help needed for new learner

[cinderella man]

Please excuse what to most will be simple questions, but as a new starter I need all the help I can get.
I have been woodturning only a matter of weeks and have started a simple 10 inch clock but the bowl gouge finish across the face could be better I think. So I am considering buying some new tools and wonder if someone can advise on what gouge/skew? to buy for a better machined finish. I am also wondering what tools to buy for making the internal bore of a 3 inch box. Thanks

 

[nev]

hi, and welcome
a flat (square end) or round nose scraper may help you with the clock face until you get the knack of a nice clean flat cut with the bowl gouge.
you could also try (a very very light cut)sheer scraping with the edge of bowl gouge. (lets not start another debate about gloves #-o ) (and I'd stick with going in the 'right' direction)
As for the box interior, either a forstner drill bit (cheating :wink: ) or a spindle gouge on its side working from the centre out and then gently with a round nosed scraper again to smooth things out.
or a dedicated box scraper (see previous Sorby link) if you enjoy buying lots of tools.
It may not be the 'right' way to do both jobs but a sharp round nosed scraper (1/2" or 3/4") will do both and give you a half decent finish ready for sanding and I regularly use mine for all sorts of jobs so it wont just gather dust when you're not making boxes.

 

[Paul.J]

Hello CM and welcome.
Are you keeping the tools sharp.You need to sharpen when giving the finishing cuts,just nice and light touches,then sand.
A bowl gouge will do with the handle low to give a shear cut,using the side of the grind rather than the point/front.
Any piccys of what you are doing will help and what tools you have/using??

 

[CHJ]

.....what gouge/skew? to buy for a better machined finish. ...

Welcome to the forum, whatever you do do not attempt to use a skew chisel across the face of a clock or bowl form, they are designed for use on spindle work and can result in a serious accident if used on end grain as encountered in a disc or bowl.

Do you have a copy of Keith Rowleys book, Woodturning: A Foundation Course, there is a link to it in the help sticky at the top of the forum, the basics of what tools are best fitted for the various tasks are shown in there.

 

[Spindle]

Hi

As Nev says - a scraper will be your friend whilst you develop your bowl gouge skills. The best one for the clock face, (flat surfaces), will be a square ended scraper. I would use my 1 1/4 inch one which is ground to a very slight curve however this tool is expensive and limited in it's use, a 3/4" version would be better as a first scraper as it's more versatile. With regard to a tool for box hollowing - a bedan is very good as the sides are relieved and will not interfere with the side of the box.

http://www.robert-sorby.co.uk/parting.htm

A bedan can also be used in parting mode and for rolling beads.

Regards Mick

 

[EnErY]

Hi and welcome I think the guys here have covered every avenue you wish to pursue all I can say is stick at it and it will come right
regards
Bill

 

[KimG]

+1 for Chas reccomendation; Keith Rowleys book, Woodturning: A Foundation Course, this book is an excellent resource to learn about turning.

Another excellent book is Ray Key's Woodturning and design, available on Amazon 2nd hand for less than £3.00

Get it here

It will help you with boxes too!!