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Andy Dingley
 
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Default Looking for opinions on mid-size woodturning tools

On Mon, 22 Dec 2003 12:29:22 -0500, WCD
wrote:

I want to buy a starter set of tools for him, but I'm not sure where to
begin.


IMHO, there are no good off-the-shelf turning tools. Many are rubbish.
Some are half-good; nice steel (HSS, if you don't want to be
sharpening all day) and nice handles. But none of them have a decent
grind ! Take a set, put a fingernail grind on the gouges and you'll
do a _lot_ better.

If you're re-shaping gouges from scratch, use an angle grinder
(especially for HSS). You'll put a lot of wear on your sharpening
stones otherwise, and it doesn't bear thinking about doing it by hand.

Most sets have too many scrapers. Learn to use your two gouges and a
skew and you can do most anything. Learn to _pare_ with the chisels,
not to cut by scraping. Takes an afternoon when you first start, but
then you can do it and your turning will be much better for it.

--
Klein bottle for rent. Apply within.