When I first started turning, the tool I used for mostly everything was the 1/2" spindle. I was comfortable and proficient with it. About 18months into turning, we had a professional come to our club to do a demo, and a hands on session. He slated me for using the 1/2" spindle gouge, actually taking it off me and insisting I used a bowl gouge. Being reasonably new, I was a bit embarrassed and felt flustered. I then went through weeks of trying to become comfortable using the bowl gouge. My beloved spindle looking on forlornly. It's very satisfying to have you state that a spindle gouge is a perfectly good tool to use, and know that I was not turning badly. Debs
Hi Richard Thanks for sharing your experience and knowledge on the spindle gouges.for years I’ve bumped my way round the outside of a bowl blank with my bowl gouge,now I use the spindle gouge method,it’s so fast to create the bowl shape it’s amazing it’s great to learn from you with your clear demonstrations.you’ve taught this 81 year old dog many new tricks. Thank you Regards from NZ
Thanks for this Richard, especially the last sentence! The more I watch your videos the more familiar I become with your techniques and the more experienced I seem to become!
Thank you Richard. As a bowl turner I haven't paid much attention to my spindle gouges. This video has encouraged me to look into using them more. Thank you for sharing. Have a great day and stay safe.🙂🙂
At first I wanted to start regrinding my gouge but now I have learned I need more than one. 😯 Thus far I have only one that's decent. My hopes are on Santa. 😎
Very useful information. I do a fair amount of spindle work as well as faceplate (chuck, actually) turning, although I’m just a hobbyist. This demonstration really helps me personally. Thank you, Sir. 👍🏼
Thank-you for this very clear exposition of the versatility of this tool. I really like that angle tool you showed, am going laser cut something like it to use, seems much more user-friendly than an angle gauge.
I’ve got to try your grinds! I always use a bowl gouge for all my bowl turnings. The spindle gouges sit on my rack. Occasionally I will cut a tenon. Lol Thanks Richard your the best!
Thanks,Richard. So some of my practices are not outrageous after all.(30 degree bevel; asymmetric tips). I liked the way you ripped off the bark for your second blank. I know you are renowned for speed turning. Bernard.
Perhaps you've already considered this and have decided against it, but I sincerely believe that you would do very well with TH-cam shorts - people of that format are mad for this sort of mastery and the mesmerising and satisfying nature of the work. Of course I would't risk mentioning it if it came at the expense of these wonderful longer form videos - just a thought. Thank you!
Your videos are great and I am learning so much. I have a number of great wood pieces that are at 22% moisture and would appreciate your advice on how I can use them now. Microwave, rough cut, storing, painting ends, cutting wet, ideal moisture content, prevent cracking: things I have heard about but don’t understand. Thanks
I've turned many thousands of bowls green, some roughed for later completion, some finished green knowing they'll warp. You find those in my turning Green Wood playlist. Wood for projects that require stability, like boxes, need to be made of seasoned timber ideally with a moisture content around 10%. Woods vary enormously and some are more stable than others. Some are almost inert. Commercially available timbers are generally those that are stable with the fewest drying, warping, and splitting issues that are easiest to work. There are some basics in Undertanding Wood: th-cam.com/video/-cPfARpklVI/w-d-xo.html
So many of these techniques require a certain amount of courage to try, but seeing Richard do them has incentivized me to try... with so far no injuries... The back grain hollowing seems fraught with problems but works great....
English manufacturers like Henry Taylor and Robert Sorby, who for well-over a century been the leading manufacturers of top quality turning gouges, have always measured gouges by the flute diameter. North American manufacturers entering the market to compete with the Sheffiled manufacturers have chosen to measure the overall diameter of the gouge.
Thank you for sharing. I primarily use a Nova Chuck 2 for most projects. Which Vicmark chuck and jaws would you recommend to compliment the Nova Chuck 2?
Which chucks you might buy are largely guided by the size of your lathe/s an the sort of turrning you intend to do. I've downsized so now all my chucks bar one are VM100s. I go through how I use themin th-cam.com/video/qKLjtu6n2o8/w-d-xo.html.
