Turning Chisel Types and Uses

[Burnsy]

Hi all, just got an old Taiwanese Ryobi lathe to use for making tool handles and a few other things. I have not turned anything since I was at school and have forgotten most of what I learnt. I fired up the lathe yesterday and had a play then came in here and did a heap of searches but I can't find anywhere with a description and photo of each chisel type and what it should be used for. Has anyone found anything like this on line that they can post a link to?

Thanks,
Mike

[funkychicken]

*Cracks knuckles* Here we go...

Roughing gouge: Roughing down square stock and rough shaping
Spindle gouge: General shaping between centres, can be used for hogging out bowls
Bowl Gouge: Hogging out *hehe* bowls and shaping
Detail Gouge: Depends on brand but generally for fine detail or miniature work

Skew: Planing cuts, Spindle work, Detail work, Squaring ends

Scrapers: Unskillful work between centres, hollowing bowls


They're the usual ones

[Caveman]

Here you go Mike - try these for now:

http://www.woodworking.co.uk/Technical/Beginners/beginners.html

http://www.woodturnerscatalog.com/woodturners/Images/tool_selection.pdf

[jimbur]

There's an old book and it's free on the internet called A Course In Wood Turning by Archie S. Milton and Otto K. Wohlers.
Just type in project gutenberg woodturning and then you'll get the instructions on how to download it.
Then again, most public libraries have a few books.
If you've turned before you'll find it comes back without much trouble.
Good luck
Jim

[Burnsy]

Thanks for the repies guys, looks like I have some reading to do.

FC, my problem is that I would not know a spindle gouge from a bowl gouge if someone belted me with one. The tools I got with the lathe a well used and I think not necessarily the form they should be so I need pictures to check against. The larger gouge that I got (think it is or once was a bowl gouge) has very squared corners and catches easily when turning. Might just be my technique or lack of, or otcould be that I need to regrind it to smooth off the corners:?

[wheelinround]

Burnsey go to any tool supplier web site and they usually have a a list type etc

try http://www.robert-sorby.co.uk/

[Pops]

Hi Burnsy,

I read an interesting post by Stu in Tokyo about a French style lathe tool, the Bedan I think. Well worth a read and he had videos of it making eggs.

Don't have a lathe myself and the only thing I have ever turned is a steak on a BBBQ, with limited success, but you may find this thread interesting. The rules for lathe chisel selection and use are not as strictly rigid as I thought.

Search for 'Bedan' in the title, under the Woodturning area. Was posted about December last year I think.

Cheers
Pops

[jimbur]

Hi Burnsy,
Don't grind without following Wheelinaround's advice. It could be a roughing gouge but that's just a guess without seeing it.
Good luck with the search,
Jim

[Alastair]

*
Skew: Planing cuts, Spindle work, Detail work, Squaring ends



They're the usual ones

Seems to me something missing here. What happened to ".......inadvertent spiral decoration, and involuntary broadening of vocabulary...."

[jimbur]

Let the poor bloke keep his innocence a bit longer Alastair.:o

[petersemple]

Then there's always the old standbys - the 60 grit gouge, the 80 grit gouge the 120 grit gouge, the.....

peter

[funkychicken]

Seems to me something missing here. What happened to ".......inadvertent spiral decoration, and involuntary broadening of vocabulary...."


That too:doh:

[Burnsy]

Hi Burnsy,
Don't grind without following Wheelinaround's advice. It could be a roughing gouge but that's just a guess without seeing it.
Good luck with the search,
Jim

Well I looked at Wheelins link and all gouges look the same to me, think I need to go and hold some to see the difference. The ones I have are very short through lots of grinding and are definitley cheap chiwanese ones so I think I will just have a play around on the grinder anyway.

[Caveman]

A wee bit more info:

http://www.a1studio.freeserve.co.uk/wtintro/tools/tools.html

[Gil Jones]

Mike,
Here are pictures of gouge grinds, and what they are used for.

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

[Burnsy]

Thanks guys, some good sites there with clear pictures. Seems that there is not a rule and many people grind to what suits their technique.

I have been having a play with the grind on my gouges and have found there is quite alot of difference between small changes to the shape.