I've got a piece of cherry that has little knot on the inside of the bowl. What happens is my gouge must bounce when it hits the harder wood leaving a high spot around the bowl. How do you deal with a situation like that? Thanks for your help. Dave Fritz
Dave
You knew the answer. Don't let the gouge bounce. Easier said than done. :-(
The knot is usually harder and has a different grain orientation so when the gouge contacts it the smooth flow of the cut is interrupted. Light cuts, sharp tool, bevel riding, tool handle in to your side, tool rest close.
Try to make the cut just by rotating your body or shifting weight from one foot to the other this give maximum control.
Thumb and forefinger on the forward hand hold the gouge gently against the tool rest.
Resist tightening your grip. Let the tool do the work
Once you get a bump ride the bevel not cutting up to the bump or back the bevel up over the bump and then push forward.
The idea being to cut the bump and nothing else.
If you keep making a long cut through the bump there is a tendency to keep following the bump.
Most of the time when you use a good bevel riding cut turning your body to make the curve, knots are seldom a problem.
But they pester everyone from time to time.
Al