Bowl Gouge

[Kenneth Whiting]

I really want a bowl gouge. What size should I start with? Should I bother with a $20 Sears one, or get something else?

I will probably stay with relatively small bowls for a while. As if I have a say in the directional flow of the vortex.

This also means one of the self-centering chucks and some way of holding the bowl on by the rim?

[Gary Conklin]

Doug Thompson 3/8" Bowl Gouge.

[Alan Trout]

I really like my Thompson 1/2v bowl gouge. I have turned plenty of 5 inch bowls with it but I have roughed many 15 inch bowls as well. It is a very versatile tool.

Good Luck

Alan

[Jake Helmboldt]

Kenneth, if you can turn spindles then I also suggest a Thompson (you have to make your own handle, but it isn't hard and is a fun project).

I also suggest the 1/2" as I think it is more versatile than the 3/8. A chuck is certainly very useful but not a necessity.

[Kyle Iwamoto]

Do not waste money on the Craftsman/Sears one. The bowl gouge is your main tool, and you should invest in a high quality one. You will not regret it. You WILL regret spending money on a Sears one. Trust me. I regrind my Craftsman ones into single use tools. I still use the skew though. When I have cut near the head or tailstock.

Everyone here seems to like the Thompsons. Someday I'll buy one. I have a Sorby 3/8, and I like it. You can get the Thompsons cheaper. But you'll have to make a handle. (FUN!)

[Jeff Nicol]

Kenneth, There are many ot them out there for you choose from and I have chosen many! I have a couple Benjamins best that I started out with and then got a nice packard 3/8" standard grind that is one of my favorites! I have a Crown tools Ellsworth that is at the top of the list for quality and design. I have a couple of Kyro gouges in different sizes and the 1/4" standard grind is my go to for final very small cuts, the curls are like angel hair when the come of the wood! I also have 2 Thompson's one is a 5/8" "U" and I have a 1/2" "V" and they both work wonderfully. I have a little different grind on everyone and use them in situations that they work best in for me. So if money is an issue, like already said the Thompson's are hard to beat. Woodcraft has a line of "PINNICLE" tools that hold up nice and look nice also, I have a spindle gouge from them and I am very impressed with it for a complete tool.

So as time goes by the Vortex will suck you deeper and you will end up like lots of us, multiple lathes and lots of tools!!

Have fun,

Jeff

[Dick Gerard]

I have been a turner for over 30 years now. If you are just starting out making bowls, and, as you said, you will probably stick to small bowls for awhile, I recommend the Thompson 3/8 inch gouge.

Do not invest in a 4 jaw chuck just yet. Learn to use a faceplate and learn how to DESIGN your turning so that you are able to reverse turn it and eliminate the screw holes.

Alternatively, use a glue block with the face plate. You will still need to plan ahead so that you can reverse the bowl and clean up the bowl bottom.

You can save many many $$$$$$$$$$$ by starting out this way. If you later decide to become a production turner, turning out hundreds or thousands of bowl a year, then its time to invest in all those things that will enhance your productivity ... like 4 jaw chucks, vacuum chucks, multiple lathes, etc.

BTW, even such experts as David Ellsworth and John Jordan espouse the use of faceplates.

[Gordon Seto]

Tool is not your answer. How to sharpen it, how to present the cutting edge to wood free hand are the tricky part.
http://www.thompsonlathetools.com/faq.asp has helpful information.
Finding a local Club and get some hands on would shorten the learning curve.
http://www.woodturner.org/community/...alChapters.asp
"Turned Bowl Made Easy" DVD by Bill Grumbine is the next best. It is one of the best bowl turning DVD to start learning on. It shows several reverse turning methods; some of them would cost almost nothing.
He did a two day demo for our Club with only one 5/8" Thompson V bowl gouge, one parting tool and 1 cut from a detail gouge (because of tight space). He didn't even carry the famous 80 grit gouge with him. It was 3 good size projects on a 3520 Powermatic.
I am not suggesting you to get his signature gouge; IMO, it is not the best choice for mini lathes, small size turnings.

[Bernie Weishapl]

+1 for the Thompson 3/8" and 1/2" bowl gouge. In the 1/2" I have both the V and the U. Stay away from Sears. IMHO they are junk.

[Paul Atkins]

I agree with Dick. I use my 1/2" gouges way more than the 3/8" though and I don't make large bowls yet. The 3/8" and 1/4" seem too small for general use to me. I rarely use a chuck. More on that later.

[Steve Mawson]

The first bowl gouge I bought was a Thompson 3/8 V. Works very nice. Something to hold the rim to reverse turn is not a have to have. I attended a Bill Grumbine seminar and he reversed the bowl against the chuck and held it with the tail stock. Probably could also hold it against a small face plate also. Just a little hand work at the very end.

[Richard Jones]

Hard to beat a Thompson 1/2" bowl gouge. Actually, hard to beat anything Thompson................. Don't you deserve the best?

Rich

[Bill Arnold]

You've gotten great advice from many of the experts here on the Forum. I'm still learning which end is up when it comes to turning but I did learn by asking and listening that it pays to get decent lathe tools. OK, so I listen but I'm still che..... er, frugal. Some people suggested Benjamin's Best as a good set of tools - not as great as the Thompson but good, nonetheless. When I checked on the BB pricing, I found I could get a set of three BB bowl gouges (3/8", 1/2" & 5/8") for about the same as one Thompson gouge. I'm just sayin'..........

[Kenneth Whiting]

Thanks for all the advice guys. I currently have the starter set from HF. I started looking at the BB today since that is the same quality as what I have. I would like a complete set of Thompson's (is a complete set of any tool really possible). I will probably have to upgrade later.

[Doug Thompson]

It takes one bowl gouge to turn a bowl... IMO a 1/2V is all you need. As you can see we all learned a different way with different tools. Become a woodturner and not a tool collector so select a few good tools and take the time to learn how each is used.