Modern bowl gouges are machined out of round bar, whereas deep-fluted spindle-roughing gouges are formed from flat section steel and have a pointy tang. You see two deep-fluted roughing gouges in th-cam.com/video/04erRe6tUt8/w-d-xo.html
Thanks for the lesson! Your videois make me more and more wanting to try my hand on turning and add a woodlathe to my tools. One question, when hollowing the endgrain, hoe wood you go about hollowing the vessel from the direction of the smaller diameter, to create something like a classical inkwell? Seems to be extremely diffcult to get a hook into it. Greetings from Germany
Hollowing a big space through a small opening requires specialist hollowing tools so you can undercut the rim. I don't use hook tools. You can make your own specialist hollowers but for small hollow vases I use a McNaughton Undercutter which you can see far right in my Essential Tools video: th-cam.com/video/qAz1FfAtqmE/w-d-xo.html
Hello Richard! As always, I thank you for sharing your knowledge with us! I have a question. At what height should the tool rest for the spindle gouge be placed?
It's generally just below centre for facework, slightly above for spindles. You need to set the rest so you're comfortable, so the height of the rest depends partly on your height in relation to the lathe centre height and then the diameter of the spindle you're turning. There is no 'correct' centre height.
I am still little confused about a spindle gouge and a detail gouge. If a spindle gouge has a 40° angle, does that make it a detail gouge? If it has a fingernail shape is it a spindle gouge? Does the flute depth make a difference? I don't know. Do you have a video on the difference between the two?
The detail gouge has a shallower flute and generally a much longer bevel so the nose of the tool can get into tighter spaces like vee-grooves and function almost like a skew chisel. I feel a video coming on.....
@@kenvasko2285 If you want to turn narrow grooves using a standard ½" spindle gouge you'd have a longer bevel typical of a detail gouge. A 45° bevel with rounded wings - an embryo fingernail - is a good starting point from which to develop a shape most useful for what you want ot turn. My gouges are mostly asymmetic with a longer left wing and shorter right wing and varying bevel angle.
@@howardpaulhudson2297 You can grind a long bevel and swept-back wings so the gouge can be used for turning spindles. I know one professional who turns all spindles using ⅜" and ½" deep fluted bowl gouges ground this way. You won't get the narrow details you can achieve using a spindle gouge or detail gouge, but your spindles will definitely have a uniqueness.
@@RichardRaffanwoodturning In the United States, one tool supplier has a couple listings for spindle gouges. There are more options than most retailers, but that is because Doug Thompson probably wants to have options precisely for everyone. Anyhow, I was wondering which of the options would be the most similar to your 1/2 spindle gouge. Would you consider the gouge that you use to be a "spindle gouge", "deep-fluted spindle gouge", "detail gouge", or a "shallow detail gouge"? I am assuming that it would be a "spindle gouge", which says it has a flute depth of 50% of the diameter. Sorry about the confusion, you are a true master and a pleasure to watch!
@@williamno.1450 The spindle gouges I use are ½" diameter with a ⅜" flute. Some are Henry Taylor, some Hamlet, some Sorby who each market these as ½" spindle gouges as opposed to detail gouges that are the same diameter but with a shallower flute. I have a Thompson gouge ⅝" diameter with a ½" flute which is nearer a Sheffield detail gouge than spindle gouge and excellent as a bowl gouge.
When I first started turning, the tool I used for mostly everything was the 1/2" spindle.
I was comfortable and proficient with it.
About 18months into turning, we had a professional come to our club to do a demo, and a hands on session.
He slated me for using the 1/2" spindle gouge, actually taking it off me and insisting I used a bowl gouge.
Being reasonably new, I was a bit embarrassed and felt flustered.
I then went through weeks of trying to become comfortable using the bowl gouge.
My beloved spindle looking on forlornly.
It's very satisfying to have you state that a spindle gouge is a perfectly good tool to use, and know that I was not turning badly.
Debs
Amazingly, good video. I've always loved the spindle gouge and felt like it was a guilty secret.
Hi Richard
Thanks for sharing your experience and knowledge on the spindle gouges.for years I’ve bumped my way round the outside of a bowl blank with my bowl gouge,now I use the spindle gouge method,it’s so fast to create the bowl shape it’s amazing it’s great to learn from you with your clear demonstrations.you’ve taught this 81 year old dog many new tricks.
Thank you
Regards from NZ
Another. Good one. From. Richard. On how to made. Easy. Always. Good. To. Watch
It is amazing to see you use a single tool for so many things. Many thanks for another entertaining and instructive video.
