Bowl gouge information please

[=Adam=]

Hi guys!

A few weeks ago I bought a Henry Taylor 1/4" bowl gouge on eBay however I'm not convinced that it is a bowl gouge but I would like some clarification one way or another.

I'm not too sure why I bought it, it was a moment of madness really but I'm sure it will come in handy one day!

I am also considering putting a fingernail grind on it using my home made jig, would it be worth doing on this as it is so small?

Cheers

 

[woodyturner]

A bowl gouge has a deeper flute than a spindle the sizing of a bowl gouge is taken from the width of the flute and your one looks to be a spindle gouge with the shallower flute

 

[Chrisp]

That looks like a spindle gouge to me, you can still put a finger nail grind on it, I've done this to mine and its a very versatile tool, I'm not a 100% but the bowl and spindle gouges are measured differently, spindle are measured by the diameter of the bar and bowl by the width of the flute?
Regards,
Chris.

 

[woodyturner]

That looks like a spindle gouge to me, you can still put a finger nail grind on it, I've done this to mine and its a very versatile tool, I'm not a 100% but the bowl and spindle gouges are measured differently, spindle are measured by the diameter of the bar and bowl by the width of the flute?
Regards,
Chris.

Exactly right Chris on all accounts

 

[CHJ]

Does look a little shallow but don't know if it would have any deeper flute in something that small dia. because of stiffness, will have a look at mine tomorrow and compare.

I find the small 6mm diameter gouges very usefull when taking delicate cuts such as on the base of a reversed turning that has only light support when removing/shaping spigots or dovetails.
Being small they lend themseves to smaller footprint cuts applying smaller loads and less prone to major damage if you get a dig.

 

[nev]

Pass
You may find this info from Peter Childs helpful ... or confusing. either way its worth a read

http://www.peterchild.co.uk/goug.htm

and this

http://www.peterchild.co.uk/info1/sflute.htm

The first paragraph reads...
''Ask ten turners what a bowl gouge should be like - style of grind, shape of handle - whatever and you will get twelve different answers. This confuses beginners and makes a fool out of any egotist wanting to lay down woodturning dogma. To me this is part of the fun and is what is makes my personal view as valid as anyone elses.''

 

[=Adam=]

The reason I thought it was a spindle gouge is because both my bowl gouges have much deeper flutes/taller wings and this didn't seem to fit with what I have got.

I would prefer it to be a spindle gouge in all honesty as I don't do many bowls. I will regrind it and give a go and get back with my results!

 

[henton49er]

I have Henry Taylor bowl and spindle gouges, and yours looks definitely like my spindle gouges with its relatively shallow flute.

A good fingernail grind on this will still work well, but in cutting beads and coves on spindle turning rather than bowl turning.

 

[Jacob]

It'll do for a bowl gouge if that's what you want to use it for. There are worse alternatives.The trick is to make it work for you and not get too bogged down by terminology.

 

[Bodrighy]

It'll do for a bowl gouge if that's what you want to use it for. There are worse alternatives.The trick is to make it work for you and not get too bogged down by terminology.

It is not just a case of terminology, using a spindle gouge for face work is not advisable. The strength of a spindle gouge is not anything like as good as in a bowl gouge and bending or even snapping the gouge with potentially nasty results is a distinct possibility.

Pete

 

[woodturnerEric]

looks like a Henry Taylor long and strong bowl gauge,the flute is to deep for a spindle gauge but the photo is the same as the long and strong bowl gauges from Henry Taylor,they have a shallower flute than the modern deep fluted bowl gauges,it was the standard design of bowl gauges till the superflute and the like came into being,regards,

Eric.

 

[Jacob]

It'll do for a bowl gouge if that's what you want to use it for. There are worse alternatives.The trick is to make it work for you and not get too bogged down by terminology.

It is not just a case of terminology, using a spindle gouge for face work is not advisable. The strength of a spindle gouge is not anything like as good as in a bowl gouge and bending or even snapping the gouge with potentially nasty results is a distinct possibility.

Pete

But this is a heavy looking spindle gouge (if that's what it is supposed to be) so it'll do.

 

[YewTube]

It is not just a case of terminology, using a spindle gouge for face work is not advisable. The strength of a spindle gouge is not anything like as good as in a bowl gouge and bending or even snapping the gouge with potentially nasty results is a distinct possibility.

Interesting remark which I don't fully understand. My spindle gouges have more metal in the cross-section than my bowl gouges because they have a shallower flute. I do use them for putting beads on faceplate work.

Am I at risk of a snapped gouge?

Bill

 

[jpt]

It looks like a spindle gouge maybe an HS6, if you look on the shaft henry taylor tools usually have an ID code written on them. If there is one you can look it up on there site http://www.henrytaylortools.co.uk/chisels.html#gouges

john

 

[CHJ]

It is not just a case of terminology, using a spindle gouge for face work is not advisable. The strength of a spindle gouge is not anything like as good as in a bowl gouge and bending or even snapping the gouge with potentially nasty results is a distinct possibility.

Interesting remark which I don't fully understand. My spindle gouges have more metal in the cross-section than my bowl gouges because they have a shallower flute. I do use them for putting beads on faceplate work.

Am I at risk of a snapped gouge?

Bill

Think this is a little at cross purposes, I think Pete is referring to bigger "Tanged" forged spindle gouges that are not as rigid.

 

[CHJ]

These are my user small diameter Bowl gouges and they are of the deep flute variety,
On the left is an Ashley Iles 7mm overall diameter.
On the Right is a Henry Taylor 6.3mm overall diameter.

Both with wings swept back somewhat.

 

[=Adam=]

Thanks for the link jpt!

I remember reading what was printed on the tool and it said hs5, I didn't think anything of it, however this points to it being a 1/4" spindle gouge from what it says on that website!

Thanks for the replies guys!