I know this thread and ones just like it are plentiful and posted here often.... but I don't know anyone who works with wood , so here it is....
I had a tall Cottonwood tree fall into an agricultural field I own recently... Having always hade a fascination with hand carved spoons, I cut up the tree in lengths suitable to carve some spoons... I have completed one and will have several finished shortly... This lead to me looking around to see a down red oak nearby… the burled part led to pique my interest in bowl turning... I have a few pieces of wooded properties that have a variety of woods. So I made the decision to try my hand and bowl turning...
I already had a chain saw and access to some wood. So I have purchased an inexpensive Harbor Freight name brand mini lathe (on sale for $199.00) as well as a small Porter Cable band saw ( I got this to cut out spoon blanks). I also purchased a variable speed 8 inch grinder in anticipation of gouge sharpening...
I think that my next purchase will be a 1/2" bowl gouge but am struggling with which one ( I have read and read and read about them but its hard to wade through the advice and recommendations when the have links to Amazon in the article ) The grind is also a big question... fingernail grind or other ???? I also think I should get some type of sharpening jig ( Vari grind ???) but that too is confusing … Do you get Just the vari grind or the whole system... Which leads to the crux of the situation … money is a bit of an issue ( isn't it always ?) as I am trying to get into turning as economically as I can … This does not mean I am not willing to pay for QUALITY just don't want to OVER pay...
After reading this, If you would be so kind as to share your opinion on what I need moving forward and perhaps share your mistakes getting started, I would greatly appreciate it...
I had a tall Cottonwood tree fall into an agricultural field I own recently... Having always hade a fascination with hand carved spoons, I cut up the tree in lengths suitable to carve some spoons... I have completed one and will have several finished shortly... This lead to me looking around to see a down red oak nearby… the burled part led to pique my interest in bowl turning... I have a few pieces of wooded properties that have a variety of woods. So I made the decision to try my hand and bowl turning...
I already had a chain saw and access to some wood. So I have purchased an inexpensive Harbor Freight name brand mini lathe (on sale for $199.00) as well as a small Porter Cable band saw ( I got this to cut out spoon blanks). I also purchased a variable speed 8 inch grinder in anticipation of gouge sharpening...
I think that my next purchase will be a 1/2" bowl gouge but am struggling with which one ( I have read and read and read about them but its hard to wade through the advice and recommendations when the have links to Amazon in the article ) The grind is also a big question... fingernail grind or other ???? I also think I should get some type of sharpening jig ( Vari grind ???) but that too is confusing … Do you get Just the vari grind or the whole system... Which leads to the crux of the situation … money is a bit of an issue ( isn't it always ?) as I am trying to get into turning as economically as I can … This does not mean I am not willing to pay for QUALITY just don't want to OVER pay...
After reading this, If you would be so kind as to share your opinion on what I need moving forward and perhaps share your mistakes getting started, I would greatly appreciate it...