If you look at any woodturner catalogue you’ll find a brazilian (*1)
kinds of turning tools. Some also have a variety of special grinds. In
addition, there are a bunch of insert tools, not to mention the various
crank necks. To get proficient with just one of the many turning tools
available takes practice, practice, practice - and more practice,
preferably in many types of wood (much like hand cutting dovetails).

I’m finding that a roughing gouge, an 1/8th inch diamond parting tool
and a 1/16th part off to be the three Gotta Know How To Use turning
tools. Doesn’t seem to matter what you turn, these three are Gotta Know
How To Use tools. Being a tool phreak and therefore having bought a
bunch of gouges, I reach for 1/2” and 3/4” curved edge skew for just
about everything the three Gotta Know How To Use tools don’t do. The
rest sit in the tool stand waiting for some special application.

Do YOU shoot for adequate with a bunch of different gouges and chisels
or get really good with three or four?

*1
brazilian: Bush Talk for bazillion - which is larger than a gazillion -
which in turn is a LOT bigger than a mere billion or even a trillion.
{See Bush “Administratio” Budget Defecit]

charlie b

"charlie b" wrote in message
...
If you look at any woodturner catalogue you'll find a brazilian (*1)
kinds of turning tools. Some also have a variety of special grinds. In
addition, there are a bunch of insert tools, not to mention the various
crank necks. To get proficient with just one of the many turning tools
available takes practice, practice, practice - and more practice,
preferably in many types of wood (much like hand cutting dovetails).

I'm finding that a roughing gouge, an 1/8th inch diamond parting tool
and a 1/16th part off to be the three Gotta Know How To Use turning
tools. Doesn't seem to matter what you turn, these three are Gotta Know
How To Use tools. Being a tool phreak and therefore having bought a
bunch of gouges, I reach for 1/2" and 3/4" curved edge skew for just
about everything the three Gotta Know How To Use tools don't do. The
rest sit in the tool stand waiting for some special application.

Do YOU shoot for adequate with a bunch of different gouges and chisels
or get really good with three or four?

I've been turning for a long time, so those gifting occasions have brought a
lot of "must have" tools to my rack. Allows me to chose the one most
suitable to me and the task at hand without having to make do with something
of the latest alloy or jigged famous-name grind. That said, there are
probably a dozen one-trick ponies on the far reaches of the rack that seldom
see use. Most are scrapers, because I don't like what they do to my stuff.
When I have to, I use 'em, but I would rather cut wood than scrape or sand
it.

The tools I reach for most are the large-radius, single-angle grind gouges.
Unbeatable for convex surfaces, and with several diameters and thicknesses
available to choose from, they also do the final cuts on concave surfaces as
well. Bowl gouges do the hogging and reaching until there's enough room to
wield a good twister inside.

Not sure I use my skews much more than my straight chisel, the latter doing
a great job and planing and beading without having to pay attention to a
portion protruding outside the arc of the cut. They aren't even used that
much for edging the dovetailed mortise, because the wings of my pointy
gouges take care of that and leave a slick surface behind.

This habit of keeping different diameters, grinds and tools is probably why
I favor purchase of sets and experimentation with as many varieties as
possible rather than blowing the price of six tools on one because it's
associated with a celebrity.

As to budget deficits, I'm sure you'll recognize that virtually every bill
is opposed by the opposite party, and generally, in public declaration,
because it provides "inadequate funding." Sounds like Pogo was right - WE
are the enemy of fiscal solvency.

I shudder to think, given the price of Medicare, what a national health plan
might do....

charlie b writes:
Do YOU shoot for adequate with a bunch of different gouges and chisels
or get really good with three or four?

I started with a large number of cheap tools, and decided which ones I
was actually going to use the most. I got high quality versions of
those tools and got really good with them, and remained adequate with
the rest.

I don't think it's a "one size fits all" goal here, more like a bell
curve - there will be a few tools you're not so good at but have
anyway (for the rare times you need it), many tools of medium quality
that you're adequate with, and a few really good tools you're really
good with.

Charlie
Those sound like spindle tools to me so I would add an Oland tool to the mix
and would expand on the range of sizes. That is I like to have a
1/8" diamond parting tool
1" roughing gouge
1/4" round skew
3/4" skew
1" skew
3/16" Oland
1/4" Oland
5/16" Oland
(3/8" Oland optional)
1/2" Oland
a couple of acrapers.
There are also a bunch of others hanging around including my hollowing tools
for more specialized work.

--
God bless and safe turning
Darrell Feltmate
Truro, NS, Canada
http://aroundthewoods.com
http://roundopinions.blogspot.com
"charlie b" wrote in message
...
If you look at any woodturner catalogue you'll find a brazilian (*1)
kinds of turning tools. Some also have a variety of special grinds. In
addition, there are a bunch of insert tools, not to mention the various
crank necks. To get proficient with just one of the many turning tools
available takes practice, practice, practice - and more practice,
preferably in many types of wood (much like hand cutting dovetails).

