Thread: Gouge Balance Point

Some interesting comments here. I find a lot of these ideas of balance, pivot point, handle shapes and lengths, grind styles etc a fairly new phenomenon. Woodturning has been around a long time without all this. Before you jump on the computer, yes I have and use a Tormek, some Thompson and other manufacturers current tools, 12 scroll chucks and a lot of the "new" ideas that have been promoted by manufacturers. Only recently a "new" grinding aid featured on this board.
A lot of this stuff is will not make you a "good" turner. Certainly buy it if it makes you feel better.
None of my tools have matching handles. The handles are made from different timbers only because that is what was around at the time. The point is that if the tool is bouncing around on the tool rest, it is likely blunt. There should be minimum stress on the tool if it is working well, if it is not working well, then find the problem and fix the problem, it is probably blunt. Make the bevel rub and if it is still not working well, it is probably blunt. The handle shouldn't need weights, better to sharpen the tool again.
The message here is buy some help to improve technique and tool maintenance, instead of some of the useless stuff on the market now. There is plenty of books, dvd's on the market and then there is always U-Tube.
Jim

Originally Posted by powderpost

Some interesting comments here.
A lot of this stuff is will not make you a "good" turner. Certainly buy it if it makes you feel better.

The point is that if the tool is bouncing around on the tool rest, it is likely blunt. There should be minimum stress on the tool if it is working well, if it is not working well, then find the problem and fix the problem, it is probably blunt. Make the bevel rub and if it is still not working well, it is probably blunt. The handle shouldn't need weights, better to sharpen the tool again.

The message here is buy some help to improve technique and tool maintenance, instead of some of the useless stuff on the market now. There is plenty of books, dvd's on the market and then there is always U-Tube.
Jim

I support Jim's comments 110%. Learn to sharpen tools. Time at the lathe under a watchful eye and guiding hand is far better value than the next new thing. Your best asset is "the six inches between your ears" take the time to figure out what is actually going on as Julius Sumner-Miller always said "why is it so?" If something is not working step through the process to eliminate the obvious errors/problems then get help from a more experienced turner with the less obvious stuff, or projects that require a big step up in your skill level.

One thing I do differ slightly with Jim about is - be selective about who you choose to listen to or watch on YouTube etc and use your grey matter to assess them. If they have not taken the time to adhere to or are ignoring typical well accepted safety proceedures then sit back & think about just how safe is what this guy is telling me to do and not just accepting that "he is doing it so it must be OK".

On the balance issue, a tool either feels "right" or "wrong" in the hand. What is right or wrong is a very subjective thing and is clouded by personal preferences but often a tool will feel "wrong" to every one. If the tool feels "wrong" to you then you will not feel comfortable using it, so most likely you will not get the best from it or you either. So do something about it to make it feel "right." Be mindfull though that there are some basic "rules" that should be adhered to. They were learned from hard experience and is the reason why tools in high stress applications should have robust ferrules and handles with decent tang lengths embeded into the handle - so they don't kill you if you do make a gross mistake or get the mother of all catches when a tool or tool handle fails.