"Woodborg" wrote in message
...

My question is when I'm shaping the inside of a bowl, using the bowl
gouge ½" hss, which has steep sides and a fairly flat bottom with a
curve joining the two areas. To make the final cuts as smooth as
possible do I
a) Try and cut from the lip down the side and all the way to the centre
in one cut.
b) Finish the side in one cut, the bottom in another and try and join
the two on the curve.
c) Go back to the scraper to finish off

At the moment I can get the sides clean and the base clean but as I'm
going from the side to the base I trend to get a few ripples left while
I'm trying to make one continuous cut.

I know most of you will shout at me saying practice, practice, practice
and all will come clear or hopefully smooth. All I'm asking is how I
should make this last cut so I can go away and practice....


I like to make the final passes continuous. Makes the scraper superfluous
on a continuous curve. If you're doing as a lot of new turners do, and
making an abrupt change in direction at the bottom of the bowl, 'nother
matter. For me that's a different gouge position entirely, and often a
different gouge for bottoming, so I make the change there at the logical
point.

With a continuous curve inside you should be able to follow by rolling the
tool to present the edge at the appropriate angle as the grain angle changes
on the piece. I don't use bowl gouges, preferring my forged pattern for
their gentle curve. Allows me to get more guidance from the bevel on a
thinner cut. Great control, and almost impossible to get a catch.