What is a good chisel

A chunk of flint strapped to a stick with rawhide. ;-)

Coming up from "minimum" to "The modern era" you could certainly go a long ways with just a deep flute bowl gouge - it's the one tool most bowl turners use the most. A parting a tool is also handy. Most of the rest of the kit is used a whole lot less, and is not needed at all for a lot of work, especially if you work with the DFBG enough that you don't feel the need for "crutches" (such as 79 different specially shaped scrapers). Robert Sorby and Ashly Isles are two UK makes with good reputations. I happen to like Jerry Glaser's stuff, but since it's made in the US it's probably a poor deal for you in the UK.

erm what is the DFBG??

Deep flute bowl gouge, which is tedious to type a second time, having typed it once the sentence or two before...

I would get a 1/2" spindle gauge, 1/2" bowl gauge, 1/2" skew, 3/4" x 3/8" thick bowl scraper and a

1/8" parting tool. Sorby Tools would be a good company and should be available in UK. Good luck

I would make an Oland tool and get turning. Check my web site.

If you are going to create an acronym, it's a good idea to define it when you spell out the source the first time.

The modern era" you could certainly go a long ways with just a deep flute bowl gouge(DFBG) - it's the one tool most .....

Moggy, If you're just starting learn the basics of spindle turning first, then go to bowls. Spindle turning is where you learn the basic techniques. Learn to walk before you run. Buy only High Speed Steel (HSS) tools. Sorby is a good brand, as is Henry Taylor, and both are made in the UK. Henry Taylor has an "Artisan" line that is less expensive than their top line, but has the same quality steel. Excellent tools for the money. Check Craft Supplies Ltd. for these tools

I would steer away from buying any pre-packaged "set" of turning tools. Sets often have some tools in them that you will seldom use. Start with a 1/2" or 3/8" spindle gouge, a 3/4" or 1" roughing gouge, a

3/4" skew chisel and a diamond section parting tool. Get any of the Bonnie Klein videos. She does small diameter work and shows the fundamentals of tool technique very well. When you're ready to graduate to bowls, a 3/8" bowl gouge is a good choice to start with. Get the video "Bowl Turning with Del Stubbs" to get you started there. If you tell folks where you are in the UK and ask for help someone near you may offer you some hands-on instruction to get you started. We woodturners are a very generous lot and most are willing to help others along. Welcome to woodturning.

-Jim Gott- San Jose, CA

I bought a set of 8 Grizzly HSS turning chisels when I first started, I think the set was something like $60. I'm glad I did. It gave me a bit of time to get used to chisels before I started looking at the expensive ones. Considering that a single chisel can cost more than that entire set, if it kept me from buying even one chisel that would go unused, it paid for itself.

steve

For a beginner I would suggest a cheap set of tools from one of the main suppliers, Axminster, Craft Supplies or who ever is near you. Take a look in the magazines for addresses.

Using a cheap set you can learn sharpening techniques in the knowledge you are not spoiling a good tool.

The sets include the most used tools and when you feel the need you can replace them with the better quality ones as required.

Dave Laws>I would get a 1/2" spindle gauge, 1/2" bowl gauge, 1/2" skew, 3/4" x 3/8" thick

bowl scraper and a