Thanks for this Richard, especially the last sentence! The more I watch your videos the more familiar I become with your techniques and the more experienced I seem to become!
Thank you Richard. As a bowl turner I haven't paid much attention to my spindle gouges. This video has encouraged me to look into using them more. Thank you for sharing. Have a great day and stay safe.🙂🙂
Brilliant video Richard, beautifully demonstrated as usual and so well explained. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for the master class in using, sharpening, and selecting gouges. Thank you for sharing!
Another useful video. I “acquired” a 1/2 inch spindle gauge after watching several of your ear.liber videos, I know use it on almost everything.
Always a joy to watch a master at work.
An excellent demo, thanks Richard.
At first I wanted to start regrinding my gouge but now I have learned I need more than one. 😯
Thus far I have only one that's decent. My hopes are on Santa. 😎
Thank you Richard, again your have taught me a tremendous amount. Your knowledge is very much appreciated and not taken for granted by myself.
Very useful information. I do a fair amount of spindle work as well as faceplate (chuck, actually) turning, although I’m just a hobbyist. This demonstration really helps me personally. Thank you, Sir. 👍🏼
Thank-you for this very clear exposition of the versatility of this tool. I really like that angle tool you showed, am going laser cut something like it to use, seems much more user-friendly than an angle gauge.
I love the way that you teach us along the way.
I’ve got to try your grinds! I always use a bowl gouge for all my bowl turnings. The spindle gouges sit on my rack. Occasionally I will cut a tenon. Lol Thanks Richard your the best!
Great video. I love turning Walnut.
Thanks I always learn from your videos.
Great lesson Richard.
Another great video. Such a beautiful piece of work 👍👍
Thanks,Richard. So some of my practices are not outrageous after all.(30 degree bevel; asymmetric tips). I liked the way you ripped off the bark for your second blank. I know you are renowned for speed turning. Bernard.
Perhaps you've already considered this and have decided against it, but I sincerely believe that you would do very well with TH-cam shorts - people of that format are mad for this sort of mastery and the mesmerising and satisfying nature of the work. Of course I would't risk mentioning it if it came at the expense of these wonderful longer form videos - just a thought. Thank you!
I"ve made a few short videos but Google doesn't see them as such. I need to look into shorts again.
Another Master Class - excellent!
Thank you for for another great video
Your videos are great and I am learning so much. I have a number of great wood pieces that are at 22% moisture and would appreciate your advice on how I can use them now. Microwave, rough cut, storing, painting ends, cutting wet, ideal moisture content, prevent cracking: things I have heard about but don’t understand. Thanks
I've turned many thousands of bowls green, some roughed for later completion, some finished green knowing they'll warp. You find those in my turning Green Wood playlist. Wood for projects that require stability, like boxes, need to be made of seasoned timber ideally with a moisture content around 10%. Woods vary enormously and some are more stable than others. Some are almost inert. Commercially available timbers are generally those that are stable with the fewest drying, warping, and splitting issues that are easiest to work. There are some basics in Undertanding Wood: th-cam.com/video/-cPfARpklVI/w-d-xo.html
Look very easy when we see you I would like to be a little of your experience thanks very much
So many of these techniques require a certain amount of courage to try, but seeing Richard do them has incentivized me to try... with so far no injuries... The back grain hollowing seems fraught with problems but works great....
Would you mind explaining the difference between the way you measure a gouge and the way it is measured in the USA?
English manufacturers like Henry Taylor and Robert Sorby, who for well-over a century been the leading manufacturers of top quality turning gouges, have always measured gouges by the flute diameter. North American manufacturers entering the market to compete with the Sheffiled manufacturers have chosen to measure the overall diameter of the gouge.
Thank you for sharing. I primarily use a Nova Chuck 2 for most projects. Which Vicmark chuck and jaws would you recommend to compliment the Nova Chuck 2?
Which chucks you might buy are largely guided by the size of your lathe/s an the sort of turrning you intend to do. I've downsized so now all my chucks bar one are VM100s. I go through how I use themin th-cam.com/video/qKLjtu6n2o8/w-d-xo.html.
Well… I’m sold 😂 Question: If you could only have one grind on your 1/2” spindle gouge what would it be?
