Spindle gouge sharpening

**Tiger** · 26th October 2005, 12:29 AM

Dear all,

I wonder if you can give me advice on how to sharpen spindle gouges freehand. I think I've mastered most of the other tools but the spindle gouge proves elusive. What is happening is that I wind up with a pointy tip rather than a rounded tip. I've tried a few different approaches like raising the gouge after it's rotated on the grinder, also tried fanning the gouge but still end up with this pointy tip. Why is this happening? I've also tried to practise the correct motion with the grinder off. Any advice welcome and can you tell me from your experiences approximately how long it took you to learn how to sharpen spindle gouges freehand. At this stage I'd rather focus on a freehand approach rather than a jig.

**RETIRED** · 26th October 2005, 12:53 AM

I did offer to teach you.

**DavidG** · 26th October 2005, 10:17 AM

approximately how long it took you to learn how to sharpen spindle gouges freehand

About the length of time it takes to grind away one spindle gouge.

**Tiger** · 26th October 2005, 12:30 PM

Originally Posted by DavidG

About the length of time it takes to grind away one spindle gouge.

Good, then I reckon I can master it in an hour and a half

.

**JackoH** · 26th October 2005, 01:08 PM

Take up 's offer. He showed me a long time ago. I've not had a problem since. (Beautiful finger nail!)
How important are lessons when you are starting out???

**Skew ChiDAMN!!** · 26th October 2005, 08:08 PM

A fingernail profile on spindle gouges? :confused:

Am I missing something here??

IMHO a spindle gouge is best sharpened by simply rolling the tool along it's axis, no fanning. A bowl gouge though...

**DavidG** · 26th October 2005, 08:34 PM

The plane across the top of the gouge (top of each side) remains horizontal whilst sweeping the handle from left to right, keeping the tip at the desired angle to the wheel..
Oh. I give up. Get a lesson or two. I can not describe it...........

ps
Found this on web Finger nail grind
Looks like I do it wrong.

**Auld Bassoon** · 26th October 2005, 09:23 PM

Originally Posted by JackoH

Take up 's offer. He showed me a long time ago. I've not had a problem since. (Beautiful finger nail!)
How important are lessons when you are starting out???

Exactly! I have to agree with JackoH! Being shown how is just so much more effective that trying to re-invent extant knowledge - and 's a pretty good teacher, so I've heard...

I was getting befuddled by hand-cutting dovetails, a few hours with WB and I was only, well "fuddled"

Cheers!

**Mike Jefferys.** · 26th October 2005, 11:11 PM

If you want to crack it free-hand IMHO you'll have to put in the time to get the hand-eye skill on board. It's a skill like any other and more demanding than many. Some people have very good hands and a natural aptitude - the rest of us either take the time to learn or use a jig. After 20+ years turning I often now use a jig for gouges because they are now such a mature product. I like a predictable, repeatable, fast outcome with minimal powdered HSS $$ on the floor.
Mike Jefferys

**JackoH** · 27th October 2005, 10:09 AM

Originally Posted by Skew ChiDAMN!!

A fingernail profile on spindle gouges? :confused:

Am I missing something here??

IMHO a spindle gouge is best sharpened by simply rolling the tool along it's axis, no fanning. A bowl gouge though...

I think you are confused!
I roll a bowl gouge along it's axis with a slight movement too the left and right. A spindle gouge though........

**Cliff Rogers** · 27th October 2005, 12:32 PM

Originally Posted by Skew ChiDAMN!!

A fingernail profile on spindle gouges?
Am I missing something here??...

Depends what you call a spindle gouge.

The wide flatish rolled toolsteel bar with a shallow flute I was taught to call a spindle gouge I have since heard called

1. A roughing gouge.

2. A french gouge.

3. A continential gouge.

The narrow one made from a solid bar with a shallow flute ground in it is what I call a 'detail gouge'

Mind you, I dragged out my old 'wide flatish rolled toolsteel bar with a shallow flute' & stuck it in a jig & put a very shallow angle (approx 30°) fingernail on it & had a play with it.
It works like a one sided oval skew that will cut to the left or to the right.
It's handy in a spindle roughing race at a turnout.

**Tiger** · 27th October 2005, 02:23 PM

Originally Posted by JackoH

Take up 's offer. He showed me a long time ago. I've not had a problem since. (Beautiful finger nail!)
How important are lessons when you are starting out???

is unavailable for a week or so and I will be going to see him but in the meantime I've got some finials to make......

After another play I am getting a little closer but not quite that rounded tip. I keep getting a triangular profile.

Skewchidamn, I used to use your motion for spindle gouge but that only accentuated the pointed tip. That motion works fine for bowl gouges though.

By the way, anyone have a clear definition of what a detail gouge is compared to a spindle gouge, does it depend on the flute and its length perhaps?

**JackoH** · 27th October 2005, 02:41 PM

Spindle gouge/detail gouge. IMHO synonomous.

**Cliff Rogers** · 27th October 2005, 07:10 PM

It's worth trotting this link out those of you who have not seen it.

http://www.woodcentral.com/newforum/grinds.shtml

**Cliff Rogers** · 27th October 2005, 07:16 PM

Here's what I call a spindle gouge & a detail gouge.

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