Thread: Bowl gouge size

Have a look here, there will be specifications and photos of a bunch of tools:

Packard Woodworks: The Woodturner's Source: Woodturning Tools

I have slowly polished the inside of my bowl gouges with a rolled up piece of sandpaper, starting at the tip. I did not find it tedious to do a few strokes now and then to keep the cutting edge smooth.

Originally Posted by Paul39

Have a look here, there will be specifications and photos of a bunch of tools:

Packard Woodworks: The Woodturner's Source: Woodturning Tools

I have slowly polished the inside of my bowl gouges with a rolled up piece of sandpaper, starting at the tip. I did not find it tedious to do a few strokes now and then to keep the cutting edge smooth.

Thanks for the reply and information had a look at the site but dose not mention or show weather they measure the outside of the steel or across the flutes?

Don't know if this helps or confuses the matter further.

Hi Greyhound,
In 34 yrs. I have never ever had to Polish a P&N Bowl Gouge.
Why Polish it, as I don't think it wood make much difference.
IMHO stay with P&N. I have a real aversion to Sorby.
Have a look at John McJing Tools, as I find that Steel much better.
From what I have only read Thompson is rather good.
Woodcut as well, ask Brendan Stemp about them.

Originally Posted by Treecycle

Don't know if this helps or confuses the matter further.

That is my understanding about bowl gouges. Sometimes manufacturers will state the outside is 1/8 inch larger than the stated size. I have a Crown 1/2 inch bowl gouge which has a 5/8 inch outside diameter.

As to quality of steel, I have the Crown, no name Sheffield steel, Thompson, and Penn State Industries Chinese bowl gouges, and can detect no difference between the sharpness and cutting time between sharpenings.

I see no difference between a bowl gouge that has been polished on the inside or not when roughing, but it does make a difference when doing the final few passes with a freshly sharpened and honed gouge on spalted, soft, or punky timber. I will sharpen, using a 200 grit wheel on a dry grinder using a sharpening jig, then hone the inside with some rolled up 220 grit. Doing that over and over gets the inside nice and smooth.

Originally Posted by greyhound

Thanks for the reply and information had a look at the site but dose not mention or show weather they measure the outside of the steel or across the flutes?

Here:

Packard Woodworks: The Woodturner's Source: Bowl Gouges

it says: Used for making bowls designed with a deep flute for quick and easy stock removal leaving an excellent finish. Size of gouge is 1/8" larger in diameter than size listed. Overall Length 23". Fingernail gouges not shown above.

Originally Posted by Paul39

Here:

Packard Woodworks: The Woodturner's Source: Bowl Gouges

it says: Used for making bowls designed with a deep flute for quick and easy stock removal leaving an excellent finish. Size of gouge is 1/8" larger in diameter than size listed. Overall Length 23". Fingernail gouges not shown above.

Hi Paul yes this is what I was looking for did not read the site closely when I first looked at it thank you for pointing me to it.
just one more question apart from the grind is there any other difference between the standard bowl gouge and the finger nail gouge (do they booth come from the same bar stock?)

Thanks to all for the comments and information much appreciated

Greyhound,

I believe the steel is the same. I am so cheap that I would buy the standard grind and slowly bring it to the fingernail as I resharpened. I got the Thompson bowl gouge, which came with an Ellsworth grind, in return for setting up a lathe. I started a cut on the inside of a bowl with the Thompson and had a spectacular catch. I ground it back to a more conventional shape over several sharpenings.

Traditionally the UK measurement was flute size and in Australia and the US it was bar size (diameter), but the UK measurement is variable, see previous post here.

The Thompson gouges come with better flute milling than P&N, but I still polished mine. If you are looking for a pre-polished flute, also have a look at the D-way gouge. They come with a highly polished flute and give the best finishing cut of any of my gouges (I have most makes).

Originally Posted by NeilS

Traditionally the UK measurement was flute size and in Australia and the US it was bar size (diameter), but the UK measurement is variable, see previous post here.

The Thompson gouges come with better flute milling than P&N, but I still polished mine. If you are looking for a pre-polished flute, also have a look at the D-way gouge. They come with a highly polished flute and give the best finishing cut of any of my gouges (I have most makes).

Hi Neil swaying towards a Thompson for a change any dealers in Australia?

SE QLD Woodworking Supplies Woodworking Supplies S/E QLD - Thompson Turning Tools carry a range of Thompson tools.

Like NeilS I find the P&N tools quite good, I have Robert Sorby, Hamlet, Woodcut (replaceable tip) and Thompson tools with all but Sorby in bowl and spindle gouges. Each has its own merits such as the Woodcut replaceable tip gouges - stiffer solid shaft = less harmonics but relatively expensive as $ per cm of use able tool length. The extra heft of the Thompsons is very nice but it gets back to personal preference for flute shape & grind angle. Doug Thompson also makes a range of signature tools which may have the characteristics you desire see Home - Thompson Tools

Originally Posted by Mobyturns

SE QLD Woodworking Supplies Woodworking Supplies S/E QLD - Thompson Turning Tools carry a range of Thompson tools.

Like NeilS I find the P&N tools quite good, I have Robert Sorby, Hamlet, Woodcut (replaceable tip) and Thompson tools with all but Sorby in bowl and spindle gouges. Each has its own merits such as the Woodcut replaceable tip gouges - stiffer solid shaft = less harmonics but relatively expensive as $ per cm of use able tool length. The extra heft of the Thompsons is very nice but it gets back to personal preference for flute shape & grind angle. Doug Thompson also makes a range of signature tools which may have the characteristics you desire see Home - Thompson Tools

Thanks had a look and found SE QLD supplies only have a 5/8 V listed @ $110

Greyhound - as Moby has posted, to my knowledge Woodworking Supplies S/E QLD - Thompson Turning Tools is your best/only source in Australia. The Jimmy Clewes signature range is made by Doug Thompson (same steel and heat treatment). My understanding is that the flute is deeper on the Clewes than Doug's standard V (actually neither is a V but variations of the catenary curve).

That is a good price being offered on the 1/2" Clewes by WS S/E Qld. Let me help you with your decision, if you buy it and don't like it I will buy if off you at your cost...

Likewise, also have a look at the Vicmarc bowl gouges. They come with a parabolic flute profile and also use V10 steel, but I have not seen any claims about their heat treatment. At least two suppliers; GPW and Carrolls. Again, if you don't like it I will take it off you, etc ..... not a lot of risk in that.

In terms of flute finish I've found quite a bit of variation within a brand except for Sorby. And with Sorby I've found variation in steel quality