Turning Tools are On Point

I recently tried three gouges from Carter and Son Toolworks: a 3/4-in. roughing gouge, a 1/2-in. spindle gouge, and a 5/8-in. bowl gouge. The handles are aircraft grade aluminum, which absorbs vibration as well as any material. The business end of each tool is made from M42 high-speed tool steel, and all arrived sharp. The fit and finish was excellent.

The roughing gouge worked great. It is made for spindles, and shouldn’t be used for face work. I used it to plane pepper-mill blanks, which it handled easily with little need for sanding. The spindle gouge also performed well, cutting tenons, coves, and beads.

I found the handle a bit heavy, making it hard for me to create precise cuts. According to the manufacturer, a lighter handle is available. I put the bowl gouge to work rounding bowl blanks, including some of cottonwood, which is the most abusive to tool steel. It held an edge better than most tools I have used.

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