Gouge angles

[William Rogers]

In particular detail gouges. I have two detail gouges a 1/2” and a 3/8”. I have had the 1/2” for a while and when I first got it the end was very pointy and I couldn’t use it. Not sure of the original grind angle, but I now have about a 45 degree angle and I can use it now. I recently bought a new 3/8” detail gouge and the angle is about 30 degrees. Not pointy, but I get more run back than I like. I see the end is more blunt than the 1/2”. Should I keep trying to master this gouge,regrind to a sharper point, or change the angle? Also am I loosing the effectiveness of a detail gouge with the 1/2” ground at 45 degrees? Additional pictures show my other gouges and I can use them fine, but comments welcome.

Detail gouge



Bowl gouge



Spindle gouge


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[hockenbery]

Angles on the detail gouge can vary from about 60 degrees to 30.
I like my spindle gouges at 30 degrees an my detail gouges between 40 and 60.
60 degrees is a good bevel angle on a detail gouge for turning beads on bowls.

With the gouges follow the ABCs
Anchor - tool on he tool rest
Bevel- bevel on the wood tool not cutting
Cut- engage the cutting edge by raising the handle and/or rolling the tool.

You have slight dip on the cutting edge of your middle spindle gouge. Maybe on the top one too but it is hard to see. The gouge will work okay but as you roll it you will have more trouble following the cut than if it had a slight convex or a flat along that edge.

 

[john lucas]

The angle of the edge doesn't have anything to do with a pointy tip. You simply have to grind the tip longer to get it round. This is true whether it's a detail gouge or a wider fingernail style gouge.