.
there will still be some cranky woods though that will leave a better finish using a carbon steel tool.hope i have helped.

Have a look at the Jerry Glaser tools at http://www.cuttingedgetools.com/Onli...laserHiTec.htm
( no commercial interest) I bought one over a year ago and it stays sharper MUCH longer than any other tool I own. I don't know how the 2060 Hamlet steel and the Glaser Hi Tec steel compare:confused:

Size is critical if you can only have one gouge. And it's hard to advise since diff countries measure the size in diff ways.

Mostly I find beginners buying too big - so the cuts are too big and the bevel is too long to 'turn the corner' and grain tear out is the result of both of these.

I'm a fan of the Taylor superflute and have found their 3/8" the most versatile with bowls ranging from around 6" diam upwards. This gouge has two radii allowing heavy cuts with the wings and fine finishing cuts with the flute centre.

And Taylor HSS steel is noticeably better than Sorby steel. Don't ask me why; I only use the things.

I like the Henry Taylor Superflute the best too.
I have a couple of Crowns that are almost exactly the same profile & they don't seem to hold their edge as well as the Henry Taylor.

I'm interested to see what the new Henry Taylor Kryo is going to be like.

Me3.

P&N - Way to Go!

Yeah, the steel in P&N is pretty good, but the flutes need some serious work with a slipstone. Shape on the smaller ones is more U than V which isn't my favorite.

P&N is the way to go