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Bowl and spindle gouges

S

Steven Johnson

Joined
Jul 30, 2014
Messages
12
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Location
Fort Smith, Arkansas
Hi all - I have posted a few times, but still very much a "new guy" I have contacted a wood turner with lots of experience and hope to head out to his shop in the next week or two (he is sick currently, just waiting for him to feel good enough to go in the shop!) I have made quite a few pens and such, but with the pens I have only used a Spindel roughing gouge.. I would love to make small boxes/bowls and other hollow forms but I am having a horrible time learning how to use the bowl gouge's I just cant seem to get a good cut with them...

Just for instance, I took a piece of cedar and put it between the spindels and got it rounded nice and easy, cut a tenon on each side so my chuck would hold it, then cut the speed back on my lathe and took away the tailstock to try to hollow the interior of it out... I could not get a cut, it kept catching using a bowl gouge and a fingernail grounded spindel gouge - when it would cut it would basically do a series of small catches and put a LOT of pressure on the tool, so I dont think my angle was correct... I have been watching youtube videos, but most guys are skipping the VERY basics like this - they are making it look so easy!

Could someone either point me to a good video or seven that goes over the actual use of the bowl gouge? I dont know how I should be cutting... If I am working from outside the limb toward the inside would I turn my tool to the right? (I'm picturing a "U" for my gouge, and when its straight up and down like that I would call it 12:00, if I rotate my wrist to the right a bit the U will fall on its right side @ 90 degrees... Should I start with it turned 90degrees? ??)

Thanks everyone, I would appreciate the guidance until I can get some "Professional" help...

Any links to beginning videos would be GREATLY appreciated - I have found videos that *I* know are wrong out there, so am hesitant to trust anything just because its on the internet... if you guys recommend it, it would have to be sound.

Thanks again!
 
Steven

Get the lessons you are planning on!

First there is a huge difference in how the grain is oriented.

I turn bowls hollowing through the face grain. This is the orientation for most bowls.

Hollowing into the Endgrain is not done often in bowls, is common for goblets, and is a more advanced skill.


In general the outside of a bowl is cut foot to rim with the flute at 9 o'clock for the entry cut rolling up to 10:30
The inside of the bowl is hollowed with the flute at 3 o'clock rolling up to 1:30-2:00.

I posted a video of hollowing a bowl
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flw8LwQqGQU

Hope it helps
 
Steve Hollowing into end grain such as you are doing is different than bowl turning. First of all you should cut from the center out. Whether you use a scraper or a bowl gouge you still cut from the center out. Many people drill a hole first close to the depth they are planning to go. This makes it easier to start the cut. Using a bowl gouge I tilt the flute to the left and make my cut with the bottom wing on the bowl gouge. Of course that assumes you have ground your bowl gouge to have wings. The flute should be at about 9:30 or 10:00. Make a sort of arcing cut from center out.
If you use a spindle gouge it is used about the same as the bowl gouge. The bottom lip cuts like a scraper. If you use a round nose scraper simply keep the tool flat and start at the center hole then cut toward the outside.
 
using "traditional" square grind bowl gouges?

I am brand new to turning and am using square grind bowl gouges. I have not developed an understanding of the technique for hollowing bowls with these and too often hang on for dear life, as it were, to simply keep the gouge cutting through a long arc.
 
Derek Eder said:
I am brand new to turning and am using square grind bowl gouges. I have not developed an understanding of the technique for hollowing bowls with these and too often hang on for dear life, as it were, to simply keep the gouge cutting through a long arc.
Click to expand...

Derek......If your "square grind" means a large angle between flute and bevel, then you may want to make that angle smaller. If I'm mentally visualizing your grind correctly, then the grind you are using is more appropriate for finish cuts along the bottoms of the bowl interior......similar to the Mike Mahoney "bottom feeder" gouge (link below). This grind is one I use frequently, and it works well for the purpose it was intended for, but the application is very limited.

http://www.woodturnerscatalog.com/p/136/5577/Henry-Taylor-Mike-Mahoney-Signature-Bottom-Feeder

When you use your grinder, does your handle butt end rotate in a fixed position, as what is used for a standard grind.....or are you swinging it through an arc, such as with the "Ellsworth" grind?

ooc
 
There are excellent turners posting videos on hollowing bowls, goblets and turning in general on you tube.
Just type wood turning...
 
I wouldn't worry about going into the lessons as a total novice. In fact, leave any preconceived notions about how to do things at the door and allow the instructor to show you what he knows. None of us started out knowing how to turn, so we all know what it is like to be a beginner.
 
Video/books on woodturning

Steven,

When I get this question during beginners demonstrations, my answer is:

1. Jim Rodgers book, Woodturning step by step fundamentals

2. I believe Davis Ellsworth book Ellsworth on Woodturning and his video of the same should be part of every
turners reference material.

Spend time with these three and than attend one of their 3 to 5 day sessions.

Frank Lench
 
As well as the leson you are about to have join a club if possible then you will get on going help on turning and sharpening your tools. If looking for a good utube video Google Cindy Drozda she shows which chisels to use and how to present them to the wood, a very good clear video.
 
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