I'm finding that a roughing gouge, an 1/8th inch diamond parting tool
and a 1/16th part off to be the three Gotta Know How To Use turning
tools. Doesn't seem to matter what you turn, these three are Gotta Know
How To Use tools. Being a tool phreak and therefore having bought a
bunch of gouges, I reach for 1/2" and 3/4" curved edge skew for just
about everything the three Gotta Know How To Use tools don't do. The
rest sit in the tool stand waiting for some special application.

Do YOU shoot for adequate with a bunch of different gouges and chisels
or get really good with three or four?

*1
brazilian: Bush Talk for bazillion - which is larger than a gazillion -
which in turn is a LOT bigger than a mere billion or even a trillion.
{See Bush "Administratio" Budget Defecit]

charlie b

On Sun, 29 Oct 2006 06:47:43 -0800, charlie b
wrote:

Im finding that a roughing gouge, an 1/8th inch diamond parting tool
and a 1/16th part off to be the three Gotta Know How To Use turning
tools. Doesnt seem to matter what you turn, these three are Gotta Know
How To Use tools. Being a tool phreak and therefore having bought a
bunch of gouges, I reach for 1/2€? and 3/4€? curved edge skew for just
about everything the three Gotta Know How To Use tools dont do. The
rest sit in the tool stand waiting for some special application.

My list is a little different, I have two sets- one 8pc from Delta,
and one cheap 5-pc from Menards. The Deltas are fine for most things,
but the cheap ones have their uses too.

I always start with the 7/8 roughing gouge, then move quickly to the
(5/8, 3/4?) bowl gouge. These get me the rough shape. If I'm going
something with a flat plane, the 1" skew comes out- if it has beads or
deep, narrow coves, the 5/16" spindle gouge is invaluable. I use the
round and square nose scrapers from time to time, but not too much,
and the parting tool very rarely for anything but actually parting
off. The little skew never gets used.

The cheap carbon steel ones get used for finishing cuts. Sure,
they're cheap- but they get really, really sharp, and they're great
for coaxing tiny little wisps of wood out prior to sanding.

Never felt a need to buy any others, at least so far.

Do YOU shoot for adequate with a bunch of different gouges and chisels
or get really good with three or four?

*1
brazilian: Bush Talk for bazillion - which is larger than a gazillion -
which in turn is a LOT bigger than a mere billion or even a trillion.
{See Bush €œAdministratio€? Budget Defecit]

charlie b

after buying lots of tools, all of which I became adequate with most of the
time and with most woods, I have made the difficult decision that the best
way to go is with a well sharpened and only slightly shaped nail in a wood
handle. This is inexpensive, and very available, although if you want a
truly hardened blade you have to go with a concrete nail and they are more
expensive and slightly less available. I can grind on them with most
anything and they are harder than the wood, this is of course a good thing.
They drive well into the handle and rarely come loose if driven in
adequately. Any old stick works well for a handle. Works great and lasts a
long time.

Brian

On Sun, 29 Oct 2006 06:47:43 -0800, charlie b wrote:

Do YOU shoot for adequate with a bunch of different gouges and chisels
or get really good with three or four?



Don't know that I am either.

My favorite tool at the moment is the skew, but I am not shy about reaching
for other tools as the cut indicates. I have a couple of scrapers that get
a good workout when turning a bowl and a good-sized gouge used for
roughing larger pieces. I haven't figured out how to use one on the I.D.
of a bowl yet, but I am finding that the skew is really quite versatile.

Bill

The reason I asked the question is because of James Krenov,
one of the furniture making masters (in the company of
Sam Maloof and George Nakashima). His approach to cabinet
making is to get as close to perfection as possible at a few
techniques - and keep it simple and have the wood speak for
itself. I figure that if I get all the coves and beads and ogees
out on turning maybe I can overcome the urge to do them in
furniture.

Roughing gouges and parting tools are pretty easy to use,
especially if they're sharp. Scrapers aren't too tough to
use either. The rest of the turning tools - well they take
a bit of practice and a range of techniques - some not so
easy to get. And some seem to operate at the edge of
disaster. When I first started turning I must admit the
skew scared the hell out of me. The idea of getting that
long point and sharp edge anywhere near a spinning piece
of wood seemed insane. But after 20 or 30 hours of
playing with it, initially clench jawed and white knuckled,
it turns out to be able to do far more than is first
apparent - and - with a curve in the cutting edge - not
that catch prone.

Now if I could just focus on one branch of turning and
work at getting a lot better at it rather than being
adequate at a range of types of turning . . .

The nice thing about the turning branch of woodworking
is that most of the wood can be had for free. And
being able to go from a piece of a tree - with the
bark still on it - to a finished piece in an hour or
less. rather than in days, weeks or months ain't
bad either. Still getting used to having the wood
moving while working on it.

charlie b