Thompson 3/8" V Bowl Gouge

[Marty Tippin]

I recently bought my first Thompson gouges -- a 1/2" V bowl gouge and a 3/8" spindle gouge. I also bought Thompson handles for both, but my brain wasn't fully engaged when I ordered, and I bought a 16" handle for the 3/8" spindle gouge. It quickly became obvious that a 16" handle on a 3/8" spindle gouge just won't work - too much handle, not enough tool - so I'm going to get a 12" handle for the spindle gouge.

I can't return the handle as it's been laser engraved (beautifully, I might add!), so I need to find a good use for a 16" handle for a 3/8" shank, and Doug* Thompson recommended getting a 3/8" V bowl gouge for the 16" handle.

Which brings me to my question...

How many of you have and use a 3/8" bowl gouge? What sort of projects is a gouge that size best suited for?

I'm not really sure I need one that small, but I'm also a relative newbie to bowl turning and so far have only use my 1/2" Sorby and 1/2" Thompson bowl gouges, both of which seem generally adequate. I would guess that a smaller gouge is for turning smaller bowls, but I really prefer working in the 10-16" diameter range (but maybe that's because I haven't had the right tool...)

* Oops... Doug, not John...

[John Keeton]

I love my 3/8" V bowl gouge for small coves, etc. For general salad bowls and the like in the range you are doing, I am not sure you will find it as useful. But, there is a good chance you will progress to more detailed bowls and it is a great tool.

It is Doug Thompson, BTW - not John.

[Marty Tippin]

Thanks, John, for correcting my error - we'll blame it on a disconnect between my brain and fingers... ;-)

[Jamie Donaldson]

You need to clarify whether you're measuring the gouge flute width or the diameter of the tool steel shaft. This is a long standing problem when discussing tools made in either the US or Europe.

[Prashun Patel]

I turn stuff in the 8-12" range and I find a 1/2" adequate. I rarely have a desire for a 3/8". I'd be looking larger (5/8") before looking smaller.

I think your 3/8" spindle gouge will do much of the delicate work (coves/details/beads) that you might reach for a 3/8" bowl gouge for. How about a 1/2" skew or 1/2" scraper instead? I'd find these more of a compliment to your arsenal than another bowl gouge....

[Alan Trout]

I love a 3/8" bowl gouge for its control. You can hog off a good chunk with one plus it is nice for finer detail as well. An excellent tool that nice to have. Go for it.

[Thom Sturgill]

My 3/8" Thompson V ia definitely one of my go-to gouges.

[Jon Prouty]

I have both the 3/8" V bowl gouge and 3/8" spindle gouge along with Doug's 16" handle and swap them back and forth depending on the project at hand. I actually prefer the longer handles to the short ones - 16" is a sweet length for me and my style. I use the 3/8" bowl gouge a lot actually - great for when finesse is called for. I just bought Doug's 1/2" U shaped bowl gouge as my addiction needed feeding. Regardless what you decide you will not be disappointed in having another tool or two in your arsenal.

JP

[John Keeton]

You need to clarify whether you're measuring the gouge flute width or the diameter of the tool steel shaft. This is a long standing problem when discussing tools made in either the US or Europe.

Jamie, he asked about the Thompson tools, so he is looking at a 3/8" flute.

[Marty Tippin]

Well I think you've talked me into it... 3/8" V bowl gouge will be ordered soon.

Also going to pick up a 5/8" V bowl gouge while I'm at it.

So that's the next question: 16" or 20" handle for the 5/8" gouge? I don't do (yet...) any deep hollow forms so I'm never working very far off the tool rest which suggests maybe 16" will be adequate.

[robert baccus]

Like Jon, I prefere heavy long handles for balance. Just finished my Thompson collection--5/8, 1/2, 3/8, and detail geouge. I've got lots of other gouges but these ring my bell. Putting heavy tropical 16" handles on all of them--wood rings my bell also. These are all U shaped flutes. Are you sure about the width variation--I drilled the stated diameter hole for each and they all fit???

[David C. Roseman]

Jamie, he asked about the Thompson tools, so he is looking at a 3/8" flute.

John, I don't have any of Doug's tools to go by, but I thought he uses the North American method, measuring the diameter of the steel rather than the width of the flute. No?

David

[Reed Gray]

I don't use handles any longer than 16 inch, and most of what I base my handle length on depends on the piece of wood I can find for the job. I don't like any extra weight to have to horse around, and rather than depend on a longer handle for leverage, I move the tool rest closer. Hanging out requires extra work. I have been using smaller gouges on the inside of bowls lately. Most of the time, it was the 5/8 gouges, but some times the 1/2 and 3/8 seem to be a bit easier to control. Interesting thing is that some times, even with the same grind, a smaller one will cut better than the bigger one, and some times it is the opposite..... Of course, it couldn't have any thing to do with the operator......

robo hippy

[Jamie Donaldson]

Jamie, he asked about the Thompson tools, so he is looking at a 3/8" flute.

John, Thompson tools are measured by the diameter of the tool steel, rather than the flute width as tools from Europe. A 3/8" diameter gouge would be very small for turning bowls in the size mentioned, and I prefer to do most of my bowl turning with 1/2" and 5/8" diameter gouges.

[John Keeton]

Thanks, Jamie. I did mean to say shaft size, but the senior thing kicked in.