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Help needed in identifying a tool

L33

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I've spent the day watching instructional vids and I've finally sussed out how to use another tool...only I don't know what the tool is :) Would this be the right thread to post a pic? Cheers
 

Buckeye

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Phil Dart

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The top one is a spindle gouge, sometimes called a detail gouge.
The middle one is a bowl gouge
The lower one also is a bowl gouge, but a narrower one than above
 

L33

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The top one is a spindle gouge, sometimes called a detail gouge.
The middle one is a bowl gouge
The lower one also is a bowl gouge, but a narrower one than above

Brilliant. It's the bottom one I've been using today. Been using some little scrap pieces and making miniature dishes...just purely for practice purposes. Now I just have to suss out using the middle gouge. It's a great feeling setting up a piece on the lathe, picking up a tool and knowing what to do with it. Cheers Phil.
 

Phil Dart

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Nae bother Lee. Don't get too caught up on the names though - a bowl gouge is only called as much because it has a lot of meat in it, capable of handling the stresses involved in turning wood with its grain aligned perpendicular to the lathe bed, meaning that you will encounter both end grain and side grain in one revolution. If you need a chunky tool on big chunky spindle work, ie with the grain aligned parallel to the lathe bed, use a bowl gouge. Conversely, if you need to apply fine detail to a bowl once it's roughed out, use a detail gouge. The names only give you a starting point, and a clue as to the design of the tool. At the end of the day, irrespective of the name, use whichever tool is most suited to the job.
 

L33

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Nae bother Lee. Don't get too caught up on the names though - a bowl gouge is only called as much because it has a lot of meat in it, capable of handling the stresses involved in turning wood with its grain aligned perpendicular to the lathe bed, meaning that you will encounter both end grain and side grain in one revolution. If you need a chunky tool on big chunky spindle work, ie with the grain aligned parallel to the lathe bed, use a bowl gouge. Conversely, if you need to apply fine detail to a bowl once it's roughed out, use a detail gouge. The names only give you a starting point, and a clue as to the design of the tool. At the end of the day, irrespective of the name, use whichever tool is most suited to the job.

Thanks Phil...Good advice.
 

L33

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If you haven't seen Richard Raffans dvds I would recommend you watch his Turning Wood and Turning Bowls videos. He goes into a lot of detail about the types and use of a lot of Turning tools, as well as how to turn spindles and various types of bowl and hollow form. I found it invaluable help when I was starting out :thumbs:

Amazon.co.uk: richard raffan dvd

Ok cheers, I'll have to take a look. :)
 
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