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tool angles

Bigblackdog

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what angles do people usually sharpen their tools to:

parting tool
scrapers
spindle gouge(s)
bowl gouges(s)
skew

I am interested to hear the different opinions and any specific reasons behind the chosen angles.
 

Phil Dart

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what angles do people usually sharpen their tools to:

parting tool
scrapers
spindle gouge(s)
bowl gouges(s)
skew

I am interested to hear the different opinions and any specific reasons behind the chosen angles.

My double bevelled parting tools are 25 deg, which is how they are supplied. I have a couple of thin parting tools with a single bevel, which are at 45 deg, which again is generally how they are supplied.

I grind my scrapers to 60 deg. They are usually supplied at 80 deg, but I find that 60 gives a much sweeter cut, for both flat and shear scraping.

The "go to" spindle and bowl gouges are all fingernailed to about 55 deg. I find them a much more versatile tool that way than the standard 45 deg. I also have both types of gouge with a traditional flat grind at both 45 and 60 deg, which I don't use all the time, but make life simple when the need arises. A traditional grind bowl gouge at 60 deg makes short work of the inside bottom of a deep bowl for instance, with no risk of hitting the rim with the bar or handle.

I also have a continental style spindle gouge fingernailed to 35 deg, which is bloody handy for tight areas such as consecutive beads for instance. I should really do that sort of thing with a skew, but I seem to spend my life chasing my tail, and I've never got the time to practice tight beading with a skew to the point of proficiency.

I keep my flat bar skews at 35 deg, which for most jobs is perfect for me, and I have an oval bar skew at 25 deg, which I tend to use for shaping work (not tight beads) I think in both cases, that is how they are supplied.

One cutting tool you haven't mentioned, which a lot of people scoff at on this forum, is the barrel trimmer. Mine is ground to 80 deg, but with a the cutting tips falling towards the edges. That way I get a slightly concave cut on the blank, which firstly gives less opportunity for torn grain, and secondly gives a better guarantee of a good fit without gaps. I am obsessive about keeping my tools sharp - you cannot turn effectively with blunt tools, and its easier to touch us a dull tool than it is to sharpen a blunt tool, but none mere so than my barrel trimmer. I have a jig for my pro-edge, which allows me to keep it ultra sharp at all times.
 

Grump

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Don't care about the angle, if it's sharp it cuts, if it don't it won't simples init?
 

Woody

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I to haven't got a scooby what angle any of my turning tools are but they are very sharp 3rd hole on the pro edge for gouges that's the only one I can remember but then I have only been turning for a few decades LOL
 

Baldy

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Another one for what the ProEdge says.. less likely to forget that way.. reshaped my tools when got ProEdge and so much better now..
 

Bigblackdog

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it was a very helpful answer, Phil.

I know that it is a can of worms, and that I will get a dozen answers for every 10 responses, but it is interesting to see the thoughts behind them, and what works for others. I have struggled with getting a decent cut on a scraper, so will try the 60 degree bevel, and see if it works better for me.
 

Bigblackdog

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i was also hoping taht there would be some discussion rather than reaching an ultimate answer as such.
 

Grump

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Why do you want to cut with a scraper?
Cutting tools for cutting, scraping tools for scraping.
 

Lons

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I set mine to the pro edge now, much quicker, simpler and it works.

Whatever you do, don't pose that question on UKW forum as the argument it provokes usually gets pretty nasty :whistling:

Phil: Could you post a photo / details of your jig for the barrel trimmer, sounds interesting. I find them a pain to sharpen.
 

Phil Dart

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Phil: Could you post a photo / details of your jig for the barrel trimmer, sounds interesting. I find them a pain to sharpen.
Yes, will do. I took some piccies for PaulM a while ago, but I can't seem to be able to find them now. I've changed it a wee bit since then in any case, I'll take some more when I get a moment and post them up.
 

hawkeyefxr

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Don't regret it Phil i was just about to start a post on this but you have given a good starting point. For me it is good info as i get lost with all the angles, i can cover just about all angles on my Tormek and reproduce the time and again. Yes it takes time but they are like razors when done.
 
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