Vacuum gouge

A friend of mine has one and I tried it out. Liked it so much, I bought one myself (used, from someone on eBay). It really works great for spindle work.(i.e. small chips).

Peter Teubel Milford, MA

There is a review of the thing in the current Find Woodworking, I think.

Bill

myself (used, from someone on eBay). It really works

I've had one for a couple of years and use it for all most roughing. I rarely hook it up to the vacuum though. I just use it as a roughing gouge. By doing this, all the chips drop into a small pile behind me instead of flying all over the shop. This only works on dry wood, however, and you need to keep the tube end down, or it will clog. I use a 1/4" dowel to clear it if needed. Wet wood and oily wood will tend to stick on the inside without a vacuum pulling the chips through.

I did not care for using this tool with a vacuum for a couple of reasons. First, I don't have shop space to allocate for my shop vac in a useful location for this application. Second, the hose tends to restrict your motions if it has much bending in it. Finally, because of the hose, when you set the tool down, the hose may tend to push or pull the tool from its resting place (like the ways of the lathe, for example).

As a roughing gouge, it is a 1-1/4" roughing gouge, but has a cutting edge that is 360 degrees. This means less sharpening and forces you to sharpen the gouge straight across the cutting edge (no swept back wings). Being a purist when it comes to such things, this is a good thing.

Joe Fleming - San Diego

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interesting.

one myself (used, from someone on eBay). It really works

If you think dogs can't count, try putting three dog biscuits in your pocket and then giving Fido only two of them. - Phil Pastoret >>

^^^^^^^^^^^^ Maybe that just proves they can smell.

Perhaps, but I think any self-respecting Fido will continue to beg for another biscuit even after the third one has been offered and consumed. They're like kids, after all.

Max