Thread: which bowl gouge.?

Originally Posted by Jim Carroll

P&N are Aussie

Partially, according to Bruce Bell... "The raw material is imported from Austria, as the quality standard of the material is excellent & high speed steels are not manufactured in Australia in the required grade & size".

So, the steel is Austrian, and the machining and the all important tempering is Australian.

Originally Posted by Tim the Timber Turner

There are no right or wrongs, just our own preferences.
Of course safety should always be paramount.

+1

You won't go badly wrong with any of the above suggested recommendations.

I have and use many of them and am not dissatisfied with any of them.

Yes, I have my favourites, but they may not do the same for you.

Whatever you choose, you are likely to be satisfied.

There's been no mention of the Vicmarc bowl gouges (apologies if there has). Has anyone used them?? They are using a very hard wearing steel so I would be interested to hear of anyone's thoughts on them.

Originally Posted by brendan stemp

There's been no mention of the Vicmarc bowl gouges (apologies if there has). Has anyone used them?? They are using a very hard wearing steel so I would be interested to hear of anyone's thoughts on them.

Been using vicmarc for almost 2 yrs now they have out lasted other brands
I did try and try my best to kill one well I was up in Brisbane with know luck so I got a set of them
they hold a edge a lot better then most, once you get past the first 5mm or so
I myself like the handles but there not for everyone.

I use true grind and have found there are other brands that are hard to sharpen rite with the jig
I found this it not a problem with the vicmarcs.
I also like that you can take the gouge out of the Handel when you sharpen.

I use the vicmarc sharpening set up well in Brisbane and will be bringing one back with me next trip as was over wait last time

Originally Posted by NeilS

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So, the steel is Austrian, and the machining and the all important tempering is Australian.

About 15 years ago I was lucky enough to visit the P&N factory in country Victoria where Bruce Bell and I were given a factory tour.

One thing that I remember was the tools were tempered by plunging in liquid salt.

No samples unfortunately.

Cheers

Tim.

Originally Posted by brendan stemp

There's been no mention of the Vicmarc bowl gouges (apologies if there has). Has anyone used them?? They are using a very hard wearing steel so I would be interested to hear of anyone's thoughts on them.

Brendan - Vicmarc uses the same powdered metal steel (V10 or A11, probably from Crucible Materials Corporation) as Doug Thompson. A very nice steel for woodturners, sharpens readily to a keen edge and is tenacious... holding its edge longer than M2.

V15 has even more vanadium content, therefore a bit more expensive, and that bit more tenacious, but in my experience doesn't take as keen an edge due to the larger particle size. A good steel for roughing out, it cuts on and on, in a fashion.

As yet I haven't gone with the Vicmarc offering as it is not clear from any of the sites offering the Vicmarc gouge for sale which 'parabolic' flute profile they have adopted; it could be any one of these profiles. Some parabolic profiles are on the 'V' end of the spectrum while others are closer to the 'U'.

In case anyone is interested, there was an old thread on the Flute Profiles of the various gouges that I started some time back.

NZ_Carver, any chance of a picy of your Vicmarc flute looking from the end?

So, Brendan, I can't comment on the performance of the Vicmarc gouges, but their steel composition sits close to the cost/performance sweet spot.

I ordered a 3/8 Bowl Gouge and a short quick release handle.

Love the shape and feel of the plastic handle.

Hate the length of the short?? handle nearly 400mm long with the reduction bush.

Love the way the gouge cuts, equally as good as my 3/8 original Glasser.

Hate The fact that I have to purchase a $15 reduction bush for each tool I want to use in the handle, or undo the grub screws with an Allen Key. This of course nullifies the idea of quick release and you may as well buy a standard handle.

I currently use this 3/8 Vicmarc gouge in a Woodcut QR handle which uses ISO Metric collets. This is a much better design as you can vary the tool length extension and store the tool reversed in the handle for transport.

Sorry Vicmarc, this QR handle misses the mark.

That's been my experience

Cheers

Tim

The worst thing is there are too many choices. I am not going to tell you which one I have as I only continue to use two brands.

I will say this pick one size in the middle and see how you go. I can almost guarantee that you will be able to decide much better once you start using it. I was fortunate to visit one of the members and he allowed me to try his lathe and tools.

A club can do the same thing.

Tim have you treys the blue Handles with the grub screws?

No! I have the quick release cam lock handle.

Great locking action by twisting the collar a few degrees in either direction.

Better action than my expensive camera tripod.

But!!!

I don't like having to buy a $15 reducing bush for each tool.

This is a deal breaker for me and I probably won't buy any more tools for this handle.

I also dislike the fact that the shaft of the tool is machined to a smaller diameter where it fits into the bush.

This means you can't adjust the length or reverse the tool in the handle.

I like to use a short bowl gouge for box making, not possible with this tool due to the reduced shank.

This handle was the short version but at 400mm it's too long to pass in front of you when standing at the lathe.

I must see if I can shorten it.

I think this tool was designed by an engineer, not a wood turner.

Finding plenty to complain about the handle let me finish by saying I love how the 10mm tool cuts.

It has an interesting flute, sort of like a V with a round bottom. The flute is fairly shallow at 5mm this leaves plenty of meat under the flute and this will help overcome the flexing which is common of smaller diameter tools.

Hey Neil!! you are welcome to call and try it out.

You know the deal!

Just knock on the workshop door with your elbow

Cheers

Tim

Just knock on the workshop door with your elbow

Are your hands that contaminated?

Originally Posted by

Are your hands that contaminated?

No! No! you got it wrong.

Neil has a great wine cellar.

I'm hoping his arms will be full

Cheers

Tim, the Woodcut Collet Handle is 400mm (16"), but allows me the freedom to have as much of the shaft inserted in the handle . . .

Originally Posted by Pat

Tim, the Woodcut Collet Handle is 400mm (16"), but allows me the freedom to have as much of the shaft inserted in the handle . . .

Pat please read post 37.

Cheers

Tim

Originally Posted by Tim the Timber Turner

Hey Neil!! you are welcome to call and try it out.

You know the deal!

Just knock on the workshop door with your elbow

.... coz I have a bottle of red in each hand.