• January Turning Challenge: Thin-Stemmed Something! (click here for details)
  • Conversations are now Direct Messages (click here for details)
  • Congratulations to Scott Gordon for "Orb Ligneus" being selected as Turning of the Week for January 20, 2025 (click here for details)
  • Welcome new registering member. Your username must be your real First and Last name (for example: John Doe). "Screen names" and "handles" are not allowed and your registration will be deleted if you don't use your real name. Also, do not use all caps nor all lower case.

U gouge vs v gouge.

You can use either one and do anything complete. I myself prefer the V as I feel it is easier to control. I find the U to be very aggressive. Also the V can have a long grind and the U does not do well with that type of grind as in it won't cut. That said you should try both🙂
 
I'm curious as to why you need a gouge that huge. I was given a 3/4" Sorby bowl gouge and gave it away after using it for a while. It was just hard to control compared to a 5/8" I prefer a 1/2" for 90 percent of everything I do including big bowls. The only time I use the 5/" is to true up really out of round pieces. Oh and like the V gouges because of the way I grind the wings.
 
3/4" gouge I found to be too large to effectively control. I don't like the U gouges, again they are difficult to control. I have a number of Thompson 5/8" V gouges and find them perfect for my uses.
 
Glenn Lefley said:
Pros cons between Thompson 3/4 u bowl gouge vs v bowl gouge, if you could only have one which is more versatile . Or which do you prefer and why?
Click to expand...

I would have the Thompson gouge that jamieson sells ( have 2 now)
The wider parabolic flute takes the Ellsworth grind much better than the Thompson Vee which I also have but rarely use it is too pointy but I have put a 40/40:grind on it for some finish cuts.

What will work best for you depends on the grind you put on it and how you use the tool.

I use the front edge of the wing a lot. The Jamison gouge presents that front edge to the wood quite nicely.
The vee gouge gets way too pointy for me with the Ellsworth grind. The leading edge of the wing has less shear angle and is harder to engage.
 
Last edited:
hockenbery said:
would have the Thompson gouge that jamieson sells ( have 2 now)
The wider parabolic flute takes the Ellsworth grind much better than the Thompson Vee which I also have but rally use it is too pointy but I have put a 40/40:grind on it for some finish cuts.
Click to expand...

I'm with Al on this one. I have had my Elsworth gouge by Crown since I started turning and about a year and a half ago after reading Al's recommendation I bought 2 Jamieson gouges and they have quickly become my favorites.
 
For me, V for roughing and bulk work, U only for bottom feeder, and a true parabolic for optimum control and finish.
 
After a stint of two to three years with the Thompson Vs I'm back to the parabolic flute (another vote for Crown PM/Ellsworth).
Still the Thompson U makes a super job as a bottom feeder and I wouldn't be without the no flute.
I own a 3/4" bowl gouge but very rarely find use for it. To me it's a bit like working with a three foot wide shovel...
 
I'm quite fond of the D-Way 3/4" U shaped gouges. I personally prefer them to the Thompson 3/4 U. I also bought a 1" Thompson roughing gouge, which I confess rarely gets used.

I've never been a fan of the V shaped gouges, but that's just my style and the woods I turn.

The 3/4 D-Way is great for roughing, but it does an surprising job on finish for rough bowls. With a microbevel it will take very fine cuts, considering how big the thing is. There's really no reason (for me) to drop down to a 5/8 or 1/2" when roughing with the big 3/4" and a microbevel.
 
I think there isn't anything out there that beats the Hunter #5 Phoenix as a bottom feeder. It has an 82 degree outside bevel so you can use the tool almost straight out which makes it perfect for the deep bowls with closed in lips or boxes. Because it has a 60 degree cutting edge that stays sharp forever it cuts cleaner than bottom feeder gouges. It's not a tool for hogging wood, but for finishing cuts it's outstanding. This is a video I made using the #4 which has a larger cutter but is used the same way as the #5. I believe the smaller cutters leave a better finish but both are outstanding.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfp2kvhH6Mo&t=6s
 
I think the U shape flute from Thompson works better as a traditional grind tool, or a bottom of bowl type tool. I couldn't get it to take a swept back grind, and the 40/40 grind is a bit difficult to get on it. I like the Thompson V. I didn't like the Glaser V. I have some old Craft Supplies gouges that had pretty much a half round flute, and converted it to a bottom gouge. I do have one of Lyle's gouges, and as near as I can tell, it is the Thompson V, but a more open V, but since my move, I have stuff every where, so I can't really compare. I do need more parabolic flutes to play with, but Thompson and D Way don't make them. I don't use a swept back grind at all any more, just no practical use for them. I have one 3/4 gouge from D Way that Dave gave me to play with. It works, but since I do all of my roughing with scrapers, it doesn't get much use. I don't see any advantage to them. How much you can remove in a pass is more about horse power and how much you push. My preferred roughing tool is the Big Ugly scraper. 1 inch wide, and I can stall any lathe I have ever used with that.

robo hippy
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top