IF someone is breaking 2" off a bowl gouge....??? 2 suggestions:
1. Get some PERSONAL instruction immediately!
2. Failing that (No. 1 ) ....take up basket weaving..........You'll live
longer.....

Maybe but not necessarily. I had a couple of inches break off the end of a 3/8
bowl gouge once. Had a metallurgist that I knew take a look at it and he felt
that there was a flaw in the manufacture and that I could grind it back to
shape and use safely. He's been right for a couple of years anyway

Kip Powers
Rogers, AR