Little Gouges

[jlames]

Hello, I hope you can help me. I've just started woodturning and while I find it a wonderful way to relax, some of the things I can't seem to correct are driving me crazy. One of them is why, when turning a bowl, I get small gouges. And when I try to turn them out, small gouges appear in other places. I don't think my tools are dull as they're relatively brand new having come with my Shopsmith Mark V. This is the first bowl I've turned.
Thanks for any advice you can provide

 

[Norm Smith]

Hi, I dont understand what you mean by small gouges. Is your gouge catching in the turning? You may be trying to take too much off at once, etc. If there is a woodturning club in your area you should join it and solicite the help of the members. In regard to sharp tools, this may be where your problem lies. If I understand you correctly you have not sharpened your gouge since you got it. If so, you should sharpen it. Your tools need to be sharpened quite often, depending on the wood that you are turning, etc. There are times when you will need to be sharpened after only a few passes.
Good luck
Norm

 

[arbud]

If I understand correctly then my assumptions are: 1. insufficiently sharp tools and 2. angle of attack. In regard to #1: sharpen you tools before you begin. There is a sharpening thread on this site but I can't remember if it's in the "new" forum or the "old" forum. In regard to #2: It appears that you are holding your tools too low. If this is true you will have felt a substantial "jerk" when a "gouge" occurs. To correct this place your tool against the rotating blank at an angle high enough to NOT cut into the wood. Then SLOWLY bring the cutting edge of the tool down and back until it starts cutting. That is your proper angle of attack.

I also suggest that you contact a local turning club (see the chapters list on the left side of the home page of this site) and make contact. I find it to be easier to learn a technique if it is shown to me.

Take your time, practice, and, above all, work safely.

 

[devonpalmer]

One of them is why, when turning a bowl, I get small gouges. And when I try to turn them out, small gouges appear in other places.

I'm no expert but was having, what sounds to be, the same problem. Are the gouges on the inside of the bowl and not the outside? If so, the heel of your gouge may be digging into the wood. When this happens, it changes the cutting angle briefly, and makes a hump. When the heel then passes over this hump, you get another cutting angle change... and so on. I cut the heel of my bowl gouge back slightly (See Irish Grind picture on this page http://www.woodturninglearn.net/grinding_part_2.html ) and it seems to help. The amount you'll have to grind back depends on the curvature of the bowl. Justa thought....