Hello all, I am new to woodturning and was wondering if it is possible to regrind a 1/2" spindle gouge to a bowl gouge or is the flute in the tool different? I have 2 spindle gouges of the same width and rather that purchasing a bowl gouge I could turn (no pun intended) one of them into what I need.
I will probably be buying the oneway sharpening jigs to help me sharpen my tools in the future.
Thanks,
Jimbo
The only way to make a spindle gouge into a bowl gouge is to reforge it. As you suspected, the flutes are different radius.
Deb
Great, another craft to try and master before I am buried six feet under. I think I better start shopping for some bowl gouges....
Jimbo Before you buy a bowl gouge, head over to my web site and take a look at the Oland tool. This is a "make it" not "buy it" proposition. It is easy to make, simple to use, and my preference to a bowl gouge. instructions for a simple sharpening jig are there as well.
Though the flutes are a different radius, you can get the same angles on a round spindle gouge as are available on a bowl gouge. Fingernailing the gouge, which is to say rolling it as it is turned at the grinder, will give you longer cutting ears. This will allow you to cut at the same angles others use for the sides of a piece, but with a longer bevel left at the nose, you'll have to have good clearance to run around the turn into the bottom. That would make the gouge much less useful for spindle work, which likes a longer nose bevel.
Gouges which are actually forged rather than ground, make superb peels on convex pieces, and, with clearance, concave as well.
Thanks for the tips. I had been giving some thought to trying to make various tools. I will experiment some and let you know.
Hi Jimbo: I wanted to answer you on your question of the re-grinding of a spindle gouge.
The quick answer is yes you can grind a spindle gouge to the same profile as a fingernail bowl gouge. With this shape the spindle gouge becomes a detail gouge and can be used to cut detail lines and beads when you are decorating your turnings. With the cutting edge reduced the gouge will not retain its edge as long as a traditional spindle gouge and will not perform to the same standard when doing spindle work.
The bowl gouge is a different beast entirely, the flute is deeper and most often a different shape than the traditional spindle gouge. Gouges that have an elliptical shape, more closed at the bottom than at the top, tend to steer better and clear chips. If the top of the flute is too closed it tends to clog when doing heavy cuts in wet wood.
I personally use the Oneway Mastercut series of gouges, the steel is excellent the flute shape is one that I prefer. I use the Wolverine system to sharpen and maintain the grinds that I use. I have a 1/4" spindle gouge ( Record) that I sharpen with the same side grind as my bowl gouges but I keep the nose bevel longer on the spindle gouge. It only takes a moment to change the jig to accomodate the different angle.
I hope this helps you.
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