Carbie tipped tools

Buy a couple of cheap bowl gouges and master them, then go to carbide, such as the WoodChuck Bowlpro... I'm assuming that you're attempting humor about the scraper and sanding whatever, since you don't use either on a bowl until it's shaped, hollowed and ready to sand...

Thanks for the name. I was going to suggest Woodchuck tools when the subject came up, but my aging memory lost the name. I have their roughing tool and it works great. I not the finishing tool is on sale now.

For those interested, the link is:

Hunter works like a Skew, but it's not designed to do bowls. I've used Easyrougher for, well, maybe 5 years now and it works like a scraper.

I find that the Easyrougher is faster then my big (3/4 inch) bowl gouge. I use it 90% of the time to get a bowl from a chunk to near shape. I then switch to a gouge as the Easyrougher gives me, what I consider, an unacceptable amount of tear-out.

Now these tools are not new, the Myrtle Bowl makers on the Oregon coast have been using a similar tool for decades now. Their tool is a the Big Ugly and has a Tatung cutter. They sharpen it basically twice a day.

I've been turning since 1988, and still like the bowl gouge for bowls; however, I have several of the Hunter tools. I purchased the first one about four years ago when Mike Hunter was just getting started. His tools work very well, I've turned spindles and bowls with them and many other things. The Easy Rougher and Easy finisher are also good tools. I got my first ones of those almost three years ago. Incidentally, I saw both of these when attending the Desert Woodturning Roundup in Mesa, AZ and purchased two easy roughers, later I purchased the Easy Finisher. I recently obtained a set of Killian Tools from Knots and Burls to Bowls in Ontario, Canada. My review of those toosl is in the November 2012 issue of More Woodturning Magazine. I still think people should learn to sharpen and use regular turning tools, but these carbide tools cut down on the number of trips to the grinder.

Fred Holder

Hi Fred,

Thanks for your response. I ordered a tool that included 4 carbide cutters for $45 from eddiecastelin.com It arrived in 2 days. I made the handle and assembled it. I watched a video on utube on how to assemble it. It was easier than the video. No hatchet required.

The tool cuts well. It works like a scraper except that it has a much wider angle of arc that it is able to cut. It allows me to reach places that regular tools can't reach ie. the top of inward tapered bowls. It will definitely supplement my scrapers and sanding blocks.

You write: " I still think people should learn to sharpen and use regular turning tools," If the bowl gouge were the only tool available to me I would have given up turning shortly after I started. I am curious why you hold the above opinion.

Thanks

Ray

Well, I obviously aint' Fred, but mostly because you can do more, with a better finish with regular tools. A better finish means less sanding and more time doing the actual turning

Hello Ray,

When I started turning in 1988, I used mostly scrapers and had to do a lot of sanding. Finally, I learned to use the spindle gouge and then finally a bowl gouge. Neither of the gouges worked as well for me as the scrapers. Then in 1999, I purchased the One Way gig system and the gouges started to work much better, up to that time I had sharpened freehand. I now use diamond wheels and have the Tormek jigs mounted on my dry grinder. Yes, for turning a bowl, the bowl gouge is the best tool available, especially with the Ellsworth Grind. Six years ago, I met Mike Hunter at the Desert Woodturning Roundup and purchased one of his carbide tools. It works great for many things. Then about four years ago at the same symposium, I was introduced to the Easy Rougher and purchased one of each size he had to offer at that time. I use them for roughing down spindles and also bowl blanks. The advantage of the carbide tools is that you do not have to rub the bevel to get them to cut. But there is no way that any of the carbide cutters can perform as well as a good sharp bowl gouge when turning bowls. The major advantage the carbide cutters have is the length of time they maintain a sharp edge, for beginners or people having trouble sharpening, they are a great tool!!!

Fred Holder

Hello Ray,

When I started turning in 1988, I used mostly scrapers and had to do a lot of sanding. Finally, I learned to use the spindle gouge and then finally a bowl gouge. Neither of the gouges worked as well for me as the scrapers. Then in 1999, I purchased the One Way gig system and the gouges started to work much better, up to that time I had sharpened freehand. I now use diamond wheels and have the Tormek jigs mounted on my dry grinder. Yes, for turning a bowl, the bowl gouge is the best tool available, especially with the Ellsworth Grind. Six years ago, I met Mike Hunter at the Desert Woodturning Roundup and purchased one of his carbide tools. It works great for many things. Then about four years ago at the same symposium, I was introduced to the Easy Rougher and purchased one of each size he had to offer at that time. I use them for roughing down spindles and also bowl blanks. The advantage of the carbide tools is that you do not have to rub the bevel to get them to cut. But there is no way that any of the carbide cutters can perform as well as a good sharp bowl gouge when turning bowls. The major advantage the carbide cutters have is the length of time they maintain a sharp edge, for beginners or people having trouble sharpening, they are a great tool!!!

Fred Holder

Hi, Ray and Fred,

I have been lurking, and occasionally asking advice here for quite a few years, and have always found your advice, Fred, to be very well founded. As a "wanabe" wood turner, I've tried a couple of lathes, and a few inexpensive tools. Could never figure out what the difference could be between a cheap, but good high-speed steel tool, and one with a "name". Am slowly beginning to appreciate that any recently sharpened tool with a "good" shape, makes a whole world of difference. I haven't used a jig, yet, but can easily appreciate what it could do for many turners. Got a new (Grizzly) water wheel, and am looking at various home-made jig designs. One will certainly be for me. Hot, high speed grinders are probably ideal for experienced turners with a steady hand and a really good eye, but eat up a lot of my inexpensive tools before a great (or at lest good) grind is achieved. Found an unused "Sorby" "carbie" at a garage sale for $5..... it is a fantastic scraper, as it hasn't needed sharpening yet, just rotated. Following advice garnered here, Fred, I've dabbled with gouges a little, and attest to your advice and observation that they surely save a lot of sanding. (except of course when my lack of expertise nets a huge "catch"... yikes!)

Old Chief Lynn

I'll leave out all the dates, name dropping, etc. and repeat what I said before... If you want to spend twice as much, buy the EZ tools...

If you want the same tool for a lot less, buy the Woodchuck tools...

Use them for roughing and then use your bowl gouge.... You can NOT get as smooth a curve or an eye pleasing shape with the roughing tools, that's why bowl gouges exist...

Carbide is amazing and almost too easy to use... Don't let it lull you into over confidence as a slip can remove a LOT of material, hopefully all wood... Be safe and have fun!

Some good points, Chief.... Remember that like most tools, there are THREE types, not 2... Cheap, inexpensive and expensive... An inexpensive toll is usually better made than a cheap one and will last longer... I've never seen any evidence that putting somebodys name on a gouge makes it work any better, so I avoid the expensive stuff... YMWV