This is a first in a series of wood turning podcasts. In this episode I discuss gouges, parting tools, skew chisels, scrapers, and hollowing tools. Additionally I discuss what your first set of tools could look like and how to care for your tools.
Hey Shannon,
This was a great podcast. I have no desire to get into turning quite yet, as I don’t have a lathe or room for one (yet).
One recommendation I’d make to you re: podcasting is to include some “show notes” to accompany your podcast. For example, I would love to see a pic of what all these different types of chisels are. Some of the lingo (bar stock?) went right over my head, so a pic would be very helpful.
But I like your direction in this podcast, and the music too. Ending with a rousing applause is cool!
Eric,
Famous last words, I no want to turn yet. I remember uttering that phrase about 4 years ago.
Michael (and Eric), I will put up some pics to illustrate what I am talking about. Unfortunately for now I do not have video capabilities other than what my digital camera can do. I am thinking about it and will need to carve part of the tool budget out for a video camera. Tough decision. Thanks to both of you for listening.
Shannon – Don’t underestimate your camera’s digital capability! We have two digital cameras – a Nikon and a Canon – and the Nikon takes pretty decent video. (The two videos I’ve posted on my blog were taken from that.)
I’ve also seen some crappy video quality on some podcasts, but I think viewers will forgive that if the content is good enough.
I came across your site a few weeks ago – nice work. I’ve caught the turnning bug and just bought a used mini lathe. It came with tons of extras like pen kits, chucks, wood blanks and about 3 sets of gouges. I think all the gouges are cheap ones , except one Sorby. My question is: is there a way to tell if they are HHS? I think the set that came with the lathe (King Tools in Canada – probably made in Taiwan) is fairly new (5 yrs) but there is an old set from Disston which I think would be carbon steel. Is it worth sharpening and using the carbon steel ones? One of the gouges has blueing at the end can I grid that off?
Wilf,
Sorry for the delayed response. Yahoo in it’s infinite wisdom decided to start filing blog responses under spam and I didn’t catch it until now.
Anyway, welcome to the turning addiction. It sounds like you got a nice starter package that will server you well to get your feet wet in a variety of turning styles. I was faced with your same problem when I started in that I kept hearing that HSS was the best but couldn’t tell if my own tools were HSS. I remember hearing about a trick to tell while grinding but I couldn’t remember what it was. I posted your question to the LumberJocks and Quixote jogged my memory. Somewhere on the web is a video (I think by Richard Raffan) where he is grinding tools. The HSS tools have a very distinct spark pattern in that they shoot straight out are are tightly bunched together. Carbon steel sparks break apart and branch like sparklers about 3-4 inches away from the tool. It is very easy to tell when you do it so give it a try and let me know if you are still confused.
Regarding the carbon steel tools, I would keep them. Remember this is the same steel that carving chisels are made from. Carbon steel can achieve a very keen edge it is just that they don’t hold it as well at HSS. You may find yourself sharpening more often but this could be good practice for when you get some higher quality turning tools. Also for getting started the carbon tools will work find on your softer woods like Cyprus or Cherry. I wouldn’t even touch any of the Rosewoods with it as they will lose the edge almost instantly. If you do some pen turning you can use your carbon tools since you are dealing with a smaller diameter blank and the stresses are not nearly as high as faceplate turning.
Finally, you can grind off the blueing of lost temper in your tools. Just be careful to do it slowly and cooly or you will just keep blueing it and before you know it you will have a nub of a tool.
I hope this answers your questions and good luck. Thanks for stopping by.
Thanks – that’s a lot of great information and helps a lot. I am in the middle of repairing and finishing an old garage on the house I just moved into so I won’t be able to do any turning for a month or so but I can’t wait to try it. When I got the lathe it still has a pen chucked on it which I guess still needs to be finished turning! It sounds like if you want to be a good “turner” you need to be a good “grinder” too.