I can do almost anything with the middle one used for hollowing endgrain.
Thanks for the lesson! What's the difference between a deep fluted spindle and a bowl gouge!
Modern bowl gouges are machined out of round bar, whereas deep-fluted spindle-roughing gouges are formed from flat section steel and have a pointy tang. You see two deep-fluted roughing gouges in th-cam.com/video/04erRe6tUt8/w-d-xo.html
Thanks for the lesson! Your videois make me more and more wanting to try my hand on turning and add a woodlathe to my tools. One question, when hollowing the endgrain, hoe wood you go about hollowing the vessel from the direction of the smaller diameter, to create something like a classical inkwell? Seems to be extremely diffcult to get a hook into it. Greetings from Germany
Hollowing a big space through a small opening requires specialist hollowing tools so you can undercut the rim. I don't use hook tools. You can make your own specialist hollowers but for small hollow vases I use a McNaughton Undercutter which you can see far right in my Essential Tools video: th-cam.com/video/qAz1FfAtqmE/w-d-xo.html
@@RichardRaffanwoodturning : OK! Thanks!
Hello Richard! As always, I thank you for sharing your knowledge with us! I have a question. At what height should the tool rest for the spindle gouge be placed?
It's generally just below centre for facework, slightly above for spindles. You need to set the rest so you're comfortable, so the height of the rest depends partly on your height in relation to the lathe centre height and then the diameter of the spindle you're turning. There is no 'correct' centre height.
@@RichardRaffanwoodturning Understood! Thanks again!!
I am still little confused about a spindle gouge and a detail gouge. If a spindle gouge has a 40° angle, does that make it a detail gouge? If it has a fingernail shape is it a spindle gouge? Does the flute depth make a difference? I don't know. Do you have a video on the difference between the two?
The detail gouge has a shallower flute and generally a much longer bevel so the nose of the tool can get into tighter spaces like vee-grooves and function almost like a skew chisel. I feel a video coming on.....
@@RichardRaffanwoodturningShould any gouge have a pointed tip with a 45° bevel? Or is the fingernail the shape for detail and spindle gouge?
@@kenvasko2285 If you want to turn narrow grooves using a standard ½" spindle gouge you'd have a longer bevel typical of a detail gouge. A 45° bevel with rounded wings - an embryo fingernail - is a good starting point from which to develop a shape most useful for what you want ot turn. My gouges are mostly asymmetic with a longer left wing and shorter right wing and varying bevel angle.
Thanks.
Can i turn a ball gouge to a spindle
@@howardpaulhudson2297 You can grind a long bevel and swept-back wings so the gouge can be used for turning spindles. I know one professional who turns all spindles using ⅜" and ½" deep fluted bowl gouges ground this way. You won't get the narrow details you can achieve using a spindle gouge or detail gouge, but your spindles will definitely have a uniqueness.
@@RichardRaffanwoodturning thankyou....on it tomorrow...to many gouges not enough spindles thankyou...
What is the shaft diameter, 5/8? I sure hate the differing gouge measurement methods.
I was wrong: it's sold as a ½-in spindle gouge and that's the overall diameter - 12.5mm. the flute is 10mm.
@@RichardRaffanwoodturning In the United States, one tool supplier has a couple listings for spindle gouges. There are more options than most retailers, but that is because Doug Thompson probably wants to have options precisely for everyone. Anyhow, I was wondering which of the options would be the most similar to your 1/2 spindle gouge. Would you consider the gouge that you use to be a "spindle gouge", "deep-fluted spindle gouge", "detail gouge", or a "shallow detail gouge"? I am assuming that it would be a "spindle gouge", which says it has a flute depth of 50% of the diameter. Sorry about the confusion, you are a true master and a pleasure to watch!
@@williamno.1450 The spindle gouges I use are ½" diameter with a ⅜" flute. Some are Henry Taylor, some Hamlet, some Sorby who each market these as ½" spindle gouges as opposed to detail gouges that are the same diameter but with a shallower flute. I have a Thompson gouge ⅝" diameter with a ½" flute which is nearer a Sheffield detail gouge than spindle gouge and excellent as a bowl gouge.
Some are available as M2, some as M42. Does it make any difference to you?
I wood have given you 2 thumbs up if it were allowed! Thank you.